Engineering Commons^™

Teaching Robot Kinematics For Engineering Technology Students Using A Created Three-Dimensional Robot And Camera, Cheng Y. Lin, Yuzhong Shen

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Teaching robot kinematics is important to engineering technology students in the robot automation. The study can help students not only in the coordinate transformation principles from a joint to its following joint in a robot, but also in relating the coordinate systems between a robot and a machine vision system. While students can utilize math software to compute robot kinematic transformations, they have problems verifying their answers. In this paper, a three dimensional vertically articulated robot is created to help students visualize the location and orientation of the end effector. Students can check their robot kinematic answers based on the …

A Pilot Program For The Recruitment And Education Of Navy Veterans Based On System-Level Technical Expertise And Leadership Maturation Developed During Service, Anthony W. Dean, Connor Schwalm, Patrick S. Heaney, Linda Vahala, Yuzhong Shen, Jennifer G. Michaeli

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The project, Stern2STEM, aims to advance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education through the preparation of student veterans to pursue baccalaureate STEM degrees and support the re-employment of these veterans into the Department of Defense (DoD) and the wider defense support industry. The program builds on the training that veterans have received in highly skilled technical areas, both in the classroom and “on-the-job”, to develop system level expertise in their respective technical disciplines. Key components of the program include: (1) establishing a mechanism for outreach and recruitment; (2) providing leveling, tutoring, mentoring, and support for students; (3) teaching …

Quantitative Assessment Of Secondary Flows Of Single-Phase Fluid Through Pipe Bends, Z. Kaldy, O. Ayala

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Single-phase fluid flow was simulated passing through various three dimensional pipe elbows. The simulations varied by Reynolds number, curvature ratios, and sweep angles and were all conducted using the k-e model available in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.1. The intent of this research was to qualitatively assess the flow characteristics under several different conditions. Many similarities were seen especially when comparing curvature ratios, the vorticity location for the turbulent cases show near identical behavior at the elbow midsection. One of the variables quantified in this paper is the maximum secondary velocity module which shows increasing values until the midsection of the elbow.

Secondary Flow Of Liquid-Liquid Two-Phase Fluids In A Pipe Bend, M. Ayala, P. Santos, G. Hamester, O. Ayala

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A simulated study of oil and water in 90 degree bend was carried on COMSOL 5.1 to characterize flow pattern and analyze the secondary flow. The Euler-Euler k-e Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes model was used to represent the fluid motion. Changes in the Reynolds number, curvature ratio and direction of gravity were made to evaluate the effects in the intensity of the secondary flow. In the end, it was possible to see that the bend direction does not affect the formation of secondary flow for Reynolds above 100,000. It appears that the fluid behavior on the pipe bend is strongly related …

Applications Of Digital Manufacturing In Manufacturing Process Support, Vukica Jovanovic, Mihael Debevec, Niko Herakovic, Alok Verma, Mileta Tomovic

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In this study, the authors developed three new approaches and models for improvements related to manufacturing processes. The main focus was on planning in a digital environment before the actual manufacturing process is carried out. The first approach is digital manufacturing, which gives affords the opportunity for performing an entire manufacturing process in a virtual environment. In this way, engineers virtually define, plan, create, monitor, and control all production processes. The planning phase can be done simultaneously, while other manufacturing processes are already in place. In this way, processes can continue with no interruption. Various product lifecycle management tools have …

The Reconfigurable Machinery Efficient Workspace Analysis Based On The Twist Angles, Ana M. Djuric, Vukica Jovanovic, Mirjana Filipovic, Ljubinko Kevac

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

A novel methodology for the calculation, visualisation and analysis of the Reconfigurable Machinery Efficient Workspace (RMEW), based on the twist angles, is presented in this paper. The machinery's kinematic parameters are used for calculating the workspace, while the efficient workspace is associated with the machinery's path and includes the end-effector position and orientation. To analyse and visualise many different machinery efficient workspaces at the same time, the calculation is based on the previously developed and validated complex reconfigurable machinery's kinematic structure named n-DOF Global Kinematic Model (n-GKM). An industrial robot is used as an example to demonstrate …

Discrete Model For Cancer Tumor Growth And Effect Of Chemotherapy, Karim Virani

Dissertations and Theses

Many mathematical models have focused on growth of a single tumor with their spreading rate with some have included its metastasis. Some of the earlier models focus on exponential growth and its shift with time on to a linear model. The Gompertzian model involves a quadratic terms and that limit growth. We looked into Iwata et al paper it discusses a different model and takes into account the growth and metastasis of a tumor population but does not look into tumor shrinking or chemotherapy. Our new model focuses on the extending Iwata et al model to take into account tumor …

Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Ltp And Ltd: Activity-Dependence And Dendritic Effects, Gregory Kronberg

Dissertations and Theses

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to improve various forms of learning in humans. Stimulation is often applied during training, producing lasting enhancements that are specific to the learned task. These learning effects are thought be mediated by altered synaptic plasticity. However, the effects of DCS during the induction of endogenous synaptic plasticity remain largely unexplored. To model endogenous plasticity I induced long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) at Schaffer collateral synapses in CA1 of rat hippocampal slices. When induction was paired with concurrent DCS, the resulting plasticity was biased towards potentiation, such that LTP was enhanced and …

Ultrahigh Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging – Technical Development And Translational Applications, Judy Alper

Dissertations and Theses

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to provide detailed images of the human body with excellent soft tissue contrast. Alongside its current widespread clinical applications for diagnosis and treatment, MRI allows researchers to measure structure and function of different tissue types in order to advance our understanding of human biology and enable new medical applications of MRI. In particular, diseases affecting nerves and vessels, such as trigeminal neuralgia, with uncertain etiology can be studied using multiple MRI modalities so that treatment planning can we more effective and patient outcomes can be improved. Ultrahigh field MRI scanners, such as those …

Innovative System For Seismic Control Strategies, Seyed Ali Razavi

Dissertations and Theses

Among various alternative approaches, installing auxiliary damping devices such as tuned mass dampers (TMDs) is a very reliable solution to mitigate wind-induced vibration of tall buildings. However, regardless of the different distribution strategies, installing TMD systems means adding additional masses to tall buildings. A valuable space on top of tall buildings is sacrificed to contain a large bulky mass, which is not aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore, increasing the mass of tall buildings by installing extra mass systems is not time and cost effective process. In order to address the issues, this paper investigates the utilization of feasible alternative for the purpose …

Fog Computing With Go: A Comparative Study, Ellis H. Butterfield

CMC Senior Theses

The Internet of Things is a recent computing paradigm, de- fined by networks of highly connected things – sensors, actuators and smart objects – communicating across networks of homes, buildings, vehicles, and even people. The Internet of Things brings with it a host of new problems, from managing security on constrained devices to processing never before seen amounts of data. While cloud computing might be able to keep up with current data processing and computational demands, it is unclear whether it can be extended to the requirements brought forth by Internet of Things.

Fog computing provides an architectural solution to …

Facilitating Deployable Mechanisms And Structures Via Developable Lamina Emergent Arrays, Larry L. Howell, Robert J. Lang, Spencer P. Magleby, Todd G. Nelson, Nathan A. Pherson

Faculty Publications

A method is presented utilizing networks of lamina emergent joints, known as lamina emergent arrays, to accommodate large-curvature developable structures suited to deployable applications. By exploiting the ruling lines in developable surfaces, this method enables developable structures and mechanisms that can be manufactured with two-dimensional geometry and yet have a greater range of elastic motion than is possible with a solid sheet of material. Aligning the joints to the ruling lines also biases the structure to a specific deployment path. A mathematical model is developed to describe the resulting stiffness of the structure employing the lamina emergent arrays and equations …

A Framework To Generate A Smart Manufacturing System Configurations Using Agents And Optimization, Khalid Nagadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Manufacturing is a crucial element in the global economy. During the last decade, the national manufacturing sector loses nearly 30% of its workforce and investments. Consequently, the quality of the domestic goods, global share, and manufacturing capabilities has been declined. Therefore, innovative ways to optimize the usage of the Smart Manufacturing Systems (SMS) are required to form a new manufacturing era. This research is presenting a framework to optimize the design of SMS. This includes the determination of the suitable machines that can perform the job efficiently, the quantity of those machines, and the potential messaging system required for sharing …

Geolocation Of Diseased Leaves In Strawberry Orchards For A Custom-Designed Octorotor, Christian Garcia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, technological advances have shown a strive for more automated processes in agriculture, as seem with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with onboard sensors in many applications, including disease detection and yield prediction. In this thesis, an octorotor UAV is presented that was designed, built, and flight tested, with features that are custom-designed for strawberry orchard disease detection. To further automate the disease scouting operation, geolocation, or the process of determining global position coordinates of identified diseased regions based on images taken, is investigated. A Kalman filter is designed, based on a linear measurement model derived …

Using Fluorescence To Characterize Four Day Simulated Distribution System Trihalomethane Content In Florida Groundwaters, Jonathan Ousley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulates public water systems and has established limits for certain disinfection by products (DBPs) that have been linked to health effects, such as bladder cancer. The regulation of DBPs, specifically total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs), have encouraged water treatment professionals to assess the type and amount of organic precursors in their supplies. Three of the more common water quality parameters that are monitored as DBP surrogates include dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UV254), and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA). Although DOC, UV254, and SUVA have been effectively correlated to DBP formation, …

Recognizing Pain Using Novel Simulation Technology, Justin C. Grace

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Effective pain management and time to treatment is essential in patient care. Despite scientific evidence supporting the need to treat pain and an emphasis on addressing pain as a priority, pain management continues to be an unresolved issue. As a member of the health care team, nurses are integral to optimal pain management. Currently, nursing schools have limited innovative or alternative methods for teaching pain assessment and management. Simulation in nursing education provides a unique opportunity to expose students to realistic patient situations and allow them to learn and make mistakes without causing harm. However, modern low- and high-fidelity simulation …

An Investigation On A Mobile Robot In A Ros Enabled Cloud Robotics Environment, Theodore C. Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In modern day robotic applications, the use of cloud computing is being considered as a viable option giving rise to development of cloud robotics environment. Robots are also being developed to operate under an organized framework of robot operating system (ROS) for flexibility and better integration with robots of different types. In this work, an investigation is presented on the development of a mobile robotic platform and its integration in a ROS enabled cloud robotics environment. A mobile robotic platform was built with different sensors including a depth camera, integrated with Arduino and raspberry pi for interfacing the sensors, the …

Design, Analysis And Evaluation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Ad Hoc Network For Emergency Response Communications, Robin D. Grodi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

In any emergency situation, it is paramount that communication be established between those affected by an emergency and the emergency responders. This communication is typically initiated by contacting an emergency service number such as 9-1-1 which will then notify the appropriate responders. The communication link relies heavily on the use of the public telephone network. If an emergency situation causes damage to, or otherwise interrupts, the public telephone network then those affected by the emergency are unable to call for help or warn others. A backup emergency response communication system is required to restore communication in areas where the public …

Assessment Of Optimized Electrode Configuration In Electrical Impedance Myography Study Using Genetic Algorithm Via Finite Element Model, Somen Baidya

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM) is a neurophysiologic technique in which high- frequency, low-intensity electrical current is applied via surface electrodes over a muscle or muscle group of interest and the resulting electrical parameters (resistance, reactance and phase) are analyzed to isolate diseased muscles from healthy ones. Beside muscle properties, some other anatomic and non-anatomic factors like muscle shape, subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness, inter-electrode distance, etc. also impact the major EIM parameters and thus affect the EIM analysis outcomes. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of variation in some of these factors impose on EIM parameters and …

Discrepancy Analysis Between Close-Range Photogrammetry And Terrestrial Lidar, Sam R. Newsome Jr

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study presents a comparison of building measurements performed on 3D models generated by two different approaches. In one approach, the models were produced via close-range photogrammetry. Such models are based on still-frame photographs that are, post-processed with commercially available photogrammetric software. In the second approach, 3D point-cloud models were generated via laser scanning. For this purpose, three case studies were conducted. The first was a simple one story structure, the second was a multi-story Maya ruin, and the third was an earth filled terrace. Several benchmarks within a closed traverse were established to serve as standard georeference points for …

Impairment Of Continuous Insulin Delivery Therapy And Analysis From Graeco-Latin Square Design Model, Norou Diawara, Ayodeji Demuren, Eric Gyuricsko

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

The desire to deliver measured amount of insulin continuously to patients with type I diabetes, for glycemic control, has attracted a lot of attention. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion has seen some success in recent years. However, occlusion of insulin delivery may prevent the patient from receiving the prescribed dosage, with adverse consequence. An in vitro study of insulin delivery is performed, using different insulin pumps, insulin analogs and operating conditions. The aim is to identify incidences of occlusion due to bubble formation in the infusion line. A detailed statistical analysis was performed on the data collected to determine any significant …

Optimal Switch Timing For Piezoelectric-Based Semi-Active Vibration Reduction Techniques, Christopher Kelley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Semi-active vibration reduction techniques switch a piezoelectric transducer between an open circuit and a shunt circuit in a way that reduces vibration. The steady-state vibration amplitude is reduced by exploiting the change in stiffness between states, manipulating the converted electrical energy, or both. Semi-active techniques typically require four switches per vibration cycle. Control laws such as state switching and synchronized switch damping require switches to occur at every displacement extrema. Due to the complexity of analyzing a system with discrete switches, these control laws were developed based on intuition. The few analyses that attempt to determine an optimal switching law …

Experimental Study Of Sinkhole Failure Related To Groundwater Level Drops, Mohamed Alrowaimi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sinkholes are natural geohazard phenomena that cause damage to property and may lead to loss of life. They can also cause added pollution to the aquifer by draining unfiltered water from streams, wetland, and lakes into the aquifer. Sinkholes occur in a very distinctive karst geology where carbonate, limestone, dolomite, or gypsum, are encountered as the bedrock that can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. Sinkholes can occur gradually or suddenly with catastrophic impact depending on the geology and hydrology of the area. Predicting the formation and the collapse of a sinkhole based on the current ground investigation …

A Hybrid Simulation Framework Of Consumer-To-Consumer Ecommerce Space, Oloruntomi Joledo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past decade, ecommerce transformed the business models of many organizations. Information Technology leveled the playing field for new participants, who were capable of causing disruptive changes in every industry. "Web 2.0" or "Social Web" further redefined ways users enlist for services. It is now easy to be influenced to make choices of services based on recommendations of friends and popularity amongst peers. This research proposes a simulation framework to investigate how actions of stakeholders at this level of complexity affect system performance as well as the dynamics that exist between different models using concepts from the fields of …

Dynamic Modeling Approach To Quantify Change Orders Impact On Labor Productivity, Zain Al-Kofahi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In construction projects, change orders are commonly faced. These change orders, which are issued by the owner, may cause interruption to the contractor's work, resulting in damages such as loss of labor productivity, delay damages, and cost overruns which may lead to claims. The relationship between change orders and loss of labor productivity is not well understood because of the difficulty in linking the cause of the productivity loss to the change order. So, to receive compensation, the contractor needs to prove with a credible calculation that the productivity loss was a result of the change order issued by the …

Probabilistic-Based Computing Transformation With Reconfigurable Logic Fabrics, Mohammed Alawad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effectively tackling the upcoming "zettabytes" data explosion requires a huge quantum leap in our computing power and energy efficiency. However, with the Moore's law dwindling quickly, the physical limits of CMOS technology make it almost intractable to achieve high energy efficiency if the traditional "deterministic and precise" computing model still dominates. Worse, the upcoming data explosion mostly comprises statistics gleaned from uncertain, imperfect real-world environment. As such, the traditional computing means of first-principle modeling or explicit statistical modeling will very likely be ineffective to achieve flexibility, autonomy, and human interaction. The bottom line is clear: given where we are headed, …

Disaster Preparedness And Response: A Survey Of U.S. Dental Hygienists, Brenda T. Bradshaw, Ann P. Bruhn, Tara L. Newcomb, Bridget T. Giles, Kathryn Simms

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess dental hygienists’ interests, current involvement, formal education, views, comfort levels, and intentions for involvement with disaster preparedness and response.

Methods: Dental hygienists (n=400) were asked to respond to a 21-item online survey. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square goodness-of-fit tests, and a paired-samples t-test. Common themes were identified and categorized from open-ended questions.

Results: A response rate of 84% (n=334) was obtained. Most respondents (97%) reported no involvement with disaster preparedness and response; however, a majority (86%) reported interest. Of those who indicated an interest in disaster preparedness and response, …

Mdm2 Case Study: Computational Protocol Utilizing Protein Flexibility Improves Ligand Binding Mode Predictions, Anthony Thomas Ascone

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Recovery of the P53 tumor suppressor pathway via small molecule inhibitors of onco-protein MDM2 highlights the critical role of computational methodologies in targeted cancer therapies. Molecular docking programs in particular, provide a quantitative ranking of predicted binding geometries based on binding free energy allowing for the screening of large chemical libraries in search of lead compounds for cancer therapeutics. This study found improved binding mode predictions of medicinal compounds to MDM2 using the popular docking programs AutoDock and AutoDock Vina, while adopting a rigid-ligand/flexible-receptor protocol. Crystal structures representing small molecule inhibitors bound to MDM2 were selected and a total of …

Comparative Characterization Of Molybdenum Oxide Thin Films Grown On Various Substrates Using Temporally Different Pulsed Laser Deposition Techniques, Krishna Harsha Puppala

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique, with its vast tunability in terms of thin film fabrication has been the center of this study. By changing the temporal component of the laser source used for deposition into the femtosecond (fs) regime, interesting structural, morphological changes can be achieved which may prove to be beneficial for photocatalytic applications. In particular, molybdenum oxide thin films, which are the less well-studied and potentially newer candidates for photocatalysis applications have been chosen for investigation. Hence, a detailed characterization study of molybdenum oxide thin films synthesized using femtosecond-based (f-PLD) and nanosecond-based (n-PLD) techniques, was carried out in …

Faraday Rechargeable Battery System, Alex Gasper, Bret Omsberg

Electrical Engineering

The modern electronic age has given birth to a variety of innovative and hand-held devices that are carried with the consumer nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The one shortfall of these devices is their energy storage, or in most cases, a battery. The Faraday Rechargeable Battery System is a unique system that will generate electricity through rotational movement of a tire. This can be a bike, a car, or any other transportation vehicle that uses wheels for movement. The kinetic energy that is engendered either by the user or an engine can then be converted into …