Engineering Commons^™

Rogue Rotary - Modular Robotic Rotary Joint Design, Sean Wesley Murphy, Tyler David Riessen, Jacob Mark Triplett

Mechanical Engineering

This paper describes the design process from ideation to test validation for a singular robotic joint to be configured into a myriad of system level of robots.

A High Quality, Eulerian 3d Fluid Solver In C++, Lejon Anthony Mcgowan

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Fluids are a part of everyday life, yet are one of the hardest elements to properly render in computer graphics. Water is the most obvious entity when thinking of what a fluid simulation can achieve (and it is indeed the focus of this project), but many other aspects of nature, like fog, clouds, and particle effects. Real-time graphics like video games employ many heuristics to approximate these effects, but large-scale renderers aim to simulate these effects as closely as possible.

In this project, I wish to achieve effects of the latter nature. Using the Eulerian technique of discrete grids, I …

Alternative Mission Concepts For The Exploration Of Outer Planets Using Small Satellite Swarms, Andrew Gene Blocher

Master's Theses

Interplanetary space exploration has thus far consisted of single, expensive spacecraft missions. Mission costs are particularly high on missions to the outer planets and while invaluable, finite budgets limit our ability to perform extensive and frequent investigations of the planets. Planetary systems such as Jupiter and Saturn provide extremely complex exploration environments with numerous targets of interest. Exploring these targets in addition to the main planet requires multiple fly-bys and long mission timelines. In LEO, CubeSats have changed the exploration paradigm, offering a fast and low cost alternative to traditional space vehicles. This new mission development philosophy has the potential …

Solar Powered Single-Axis Heliostat Active Solar Tracking Device, Mason Kyle Roberts

Physics

As a means of cooking food, the burning of biomass accounts for over 4 million premature deaths in third world countries (“Household Air Pollution and Health”). The focus of this project was to explore an alternative that could utilize focused sunlight to cook food. A solar tracker was designed to be affixed to a parabolic, reflective, tilted single axis heliostat to follow the sun throughout the day and focus the reflected light to the bottom of a cooking surface. This surface became hot enough to for the preparation of food or boiling/sterilization of water.

A goal for each project was …

Usage Of Fomblin Y To Improve Water Repellence Of Surface Coatings, Shawn Pj Kirby, Jeffrey Alston, Andrew Guenthner

STAR Program Research Presentations

Fluoro-Decyl POSS (FDP) has shown strong potential as a water repellant surface coating. Additionally, Fomblin is a solvent believed to have the ability to control the crystallization of POSS compounds on surfaces. Controlling the crystallization is key to improving water repelling abilities of surfaces. Thus, dip coating FDP and Fomblin onto surfaces is being investigated for water repulsion, mechanical stability, and deposition feasibility. First, temperature dependence of solubility of Fluoro-Decyl POSS in Fomblin was tested using Dynamic Light Scattering. Relative water repelling abilities of different coatings were determined by measuring contact angle of surfaces with water. Coatings with and without …

Comparative Solubility Of Poss Compounds In Fomblin Y, Shawn Pj Kirby, Jeffrey Alston, Andrew Guenthner

STAR Program Research Presentations

Fluoro-Decyl POSS (FDP) has shown strong potential as a water repellant surface coating. Additionally, Fomblin is a solvent believed to have the ability to control the crystallization of POSS compounds on surfaces. Controlling the crystallization is key to improving water repelling abilities of surfaces. Thus, dip coating FDP and Fomblin onto surfaces is being investigated for water repulsion, mechanical stability, and deposition feasibility. However, in order for this to be successful, POSS must be soluble in Fomblin. Temperature dependence of solubility of Fluoro-Hexyl, Fluoro-Octyl, Fluoro-Decyl POSS in Fomblin was tested using Dynamic Light Scattering. The values were compared, and it …

Underwater Computer Vision - Fish Recognition, Spencer Chang, Austin Otto

Computer Engineering

The Underwater Computer Vision – Fish Recognition project includes the design and implementation of a device that can withstand staying underwater for a duration of time, take pictures of underwater creatures, such as fish, and be able to identify certain fish. The system is meant to be cheap to create, yet still able to process the images it takes and identify the objects in the pictures with some accuracy. The device can output its results to another device or an end user.

Multispectral Identification Array, Zachary D. Eagan

Computer Engineering

The Multispectral Identification Array is a device for taking full image spectroscopy data via the illumination of a subject with sixty-four unique spectra. The array combines images under the illumination spectra to produce an approximate reflectance graph for every pixel in a scene. Acquisition of an entire spectrum allows the array to differentiate objects based on surface material. Spectral graphs produced are highly approximate and should not be used to determine material properties, however the output is sufficiently consistent to allow differentiation and identification of previously sampled subjects. While not sufficiently advanced for use as a replacement to spectroscopy the …

A Comparison Study Of Two Synthesis Methods For Polymer Of Intrinsic Microporosity 1 (Pim-1), Conor S. Perry

Materials Engineering

Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) are an emerging polymeric material class for molecular sieving applications. This study focuses on PIM-1, an alternating copolymer of 5,5’,6,6’-tetrahydroxy-3,3’,3,3’-tetramethyl-1,1’-spirobisindane and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile synthesized via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. PIM-1 been widely studied as a gas separating material and filtering membrane, but in this case, it is studied as a battery separator material. PIM-1’s microporous (pore diameters less than 2 nm) structure allows smaller favorable ions to transport while preventing larger ions and compounds from transporting. Two synthesis methods, round bottom flask synthesis and ball mill synthesis, of PIM-1 are compared to see any improved characteristics. The …

Micro-Spi Sediment Profile Imaging Micro-Inspector, Andrew P. Corvin, Caleb T. Davies, Matt R. Ferrari

Mechanical Engineering

This project was proposed by Dr. Brian Paavo through a desire to more easily study the benthic sediment layers of the ocean. To do so, he asked us to build a simple and compact machine for use in sediment profile imagery (SPI). Although devices like this already exist, they are all large scale devices that require a ship with a crane to deploy, which is expensive and time consuming. Instead, he desired a “micro” SPI, which is capable of being deployed from a small vessel that can easily navigate shallow waters. Our interpretation of these requirements was as follows: a …

Gridiron-Gurus Final Report: Fantasy Football Performance Prediction, Kyle Tanemura, Michael Li, Erica Dorn, Ryan Mckinney

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Gridiron Gurus is a desktop application that allows for the creation of custom AI profiles to help advise and compete against in a Fantasy Football setting. Our AI are capable of performing statistical prediction of players on both a season long and week to week basis giving them the ability to both draft and manage a fantasy football team throughout a season.

Iota Pi Application For Ios, Deborah Newberry

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Kappa Kappa Psi is a national honorary fraternity for college band members. They meet every Sunday night, and during these meetings they plan events (both internal and external) that aim to meet our goal of making sure that the Cal Poly band programs have their social, financial, material, and educational needs satisfied. This paper details the steps I took to create an application for them to use internally to help ease organizational processes.

Using Intel Realsense Depth Data For Hand Tracking In Unreal Engine 4, Granger Lang

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

This project describes how to build a hand tracking method for VR/AR using the raw data from a depth sensing camera.

Thermal Evolution Of Moon, Arshdeep Singh Gill

Master's Theses

In August, 2014 three experiments were conducted using infrared systems deployed at White Mountain Research center, CA. The data was acquired for the whole month of August. Teams of 3-4 students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Santa Barbara were stationed at the research center for 2-3 days to operate the equipment. The three experiments were:(1) creating spatial-temporal time series of lunar surface temperatures;(2) identifying atmospheric meteor trails;(3) search for meteor impacts on the Moon surface. Out of the three this thesis focusses on experiment 1 and the results from this experiment could also help with the other …