Engineering Commons^™

Controlling The Uncontrollable: A New Approach To Digital Storytelling Using Autonomous Virtual Actors And Environmental Manipulation, Matthew J. Colon

Master's Theses

In most video games today that focus on a single story, scripting languages are used for controlling the artificial intelligence of the virtual actors. While scripting is a great tool for reliably performing a story, it has many disadvantages; mainly, it is limited by only being able to respond to those situations that were explicitly declared, causing unreliable responses to unknown situations, and the believability of the virtual actor is hindered by possible conflicts between scripted actions and appropriate responses as perceived by the viewer. This paper presents a novel method of storytelling by manipulating the environment, whether physically or …

Measurement And Analysis Of Truck And Rail Vibration Levels In Thailand, V. Chonhenchob, Paul Singh, Jay A. Singh, S. Sittipod, D. Swasdee, Supoj Pratheepthinthong

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Worldwide increase in trade, foreign direct investment, capital flows, migration and the spread of technology has caused an increased focus to be put on designing packages that can protect goods shipped globally. This requires a wide-ranging understanding of the distribution environments on a global basis. Several past studies have mapped the vibration levels for surface transportation along the most popular shipment routes in countries such as Brazil, Canada, China, India and the USA. This study was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the vibration levels observed for truck and rail shipments for major transportation routes in Thailand, one of …

Evaluating Lockheed Martin’S Packaging System: Implementing Lean Packaging Methods To Increase Efficiency And Meet Industry Demand, Alexander G. Strehl

Industrial Technology and Packaging

With the increase in production of the F-35 Lightening II, Lockheed Martin is currently revising their manufacturing processes to ensure they are capable of meeting the new demand for the aircraft. Different aspects of manufacturing are being altered including innovative packaging for specific components necessary for assembly. Modern packaging of components can lead to shorter lead-times, an increase in reusable and recyclable materials, and an increase in product protection.

This senior project addresses these packaging issues and provides a solution for the needs required by Lockheed for the packaging of their components. The result involves using a Korrvu® packaging solution …

Facility And Database Design For The Research Development Center, Nicholas J. Mehas

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The purpose of this project is to create a new facility and database design to replace the current Research Development Center located on the campus of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and the database in use at the facility. Currently the Research Development Center is a condemned building and the database lacks up-to-date technology. The project will develop new designs for both, based on concurrent engineering. The outcome of the project will be a new design for a new building that increases capacity and capability; a new database design that integrates newer technologies and methods for tracking tools.

E-Waste Solutions For Cal Poly And The Central Coast, Andrea Schmidt

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Executive Summary The focus of this paper is to explore the feasibility of an e-waste processing lab on the Cal Poly campus which can operate as an ongoing service to the community while maintaining an academic focus on the issues of end-of-life electronics. The result is a 30’ by 60’ lab on campus that includes 40 work stations, and 3,848 square feet of shelving. The lab can be entirely run by students with 36 hours per week of inspection and pre-production inventory activities and 6 hours of de-manufacturing activities, processing 264 e-waste units per month. Cal Poly students will train …

High Voltage Resonant Self-Tracking Current-Fed Converter, Scott Logan Mcclusky

Master's Theses

High voltage power supply design presents unique requirements, combining safety, controllability, high performance, and high efficiencies. A new Resonant Self-Tracking Current-Fed Converter (RST-CFC) is investigated as a proof-of-concept of a high voltage power supply particularly for an X-ray system. These systems require fast voltage rise times and low ripple to yield a clear image.

The proposed converter implements high-frequency resonance among discrete components and transformer parasitics to achieve high voltage gain, and the self-tracking nature ensures operation at maximum gain while power switches achieve zero-voltage switching across the full load range. This converter exhibits an inherent indefinite short-circuit capability. Theoretical …

Autonomous Satellite Operations For Cubesat Satellites, Jason Lionel Anderson

Master's Theses

In the world of educational satellites, student teams manually conduct operations daily, sending commands and collecting downlinked data. Educational satellites typically travel in a Low Earth Orbit allowing line of sight communication for approximately thirty minutes each day. This is manageable for student teams as the required manpower is minimal. The international Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations (GENSO), however, promises satellite contact upwards of sixteen hours per day by connecting earth stations all over the world through the Internet. This dramatic increase in satellite communication time is unreasonable for student teams to conduct manual operations and alternatives must be …

St Monitoring On The Programmer For Implantable Cardioverter Devices, Sarina Satya

Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most prevalent causes of death which has a high mortality rate. If identified early and treated appropriately, the mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease can be hugely reduced. For several decades, 12-Lead ECG has been the standard technique used to identify ischemia, and recent studies have shown that intracardiac electrogram has many benefits over external monitoring such as holter. ST Monitoring feature has been added to St. Jude Medical intracardiac cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) to leverage the ECG technology for identifying cardiovascular disease. This algorithm monitors the intracardiac electrogram to detect and report patterns which …

Performance Of A Stormwater Filter And Bacteria Inactivation Using Biocidal Media, Alexander Scott Bowerman

Master's Theses

There are many possible ways to mitigate stormwater pollution, but this study focused on the DrainPacTM catchment basin insert and the feasibility of integrating N-halamine biocidal brominated beads into the filter system. This study was divided into three sections. The first section involved testing a DrainPacTM filter for treatable flow rates, head loss, and removal of solids, oil, and bacteria. The DrainPacTM filter is designed to be installed in a stormwater catch basin. The filter is composed of a 12 x 41 inch metal frame with textile filter media attached to it in a basket shape. The upper portion of …

Bus On Shoulder: Local Assessment Of Shoulder Transit Lane For Regional Buses In San Luis Obispo County, Jessica R. Berry

Master's Theses

The study looks at the applicability of integrating a Bus Only Shoulder (BOS) into the intermittently congested segment of US 101 in southern San Luis Obispo County. Policy, infrastructure and implementing criteria derived from case studies in Minnesota, Florida and California (San Diego) and the 2007 California Decision Document on BOS are applied to conditions in the region. One measure of performance, time savings, is projected to 2025 to determine the value of integrating the program by that horizon year. Given the substantial potential for time savings in that future year, recommendations are made to create the appropriate policy and …

Quantifying Seismic Risk For Portable Ground Support Equipment At Vandenberg Air Force Base, Joshua Brian Lowe

Master's Theses

This project develops a quantitative method to evaluate the seismic risk for portable GSE at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Using the latest probability data available from the USGS, risk thresholds are defined for portable GSE having the potential to cause a catastrophic event. Additionally, an example tool for design engineers was developed from the seismic codes showing the tipping hazard case can be simplified into strict geometrical terms. The misinterpretation and confusion regarding the Range Safety 24 Hour Rule exemption can be avoided by assessing seismic risk for portable GSE. By using the methods herein to quantify and understand seismic …

Receive Sensitivity Characterization Of The Polysat Satellite Communication System, Ivan M. Bland

Master's Theses

Following the successful launch of CP3 and CP4, the PolySat team noticed an unreliable uplink to both satellites. A significant problem with the PolySat COMM system is poor receive sensitivity of the communications system. Efforts have been made to improve the uplink margin, but without proper characterization of the receiver sensitivity, the problem cannot be fully addressed. By developing an accurate method of measuring receive sensitivity, a methodical approach can be used to properly diagnose the communication system and link budget. Two revisions of the PolySat COMM system will be measured and compared. An in-depth study of the PolySat COMM …

A Prediction Of The Acoustical Output Of A Golf Driver Head Using Finite Elements, Roger Sharpe

Master's Theses

A simulation was created using LS-DYNA® to determine the acoustical properties of a golf ball and golf driver head impact. LS-DYNA® has a coupled finite element analysis (FEA) and boundary element method (BEM) solver that uses the integral form of Helmholtz’s acoustic wave equation to deliver predicted sound pressure levels at predetermined acoustic points. Validation of the modeling was done on a simple plate donated by Titleist Golf. The plate was modeled and meshed using TrueGrid and impacted by a three layer golf ball model derived from “Tanka’s” paper on multilayered golf balls. The final converging model consisted of 10,900 …

System Integration And Attitude Control Of A Low-Cost Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator, Ryan L. Kinnett

Master's Theses

The CalPoly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator mimics the rotational dynamics of a spacecraft in orbit and acts as a testbed for spacecraft attitude control system development and demonstration. Prior to this thesis, the simulator platform and several subsystems had been designed and manufactured, but the total simulator system was not yet capable of closed-loop attitude control. Previous attempts to make the system controllable were primarily mired by data transport performance. Rather than exporting data to an external command computer, the strategy implemented in this thesis relies on a compact computer onboard the simulator platform to handle both attitude control processing …

City Of Davis Greenbelt Master Plan, Brandon Haydu

Master's Theses

The City of Davis is currently updating its Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. During the update, greenbelts were identified as a highly used and desired facility. This Greenbelt Master Plan serves as a plan focused on the opportunities greenbelts can provide as recreational and transportation facilities. This report has analyzed community feedback, greenbelt coverage, greenbelt capacity, and existing local, state, and federal design guidelines. The final plan is a set of goals, objectives, policies, and programs, along with a greenbelt map, which is aimed at improving the greenbelt infrastructure in Davis through the year 2020.

Pump Operation With Vfd Controlled Motors, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

There are numerous reasons to consider using a VFD (variable frequency drive) controller with pumps in irrigation and drainage.These include: 1

1. Proper matching of the pump characteristics with the system. Reasonable engineers and salespersons will almost always overdesign pumps. It is very simple – if the pump is too small, there will be complaints. If, on the other hand, the pump delivers a bit more pressure than needed, there is rarely a complaint. Reasons to overdesign include:

Time-Temperature Curing Relationship Of An Adhesive Binder With Rice Straw, Kevin Ka-Wan Ng

Master's Theses

Rice straw is a global and proliferate agricultural waste whose production grossly outstrips viable uses. Current disposal methods are not sustainable, and more convenient methods – such as incineration – exude poor environmental stewardship. Although the direct use of straw bales in building construction presents a practical and sustainable alternative, engineering challenges associated with using it prevent its wide adoption. The Stak Block – a composite formed from compressed rice straw and a heat-cured adhesive – may overcome challenges associated with straw bale building. However, the times and temperatures needed to cure the binder with straw are not well understood. …

Identification Of Physical Changes To A Steel Frame, Daniel Eric Means

Master's Theses

The thesis utilized physical testing and computer modeling to determine the feasibility of identifying a change to the mass or stiffness of a steel frame. Physical testing was performed using an accelerometer, linear shaker, and arbitrary function generator. Two methods of laboratory testing were developed: ambient vibration testing (AVT) and forced vibration testing (FVT). AVT was able to preliminarily identify the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the frame. FVT was able to precisely identify four distinct natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios. The baseline frame then underwent two physical changes: the addition of mass to its roof, and …

Adaptive Control Applied To The Cal Poly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator, Matthew C. Downs

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis is to use the Cal Poly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator to provide proof of concept of two adaptive control theories developed by former Cal Poly students: Nonlinear Direct Model Reference Adaptive Control and Adaptive Output Feedback Control. The Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator is a student-built air bearing spacecraft simulator controlled by four reaction wheels in a pyramidal arrangement. Tests were performed to determine the effectiveness of the two adaptive control theories under nominal operating conditions, a “plug-and-play” spacecraft scenario, and under simulated actuator damage. Proof of concept of the adaptive control theories applied to attitude …

Control Law Design And Validation For A Helicopter In-Flight Simulator, Brian T. Fujizawa

Master's Theses

In-flight simulation allows one aircraft to simulate the dynamic response of another aircraft. A control system designed to give RASCAL, a JUH-60A Black Hawk helicopter based at Moffett Field, CA, in-flight simulation capabilities has been designed, optimized and validated in this research. A classical explicit model following control system with a frequency dependent feedback controller was used. The frequency dependent controller allows model following of the attitude in the short term and the velocity in the long term. Controller gains were optimized using a high order, linearized model of UH-60 dynamics. Non-linear simulations of the control laws were performed, first …

An Investigation Of Humeral Stress Fractures In Racing Thoroughbreds Using A 3d Finite Element Model In Conjunction With A Bone Remodeling Algorithm, Ryan James Moore

Master's Theses

The humerus of a racing horse Thoroughbred is highly susceptible to stress fractures at a characteristic location as a result of cyclic loading. The propensity of a Thoroughbred to exhibit humeral fracture has made equines useful models in the epidemiology of stress fractures. In this study, a racing Thoroughbred humerus was simulated during training using a 3D finite element model in conjunction with a bone remodeling algorithm. Nine muscle forces and two contact forces were applied to the 3-dimensional finite element model, which contains four separate load cases representing fore-stance, mid-stance, aft-stance, and standing. Four different training programs were incorporated …

High-Speed Concatenation Of Frequency Ramps Using Sampled Grating Distributed Bragg Reflector Laser Diode Sources For Oct Resolution Enhancement, Brandon George, Dennis J. Derickson

Electrical Engineering

Brandon George and Dennis Derickson California Polytechnic State Univ. (USA) Wavelength tunable sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers used for telecommunications applications have previously demonstrated the ability for linear frequency ramps covering the entire tuning range of the laser at 100 kHz repetition rates1. An individual SG-DBR laser has a typical tuning range of 50 nm. The InGaAs/InP material system often used with SG-DBR lasers allows for design variations that cover the 1250 to 1650 nm wavelength range. This paper addresses the possibility of concatenating the outputs of tunable SGDBR lasers covering adjacent wavelength ranges for enhancing the resolution …

Improved Geometry Modeling For High Fidelity Parametric Design, James R. Gloudemans, Robert A. Mcdonald

Aerospace Engineering

Advanced multidisciplinary physics-based design and analysis capabilities are required to pursue the revolutionary vehicle and technology concepts needed to meet the goals of the aerospace industry for the next 10-30 years. The multidisciplinary physics critical to advancing aerospace technology all have one common bond, the shape, size, and form of the underlying aircraft - its geometry. An aircraft shape is the natural starting point for multidisciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO). Vehicle Sketch Pad (VSP) is an aircraft geometry tool for rapid evaluation of advanced design concepts which was developed by NASA and is available to industry at large. VSP allows …

Conceptual Design Of A Next Generation, 150 Passenger Commercial Transport, Ryan Halper, Kevin Lane, Dustin Marschik, Brett Morham, John Pham, Robert A. Mcdonald, Bruce Wright

Aerospace Engineering

In response to the 2008-2009 AIAA Undergraduate Team Design Competition's Request for Proposals for an advanced, environmentally compatible, 150 seat commercial transport; Jackson West has designed the Sparrow JS-3. The Sparrow represents the next step in the evolution of commercial aviation. Scheduled to enter service in 2018, The Sparrow will compete directly with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. Its improvements in fuel consumption and operating cost, as well as its reduced environmental impact, make The Sparrow the ideal solution to this RFP.

Assessment Of Sting Effect On X-31 Aircraft Model Using Cfd, Adam Jirásek, Russell M. Cummings

Aerospace Engineering

The article describes the computational evaluation of the effect a belly mounted sting on the aerodynamics characteristics of an X-31 wind tunnel model. The investigation includes results of steady and time-dependent CFD analysis of the X-31 model with and without sting. The values of the steady lift and pitching moment coefficients as well as the pitching moment of model undergoing a manuever are compared to each other and to the wind tunnel data. The results of this analysis show the detrimental effect of sting on stability of the vortical structure above the wing as well as a substantial increase of …

Overview Of Recent Circulation Control Modeling Activities At Cal Poly, David D. Marshall, Kristina K. Jameson

Aerospace Engineering

This paper provides an overview of the Circulation Control modeling research that has been performed, and is still ongoing, at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This work started in 2005 with the interest of applying Circulation Control technologies to advanced aircraft designs. After the initial investigations into this, it was apparent that there was a long history of experimental work in this area to build on, but a number of deficiencies existed in the modeling capabilities. For Circulation Control enabled aircraft, these included: few available tools to accurately model the takeoff and landing performance, the limitations in the standard regulations …

Improved Methodologies For Maneuver Design Of Aircraft Stability And Control Simulations, Adam Jirásek, Tiger L. Jeans, Mathew Martenson, Russell M. Cummings, Keith Bergeron

Aerospace Engineering

With many modern fighter aircraft experiencing unpredicted flight dynamics during flight tests, recent research has focused on developing methodologies for incorporating computational fluid dynamics into the aircraft development process. The goal of this approach is to identify configurations susceptible to stability and control issues early in the design process. Previous research has primarily focused on full aircraft configurations, however, to increase the rate of development the current study focused on a two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil. The two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil has the advantage of reducing the computational cost by orders of magnitude compared to full scale aircraft simulations, while still providing complicated …

Parameter Estimation Of Fundamental Technical Aircraft Information Applied To Aircraft Performance, Mike Vallone, Robert A. Mcdonald

Aerospace Engineering

Inverse problems can be applied to aircraft in many areas. One of the disciplines within the aerospace industry with the most openly published data is in the area of aircraft performance. Many aircraft manufacturers publish performance claims, flight manuals and Standard Aircraft Characteristic (SAC) charts without any mention of the more fundamental technical information such as C_D0. With accurate tools, generalized aircraft models and a few curve-fitting techniques, it is possible to evaluate vehicle performance and estimate these technical parameters.

With this goal a program has been written in Matlab to calculate the fundamental information behind a …

Designing A Green Aircraft: Cal Poly's 2009 Undergraduate Aircraft Designs, Robert A. Mcdonald, Bruce Wright

Aerospace Engineering

The Cal Poly senior design class submitted six designs this year in response to the 2009 Undergraduate Team Aircraft Design Competition. This paper summarizes our experiences teaching design through this RFP and brings the student's insights together.

Conceptual Design Of An Environmentally Responsible 150-Passenger Commercial Aircraft, Natalie R. Smith, Bryan Blessing, James Dixon, Allen Mackey, Gregory Mckenzie, Robert A. Mcdonald, Bruce Wright

Aerospace Engineering

Verde is an environmentally responsible commercial transport seating 150 dual-class passengers, designed in response to the 2008-2009 Request for Proposal from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Undergraduate Team Aircraft Design Competition. While the airline industry faces increasing pressures from the cost of fuel and the responsibility of environmental impact, the next generation of this aircraft class must operate more efficiently and address those environmental needs. Therefore, all design decisions for Verde focused first on reducing fuel burn, second on reducing emissions, then noise, and finally on maintaining flyaway cost, airport integration, and passenger comfort. The final design utilizes …