Digital Commons Network^™

The Next Generation Cubesat: A Modular And Adaptable Cubesat Frame Design, James Dolengewicz, Lucas Whipple, Stephanie Wong

Mechanical Engineering

The goal of this project is to develop an improved next-generation CubeSat structure for Cal Poly’s PolySat program. Notable achievements include significantly increased ease of access, design to optimize payload space, improved machinability, increased modularity and a platform which allows for easy integration of future payloads.

Robot Crawling Device And Tee Table, Todd P. Trauman, Kyle M. Colvin, David Charles Fantz

Mechanical Engineering

As golf becomes a more frequently enjoyed activity, equipment manufacturers such as Hot Stix Golf require updated testing mechanisms to actively compete in their respective markets. One such testing device is a golfing robot nicknamed the “Iron Byron”. Two issues were asked to be addressed for the senior project. First, the robot was practically immobile unless taken apart and moved with a forklift. The request from Hot Stix was to mobilize the robot so that it could easily be transported with minimal use of external help. Secondly, the initial tee-table was both poorly-designed and missing altogether. The new tee-table needed …

Automated Heart Valve Flow Testing, Matthew Scott Johnson, Akane Sharon Karasawa, Timothy Charles Ulrich

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Water Well Drilling Rig Final Project Report, Alexander (Alex) Wargnier, Thad Jablonski, Coel Schumacher

Mechanical Engineering

In this report, the improvements of a previously produced cable tool drilling rig are described. The purpose of the rig is to drill water wells for use in Africa in order to provide safe drinking water to many in need. An affordable, effective, and controllable rig is the design goal for this project. With the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club sponsoring the project the design team of WHole Engineering have made necessary design choices to manufacture the product. Actions performed include background research of existing drilling technologies, analysis of top concepts for the controlling mechanism, and selection for the final …

The Quadricycle Hand And Foot Cycle, Marissa Chin, Parker Drennan, Spencer Nelson, Kevin Reidy

Mechanical Engineering

This report documents the design process from concept generation to manufacturing for a hand and foot powered cycle named the Quadricycle.  The Quadricycle project is a joint effort at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo between the Mechanical Engineering and Kinesiology Departments.  The project objectives are to design a portable cycle that can be powered by hands and feet simultaneously in order to provide recreation and rehabilitation for a person with a disability.  This project is funded under a grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Friends Of The Library Mcnair Scholarship Awards, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Directional Patch Antenna Array Design For Desktop Wireless Internet, Noah Snyder

Electrical Engineering

To improve desktop wireless internet access, two patch antenna configurations were investigated in order to find an alternative for a dipole antenna, which is commonly used for Wi-Fi access. A Linksys WMP54G pci-card wireless adapter was used to test three antennas for 802.11g communications. The standard WMP54G dipole antenna and two patch antenna configurations were tested for Wi-Fi signal strength. The antennas were also tested in Cal Poly’s anechoic chamber to obtain resonant frequency and gain measurements. A 2.437 GHz center frequency, 72 MHz bandwidth antenna consisting of a single microstrip patch was constructed. After the patch antenna was determined …

Production And Sensory Evaluation Of Pasteurized Milk Cheese Vs. Raw Milk Cheese Using "Estero Gold" From Valley Ford Cheese Company, Joseph M. Moreda Jr.

Dairy Science

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether converting from raw milk cheese production to pasteurized milk cheese production would have a positive or negative business impact for Valley Ford Cheese Company, based on consumer acceptance. The project began by making two batches of Estero Gold cheese, one with raw milk and one with pasteurized milk. The raw milk cheese was produced at Valley Ford Cheese Company, with the milk provided from its usual source, Mountain View Jersey Dairy, composed of 100% Jersey cows. The pasteurized cheese was produced at the Cal Poly Creamery, with the milk provided from …

The Role Of The Black Catholic Theologian And Scholar In Today’S Context, M. Shawn Copeland

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

Based on her keynote address delivered during the 2009 Annual Meeting at Atlanta University’s Lyke Center, Copeland takes a look back at the nearly forty-year history of black theological scholarship, reminding us of the intimate link between culture, history, and the ongoing and critical need for a theology that is authentic and responsive to the needs of the poor and marginalized. She reminds us of the urgency for the pursuit of truth and freedom, especially for black scholars and theologians. However, the quest for authenticity comes with a price.

Toward Automated Detection And Diagnosis Of Mammographic Microcalcifications, Imad Mohammad Zyout

Dissertations

Mammographie diagnosis is the most effective technique to detect breast cancer in its infancy when it is most responsive to treatment. An early and a significant indicator of breast cancer is the presence of clustered microcalcifications (MCs). Mammographie MCs greatly vary in their appearance and shape, and become indistinguishable when surrounded by dense breast tissue. This makes radiologist's interpretation of mammograms a tedious and an error prone task.

Although computer aided diagnosis (CAD) methods are being developed to aid radiologist in detecting and analyzing the malignancy of MCs, existing systems have not achieved a satisfactory performance. The specificity of existing …

Experimentally Reducing Preset And Hysteresis Effects In Creating A Non-Linear Model For Brake Hoses, Jai Thomas

Dissertations

This research investigates a brake hose simulation model that includes the effect of nonlinear torsional stiffness in addition to the usually considered bending stiffness on brake hose shape. A simulation model consisting of beams and torsion springs is presented in this research to predict brake hose shape when it is twisted through different angles. This knowledge can help reduce the possibility of a significant source of failure related to brake hose abrasion on nearby structures, thus eliminating the safety hazard of a premature failure of hoses. This would also eliminate the need for polymer bumpers at the rub points since …

Examining The Effectiveness And Efficiency Of Two Delivery Models To Teach Children Abduction Prevention Skills, Kimberly E. Seckinger-Bancroft

Dissertations

Nearly all children receive abduction prevention training. Most traditional education programs increase the learner's knowledge, but often fail to produce concomitant behavior change. Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is a multicomponent, behavior-based training strategy with empirical support demonstrating its effectiveness in teaching children safety skills, behavioral generalization and maintenance over time. BST, however, is restricted by financial, human and time costs and limited resources to implement the training protocol. These factors likely limit widespread adoption of the training model. This study examined the use of computer-based instruction that emphasized active responding and mastery level performance requirements to teach school-aged children abduction …

Mainstreaming Evaluation: Four Case Studies Of Systematic Evaluation Integrated Into Organizational Culture And Practices, Amy M. Gullickson

Dissertations

Following a literature review, a researcher generated a descriptive theory of evaluation mainstreaming, the integration of systematic evaluation into the culture, systems, and job responsibilities of organizations. She then explored the validity and generalizability of the theory in the National Science Foundation’s grant-funded Advanced Technological Education Program using mixed methods research. Four centers were chosen based on quantitative survey responses which suggested that the organizations were likely to be mainstreaming evaluation. For each center, the researcher conducted a site visit, interviews, and document review to understand (i) the processes by and extent to which evaluation became part of everyday operations; …

Prediction Of Copper Grade At Flotation Column Concentrate Using Artificial Neural Network, F. Nakhaei, A. Sam, M. R. Mosavi, S. Zeidabadi

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The flotation column is a multivariable process whose main control objective is to guarantee the metallurgical yield set for the process operation, expressed by the grade and the recovery of the valuable mineral in the concentrate. The on-line estimation of grade usually requires a significant amount of work in maintenance and calibration of on-stream analyzers, in order to maintain good accuracy and high availability. These difficulties and the high cost of investment and maintenance of these devices have encouraged the approach of prediction of metal grade as an index of control performance. Therefore, advanced new methods such as Artificial Neural …

Robust Neural Network Rise Observer Based Fault Diagnostics And Prediction, James W. Fonda, S. (Sarangapani) Jagannathan, Steve Eugene Watkins

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel fault diagnostics and prediction scheme in continuous time is introduced for a class of nonlinear systems. The proposed method uses a novel neural network (NN) based robust integral sign of the error (RISE) observer, or estimator, allowing for semi-global asymptotic stability in the presence of NN approximation errors, disturbances and unmodeled dynamics. This is in comparison to typical results presented in the literature that show only boundedness in the presence of uncertainties. The output of the observer/estimator is compared with that of the nonlinear system and a residual is used for declaring the presence of a fault when …

The Cd-Te Phase Diagram, Robert F. Brebrick

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The properties of the liquid phase in the Cd–Te system are fit using thermodynamic properties of CdTe(c) recently optimized by the author. These include a high temperature heat capacity significantly lower than commonly used such that the enthalpy of formation of CdTe(c) at its melting point is about 10 kJ/mol less negative than previously thought. An associated solution model with Cd, CdTe, and Te species is used. Seven adjustable parameters are sufficient to quantitatively fit the liquidus and partial pressures of Te₂ and Cd. Additional partial pressures for Te rich CdTe(c) near its melting point are extracted from an …

A Mean-Variance Optimization Algorithm, Istvan Erlich, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Nakawiro Worawat

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new stochastic optimization algorithm referred to by the authors as the 'Mean-Variance Optimization' (MVO) algorithm is presented in this paper. MVO falls into the category of the so-called "population-Based stochastic optimization technique." the uniqueness of the MVO algorithm is based on the strategic transformation used for mutating the offspring based on mean-variance of the n-best dynamic population. the mapping function used transforms the uniformly distributed random variation into a new one characterized by the variance and mean of the n-best population attained so far. the searching space within the algorithm is restricted to the range - zero to one …

Applying Feature Selective Validation (Fsv) As An Objective Function For Data Optimization, Siming Pan, Hanfeng Wang, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Feature Select Validation (FSV) is a widely used validation method for data comparison. FSV provides a quantitative standard to describe the similarity between two sets of data. in this paper, the application of the FSV technique is extended to data optimization. the raw data obtained from simulations or measurements are often non-ideal for further processing. Several techniques, such as data perturbation, can be used to improve the data quality in certain aspects. However, after modifications the new data could be very different to the original one. using FSV as an objective function for the optimization process is discussed in this …

Hybrid Method Used To Model Via Transitions, Hanfeng Wang, Albert E. Ruehli, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A hybrid approach to solve via impedance and model via transitions is presented in the paper. the method is a combination of via-plane capacitance extraction and the impedance matrices calculation of parallel plane pair. a new formulation of the integral equation method for axially symmetric geometry is used for the capacitance extraction. the method is validated with other model results. ©2010 IEEE.

Efficient Mid-Frequency Plane Inductance Computation, Fan Zhou, Albert E. Ruehli, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In power distribution networks (PDN), the modelling of the mid-frequency inductance for Zpp type plane pairs is very important. It is a key step for the placement of the decoupling capacitors. This paper gives an efficient approach for the calculation of the inductance for different capacitor placements. the PEEC based formulations takes advantage of the opposite currents in the planes. This leads to compute time reductions and memory savings for both the element calculation and the matrix solve step. We also use a formulation where placement of capacitors leads to only small changes in the circuit matrix. Comparisons with other …

A Novel Impedance Definition Of A Parallel Plate Pair For An Intrinsic Via Circuit Model, Yaojiang Zhang, Gang Feng, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Rigorous analysis of via-plate-pair interactions requires the impedance of a plate pair to be defined in terms of radial transmission lines on perfect magnetic conductor (PMC) ports. the plate domain is not a solid plate pair but one with multiple PMC holes where conventional impedance definitions are not suitable. a new impedance definition is proposed where port voltages and currents are expressed in terms of the inward and outward zero-order modes of a radial transmission line. Radial scattering parameters among multiple radial ports are then introduced and the transforms between the radial scattering and impedance matrices are given. an analytical …

Analyzing Via Impedance Variations With A Stochastic Collation Method, Jianxiang Shen, Hanfeng Wang, Ji Chen, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, we describe a systematic approach to optimize and analyze the equivalent characteristic impedance of practical via structures. the procedure consists of (a) optimizing via structures for impedance matching using a Genetic algorithm, and (b) numerically characterize, by stochastic collocation method, the sensitivity of the equivalent characteristic impedance to the manufacturing uncertainties in the various geometrical parameters of a via structure. Such procedure naturally leads to a rigorous methodology for EM design/control in the presence of multiple sources of uncertainty. ©2010 IEEE.

Equivalent Transmission-Line Model For Vias Connected To Striplines In Multilayer Print Circuit Boards, Siming Pan, Jianmin Zhang, Qinghua B. Chen, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Vias are typical discontinuities for high-speed signal transmission in printed circuit boards. Previous work has studied the through-hole via connections from the top layer to the bottom between microstrip traces and proposed an equivalent transmission-line model for impedance matching between traces and vias. in this paper, the equivalent transmission-line model is extended for the via structures connected to strip lines based on modal decomposition. Both single-ended and differential cases are discussed, and the effects of the model parameters on the performance of signal transition are also investigated. the extended equivalent transmission-line model is accurate and fast to be embedded in …

Enhanced Mimo Lmmse Turbo Equalization, Jun Tao, Jingxian Wu, Yahong Rosa Zheng, Chengshan Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We propose an enhanced linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) turbo equalization scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems. the turbo equalizer employs soft interference cancelation (SIC), where tentative soft decisions of the interfering symbols are subtracted from the received samples before the LMMSE filtering. the enhanced LMMSE turbo equalization with SIC introduces two improvements over existing methods. First, unlike existing methods that completely rely on the a priori soft decisions at the equalizer input for SIC, the new scheme performs SIC by continuously updating the soft decisions with the a posteriori information of the symbols that have just been …

Bi-Material Attachment Through A Soft Tissue Interfacial System, Y. X. Liu, S. Thomopoulos, Victor Birman, J. S. Li, G. M. Genin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Review Of Multi-Scale Electromagnetic Modeling, W. C. Chew, Lijun Jiang, H. Y. Chao, A. J. Hesford, M. K. Li, Z. G. Qian, Y. G. Liu, Y. P. Chen, Z. H. Ma, L. E. Sun, M. S. Tong, C. Davis, W. E.I. Sha

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper reviews various methods to solve multiscale problems ranging from low-frequency methods to very high-frequency methods. ©2010 IEEE.

The Visible Hand: Coordination Functions Of The Regulatory State, Robert B. Ahdieh

Faculty Scholarship

We live in a coordination economy. As one surveys the myriad challenges of modern social and economic life, an ever increasing proportion is defined not by the need to reconcile competing interests, but by the challenge of getting everyone on the same page. Conflict is not absent in these settings. It is not, however, the determinative factor in shaping our behaviors and resulting interactions. That essential ingredient, instead, is coordination.

Such coordination is commonly understood as the function of the market. As it turns out, however, optimal coordination will not always emerge, as if led “by an invisible hand.” Even …

Imperfect Alternatives: Networks, Salience, And Institutional Design In Financial Crises, Robert B. Ahdieh

Faculty Scholarship

With the benefit of hindsight — and some aspiration to foresight — it is useful to consider the type of regulatory regime that might best address financial crises. What could policymakers have done to prevent the recent crisis? And once the crisis started, what interventions might have alleviated it? These questions have been widely debated, with an eye to both substantive policy and the design of effective regulatory institutions. This Article speaks to the latter project — one of comparative institutional analysis — though with a framework that implicates our substantive policy choices as well. It begins with an account …

Spectator 2010-12-01, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Extracting Physical Ic Models Using Near-Field Scanning, Zhenwei Yu, Jayong Koo, Jason A. Mix, Kevin Slattery, Jun Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Accurate modeling of chip and chip-package is critical for EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI (RF Interference) analysis and prediction. in this paper, a model based on an array of dipoles from near-field measurement is proposed. a simple active circuit is simulated in a 3-D full-wave simulation tool, and the dipole model is calculated from the near-field data in the simulation using inverse method with regularization technique. This model has clear physical meaning, and it is validated using field at another place. ©2010 IEEE.