Digital Commons Network^™

Analog Speech Recognition Circuit, Celeste Correa, Alyssa Lam, Grace Paladichuk

Electrical Engineering

This project performs speech recognition using analog circuits to compute the Fourier transform of a voice signal. There is a digital portion of the design to perform a comparison between the desired Fourier transforms and the voice signal’s Fourier transform. Due to time limitations, the project is limited to a set command that the circuit can execute. The design is also focused on the vocal frequencies of women due to the stark difference between men and women’s voices. Analog circuits are not being used commercially for speech recognition at this time, but there is research being done on methods to …

Prosthetic Forearm Controller, Claire Tylutki, Kevin Lopatka, Sofia Zaletel, Hardit Singh

Electrical Engineering

The EMG controlled prosthetic arm project represents a significant advancement in upper limb prosthetics, leveraging cutting-edge technology to address critical user needs. With over two million individuals in the United States living with limb loss, a substantial portion being upper limb amputees, the demand for accessible and functional prosthetic solutions is pressing. This project focuses largely on refining prosthetic limb control through the integration of electromyography (EMG) signal processing and control. Using surface electrodes, this project employs non-invasive means of data collection combined with modern digital signal processing methods to implement faster and more accurate control. The control system also …

Battery Energy Storage System, Alec C. Maclean, Kaylen H. Schwartz, Kyle A. Begley

Electrical Engineering

The project is a continuation of part 1 of the “Reliability Measurement for Grid-Connected Solar System” project. The goal is to continue where the previous design failed. This project will configure an ITECH IT-6000C and Tabuchi Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to the small-scale microgrid at the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo EE Department. Initially, a system was designed to connect an ITECH IT-M3633 as a PV solar source emulator to the Tabuchi BESS within a grid-connected microgrid system in Room 20-102 at Cal Poly. A Photovoltaic Thevenin equivalent model was developed for the ITECH IT-M3633, but this setup failed …

Ross Dam Micro Hydro Project, Marirose Evenden, Tyler Reents, Elena Ryan, Tevan Kim

Mechanical Engineering

The Ross Dam and reservoir in Angels Camp needs a reliable power source for powering its SCADA system which monitors its water level and flow rate. Currently, the existing hydro power supply is very unreliable and needs to be replaced with a micro hydro generator system that can consistently produce power to charge the onsite batteries. This paper details the design and implementation of a micro hydro Pelton wheel replacement system designed by our senior project team.

Outlined in this report is our design overview of the system and how our project will redesign and optimize the use of the …

Touch By Angels Café Rebrand, Hailey Choi

Graphic Communication

Touch By Angels, a local Korean-dessert café in San Luis Obispo, CA, specializing in bingsoo, taiyaki, and specialty teas, has struggled since its December 2023 opening to establish a cohesive visual identity across its B2C interaction spaces, including its website, social media pages, and on-site signage. This rebranding project aims to develop a comprehensive visual identity for Touch By Angels by enhancing its logo design, color palette, typography, and photography, revamping its social media, and on-site signage to create a unified and appealing brand image. The expected outcome is improved customer engagement, enhanced brand recognition, and business growth, positioning Touch …

Comparison Between Galfit And Lenstronomy To Analyze The Host Galaxies Of Reverberation Mapped Active Galactic Nuclei, Samantha Kay Allen

Physics

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are some of the brightest objects within our Universe. Most galaxies contain a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their center, but not all are powered by active accretion which can form an AGN. Due to the conservation of angular momentum, dust and gas rotate around the SMBH to form a disk. The large gravitational potential energy from the SMBH is converted into heat through friction, which produces a hot and luminous source of light. As a result, the SMBH is unresolved. Through a technique known as reverberation mapping (RM), the mass of the SMBH has been …

Inside The Adventure: A Case Study On The Immersive Engagement Practices At Universal Studios Hollywood, Jordan A. D'Acquisto

Experience Industry Management

The success of theme parks relies heavily on immersion and identification of the elements that create such immersion to further enhance it. Universal Studios Hollywood utilizes many engagement tactics to immerse their guests in the worlds of their park. The purpose of this study was to analyze guest engagement through themed, immersive experiences and touchpoints at Universal Studios Hollywood. A case study was conducted on Universal Studios Hollywood to analyze what immersive engagement tactics were utilized as well as their effectiveness. The results of this study determined that the park very effectively engages guests through themed experiences with its newer …

Bolin Symes Prosthetic, Samuel C. Collins, Rowan Sun, Jake Hacker

Biomedical Engineering

This project’s purpose is to design a comfortable prosthetic for an individual with a Syme’s amputation, which is a below-knee amputation that removes the foot from the leg at the ankle joint. The goal is to minimize the discomfort that is associated with the current prosthetic leg options for the client, Mr. Bolin, who has the Syme’s amputation. This project also seeks to improve mobility, quality of life, and activity levels of the client. The stakeholder for this project is Mr. Bolin. The final prototype performed successfully when worn by the client and passed comfort testing. Furthermore, COMSOL modeling of …

Foot And Ankle Exoskeleton, Janet M. Velasquez Cabral, Kathryn C. Hamilton, Grant R. Lautze

Biomedical Engineering

This paper presents a non-motorized foot and ankle exoskeleton to assist persons who have no lower limb or abdominal function. Exoskeletons are defined as “an artificial external supporting structure” [1], they are wearable devices that can be used to assist the capabilities of the human body. Although the exoskeleton must be used with crutches, plantarflexion and dorsiflexion will be implemented within the ankle joint to alleviate strain on the foot and ankle, strategically designed in a way that supports the user so their walking performance is as ideal as possible. Additionally, safety straps will be integrated into the foot portion …

Prosthetic Aid For Lifting (Pal), Emma Caringella, Cameron Yartz, Dawn Veditz

Biomedical Engineering

Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States use a limb prosthetic [1]. For these individuals, their prosthetic often enables them to engage in their choice of physical activities. Many prosthetic companies design prosthetic limbs for use in specific athletic activities such as weightlifting. These devices are not designed for everyday wear or a large variety of tasks but enable the person to interact with free weights and workout machines. According to an email conversation between the team and Bob Radocy, Founder of Therapeutic Recreational Services (TRS Inc.) and upper limb amputee, while he could not reveal how many people …

Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnostic Device, Alisha Mitha, Karina Martel, Ayla Silbahar

Biomedical Engineering

Deep Vein Thrombosis is one of the leading causes of death in hospitals worldwide due its ability to form in patients who are sedentary after receiving care. There is a need for a DVT diagnostic device that can be worn constantly in order to alert medical professionals if a thrombosis is forming, which is the basis of this senior project. The current solutions are time consuming, and look for thrombi after they have fully formed. The goal of this senior project is to design and construct a device to constantly monitor in-hospital patients for early stage DVT and alert hospital …

Echoes Of Nature: Using Biodata Sonification To Model Electrical Communication In Plants, Penelope Anna Alioshin

Electrical Engineering

The use of biodata sonification as a tool to visualize biological data is a response to recent developments in the intersection of art and technology. This project explores the intersection by converting the electrical impulses given off by plants into audio signals. By processing and amplifying the voltage difference between two electrodes on a plant, its communication is quantified. The goal is to use this communication model as a tool to increase ecological awareness as well as improve machine learning models. A deeper understanding of non-human communication systems, specifically those that employ superposition decision matrices, could help to drastically increase …

Advancing Embedded Iot Architectures For Space And Terrestrial Applications, Wuwei Douglas Liu, Nicolas Jesus Alvarez, Eric Huang

Electrical Engineering

Radio transceivers play a pivotal role in establishing communication networks, particularly in regions where existing infrastructures are unstable or compromised due to natural disasters or conflicts. By utilizing LoRa (Long Range) communication technology, OWL Integrations develops radio transceivers to establish mesh networks to communicate with one another during disasters. This project team continues development of a second generation OWL board, classified as Quacker Advanced Development (QuAD), with a focus on transitioning to a new microcontroller and integrating GNSS libraries and drivers. An ulterior objective involved R&D for a space application of the board.

Ross Dam Micro Hydropower Project, Ryan Pospichal, Wilson Szeto

Electrical Engineering

In 2020, Utica Water and Power Authority (UWPA) commissioned the development and installation of a micro hydropower system for Ross Dam in northern California. The micro-hydro system was intended to serve as a reliable source of renewable energy to power on-site equipment for monitoring the Ross Reservoir. Despite its innovative approach, the system encountered operational shortcomings, including frequent mechanical failures, rapid wear, and an inability to adapt to variable flow rates. To address these challenges, UWPA has commissioned interdisciplinary teams of Mechanical Engineering (ME) and Electrical Engineering (EE) students to redesign the micro hydropower system. The ME team was entrusted …

X-Band Wireless Power Transfer System Using A Focused Array Lens, Jason Alexander Kunz, Tyler S. Bury, Oscar Damian Gonzalez, Jaime Garcia

Electrical Engineering

Wireless power beaming from space and energy harvesting were once stories of science fiction, until now. Wireless power transmission (WPT) is a field continually in development to provide energy in situations where energy transfer through wires is impractical or unfeasible. This engineering discipline abandons the use of wire technology for the energy transfer between the power source and a distant device. While various forms of WPT exist, our project focuses on transmission through means of radio frequency (RF), utilizing electromagnetic waves to power devices. Furthermore, WPT technology primarily assists in the elimination of a physical connection between devices, and it …

Design Of High Efficiency Doherty Power Amplifier, Kobi G. Kelly, Severin Pindell

Electrical Engineering

The project includes design and fabrication of a high efficiency power amplifier for a student design competition held at International Microwave Symposium (IMS) 2023. Efficient power amplifiers are critical for base station communication requiring efficient use of available power. The final design optimizes power added efficiency (PAE) and linearity. The amplifier will operate at 2.45 GHz. Competitive PAE above 50%, and C/I above 30 dB is achieved by leveraging a Doherty class amplifier using accurate discrete CGH4006P transistor models to simulate an efficient and linear design. Unique design features include optimal transistor bias point selection and power split ratios between …

A 4-Switch Buck-Boost Dc/Dc Converter For Electric Vehicle Applications, Andrew Hudak, Ashley Schiller

Electrical Engineering

In this project, we develop a four switch buck-boost DC/DC converter that is to be integrated into a microgrid-inspired power distribution architecture for electric vehicles. The overall architecture includes DC/DC and DC/AC converters for bi-directional energy transfer between the DC and AC ports along with a communications port to control each energy interface. There is also the onboard battery and the internal combustion engine power exchange being done with DC/DC converters and AC/DC inverters to connect to the centralized DC bus. Hardware prototypes using an Arduino and Raspberry Pi for the 500 W DC/DC and DC/AC converters have been previously …

Software Defined Radio Applicability Investigation For Owl Integrations Inc., Daniel J. Gharib

Electrical Engineering

OWL Integrations Inc. is developing a LoRa mesh network using “Duck” radios to communicate using the LoRa modulation technique. This mesh network is intended for emergency communications in situations where Internet or cellular access is unavailable, such as disaster relief or warzones. The goal of this project is to investigate the feasibility of using the CaribouLite SDR as a potential base for a SDR-based “Duck”. This feasibility testing will be performed by integrating the CaribouLite with a Raspberry Pi single-board computer and investigating its compatibility and functionality for the purposes of a communication device

Formula Sae Vehicle Dynamics Controller, Luke Edward Bosworth

Electrical Engineering

Throughout the history of motorsports, engineers have continuously pushed the boundaries of speed and control in the pursuit of enhancing vehicle performance on the track. Today’s top performing motor-vehicles leverage electric motors to the deliver instantaneous torque to the vehicle’s tires. While these electric motors can deliver a lot of power very efficiently, the delivery must be well controlled to get the most performance out of the tires. The Formula SAE Vehicle Dynamics Controller (VDC) senior project integrates vehicle modeling, state estimation, and yaw moment controls into a small- scale Formula-one style electric vehicle, improving vehicle performance and laying the …

Multi-Hop And Automated Testing Of Wide-Area Network Radio Systems, Zachary C. Numa, Joseph S. Nuccio

Electrical Engineering

Requests for low-power and versatile wide-area Internet-of-Things (IoT) networks are becoming more prevalent with upcoming research in low-data rate ad-hoc mesh networks. Connections to terrestrial satellites have proven promising methods for increasing range capabilities for wide area networks (WAN). As research in communication with IoT networks and satellites progresses, reliable multi-hop mesh networks for Earth-based communication are still necessary to develop the base for satellite communication. These multi-hop communication mesh networks are being developed to allow communication where Line-of-Sight (LOS) from A to B is incapable due to environmental barriers. Hence, communication is possible without LOS by providing an intermediate …

2-Bit Schiffman Phase Shifter, Tavita Dayton, Enrique Ruiz

Electrical Engineering

Phase shifters are found in microwave/RF applications such as defense or wireless communications for their ability to control the relative phase of a system which allows for alignment of signals to obtain constructive interference. Typical phase shifters are chip level (digital and analog) which require a DC bias therefore restricting PCB use unless allowance for air gaps. The paper analyzes a passive and low-profile 2-bit phase shifter using the Schiffman architecture, which outputs a near-constant 90 degree shift over a wide band of frequencies. The design process initially confirmed a proper 90 degree phase shift over the desired WiFi band, …

Autonomous Apple Harvester Robot, Jack Ryan Cline, Tyus Green, Devon Woolston

Electrical Engineering

As agricultural demands rise and manual labor costs increase, there has become a dire need to automate apple harvesting. However, the precision and speed necessary for cost-efficient apple harvesting pose a significant challenge for robotic automation. To maintain cost-effective production, a harvester must be able to operate fast enough and long enough to compete with human labor. It must also be able to navigate and traverse apple orchards autonomously and pick apples without damaging the fruit or tree. This project presents an apple harvesting robot that uses a Mask R-CNN vision system with an RGB-D camera to detect the location …

Matrix Approximation And Image Compression, Isabella R. Padavana

Master's Theses

This thesis concerns the mathematics and application of various methods for approximating matrices, with a particular eye towards the role that such methods play in image compression. An image is stored as a matrix of values with each entry containing a value recording the intensity of a corresponding pixel, so image compression is essentially equivalent to matrix approximation. First, we look at the singular value decomposition, one of the central tools for analyzing a matrix. We show that, in a sense, the singular value decomposition is the best low-rank approximation of any matrix. However, the singular value decomposition has some …

Accessible Real-Time Eye-Gaze Tracking For Neurocognitive Health Assessments, A Multimodal Web-Based Approach, Daniel C. Tisdale

Master's Theses

We introduce a novel integration of real-time, predictive eye-gaze tracking models into a multimodal dialogue system tailored for remote health assessments. This system is designed to be highly accessible requiring only a conventional webcam for video input along with minimal cursor interaction and utilizes engaging gaze-based tasks that can be performed directly in a web browser. We have crafted dynamic subsystems that capture high-quality data efficiently and maintain quality through instances of user attrition and incomplete calls. Additionally, these subsystems are designed with the foresight to allow for future re-analysis using improved predictive models, as well as enable the creation …

Automated Expanding Christmas Tree, Ben Mosemann, Zoey Camarillo, Xiomara Medina, Will Tedone

Mechanical Engineering

The Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo (SLO) needs a new expanding Christmas tree for their 2024 production of The Nutcracker. This Final Design Review Report outlines pertinent information regarding the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering Senior Project of Team F14 (“D.R.E.I.D.E.L.S.”), who was tasked of designing and building the new expanding Christmas tree frame. Our team’s name, “D.R.E.I.D.E.L.S.,” stands for Design and Research of Expansion Integrated Dramaturgy Ergonomic Leveraging Systems. We thought this would be a fun, creative, and ironic name for our team.

In this report, our team will discuss how we procured the materials required and manufactured and …

The Wildland Firefighter Respiratory Protection Device, Oliver Pilon, Xaviera Pons, Calder Wood, Tommy Ozawa, Jack Adema, Payton Mayer

Biomedical Engineering

This paper presents the development of First Respire and their design of a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) specifically curated for wildland firefighter while simultaneously addressing the critical absence of respiratory protection for wildland firefighters operating in the challenging wildland-urban interface (WUI) environments. Current respiratory protection options, such as bandanas and N95 masks, fall short in providing adequate defense against toxic particulate matter and gases, exposing firefighters to increased risks of health complications, including cancers and respiratory diseases. Through collaborative efforts of the Wildfire Conservancy, the WUI Fire Institute at Cal Poly, and CAL FIRE, First Respire aims to create a …

Automated Orthopedic Impactor, Joshua P. Kannankunni, Maria F. Fletcher, Olivia K. Kam

Biomedical Engineering

We were tasked by Dr. Dimitri Delagrammaticas, an orthopedic surgeon, to develop an automatic impaction device to use in hip arthroplasties. The goal of this project is to create and design the mechanical internals for an electric impactor device to aid in the impaction of orthopedic devices and reduce the risk of surgeon injuries. The stakeholders include our sponsor Dimitri Delagrammaticas and other orthopedic surgeons, patients in need of hip arthroplasty, hospitals, and Dr. Berg-Johansen. Dr. Berg-Johansen will be reviewing the design process and documentation for the duration of the senior design project. The Automated Orthopedic Impactor will solely focus …

Focused Led Sintering, Dylan Defazio, Nilav Maulik, Branden Majors, Michael Fontillas

Mechanical Engineering

This report provides a detailed overview of the final design of our light-emitting diode (LED) focusing system. Our system incorporates a converging lens and a specially designed "glass funnel," which acts as a thick fiber optic that narrows the light to a fine point through internal reflection. The glass components of our system are precisely housed in a part made using advanced computer-numeric controlled (CNC) Mill and CNC Lathe manufacturing processes. This ensures high precision and durability of the overall system. Our LED focusing system is designed with a 60-watt stage light. The decision to use a glass funnel as …

Port Adapter For Unported Pressure Sensors, Peter Kristjaan Tomson, Yasser Fahad Aldaoud, Terak Benjamin Hornik

Mechanical Engineering

Boundary layer research is an exciting and ever-changing field in fluid mechanics; thus, the need for high-quality empirical data is ever-growing in importance. Dr. Westphal, a professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s (Cal Poly) Mechanical Engineering Department in conjunction with Northrup Grumman is conducting just such research. Dr. Westphal has elected to make the change to pressure sensors that do not come with a built-in port to connect to pitot-static tubes. This necessitates a solution to adapt an unported pressure sensor to his testing apparatus which requires a tubed connection. This document outlines the Final Design Review …

Cal Poly Battle Bot, Jyotaaver S. Nirula, Johnathan W. Waldmire, Andrew D. Peterson, Nathaniel Ab Davis

Mechanical Engineering

This senior project endeavored to design, construct, and optimize a 120lb robot combatant tailored for the competitive arena of combat robotics. The project is a collaborative effort between mechanical, computer, and electrical engineering students at Cal Poly, combining diverse expertise to achieve a unified goal. Our competition, RoboGames, was in April of this year in Northern California.

The mechanical engineering team assumed primary responsibility for the physical components of the battle bot, focusing on three pivotal components: a robust drivetrain, armor, and a highperformance vertical spinner. These elements constitute the foundation of the battle bot's offensive and defensive capabilities, crucial …