Engineering Commons^™

Music Synthesizer Senior Project: Individual Report, Bryan Bellin

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charger, Jessica A. Bombardier Shaw, Andrew F. Moradpour

Electrical Engineering

This project will look into how to create an efficiently-operated solar powered electric vehicle charger. The solar panel will harvest energy from the sun that will be stored a battery pack to be readily available to charge an electric vehicle. These stations could be commercialized to be located along a highway, or personalized for a in-house installation.

Wax Bee Gone: A Safe, Effective Solution To Ear Wax Removal, Robert G. Shenon, Shanvir S. Dhinsa

Electrical Engineering

This project sought to combine conventional methods such as scraping and water pressure to removal ear wax, but with electronic automation to removal the potential for human error as much as possible. Through the use of a 9V battery, and Arduino microcontroller, DC motors, and other circuitry, this project has developed a prototype for a device that can properly remove ear wax without any discomfort or risk to the user. Much of this project involved learning how to properly manipulate and provide the necessary power requirements DC motors from an Arduino and a 9V battery. Additionally, creating a 3D printed …

Student Experimental Farm Smart Pathway Lighting System, Emily A. Whitaker, Vineal S. Singh, Edith Rodriguez

Electrical Engineering

This project works together with the Student Experimental Farm (SEF) and the DC House in order to install a smart lighting pathway system. This system will run off of DC power supplied by the solar panels connected to the DC House. This project tested and explored the group’s abilities to design and implement a full system run off of 48V DC. By installing this system it will greatly improve the ease for students to work at the SEF beyond daylight hours. The system will allow continuous dull lighting and will switch to full brightness once a person is detected. This …

Make Scents: Senior Project Report, Bruce Edward Mitchener Iii, Dennis Tsuker

Electrical Engineering

The purpose of this project was to create a smart air freshener. A complete user-friendly system that is programmable and simple to use for customers of all ages. Many constraints were met in order to achieve the final product and the necessary requirements. This Senior Project helps maintain a clean scented room of any size with its programmable functions to set spray times per the user’s request. Final system incorporates a user operated remote controller that catches the signal using an infrared sensor. The ease and simplicity of this air freshener makes it stand out in the competing market of …

Investigation Of Mimo Communications, Rodrigo Mendez Olea, William C. Tran, Patrick C. Kezer, Jean M. Whitmore

Electrical Engineering

This project focuses on the background of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication and its advantages over the other possible implementations. A background of wireless communication in regards to modulation types, information theory, antenna background and a hardware implementation using a VSA and VSG is provided. The theory is compared and verified with the hardware implementation with regards to the effect of the increase in the number of antennas and the parameter vector error magnitude.

Game Implementation In Real-Time Using The Project Tango, Samantha R. Bhuiyan

Computer Science and Software Engineering

The goal of this senior project is to spread awareness of augmented reality, which Google defines as “a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.” It’s a topic that is rarely known to those outside of a technology related field or one that has vested interest in technology. Games can be ideal tools to help educate the public on any subject matter. The task is to create an augmented reality game using a “learn by doing” method. The game will introduce players to augmented reality, and thus demonstrate …

The Paperless First-Year Professor, Rustin Webster

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This paper presents the experience of creating and adopting a paperless curriculum framework for a first year visiting assistant professor. The professor utilized a learning management system (LMS) and internet-based applications exclusively inside a typical classroom environment. The self-imposed challenge of going digital across all assigned courses was in the hope that his classroom efficiency and effectiveness would be positive, and the transition from a business career and mindset to one of teaching and scholarship would be easier. Additional goals included increasing the opportunity and capability of easy and quick sharing of full course curriculum with fellow faculty, while reducing …

Examining Engineering Technology Students: How They Perceive And Order Their Thoughts, Anne M. Lucietto, Jennifer Drapinski Moss, Mark French

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The lack of rigorous research focused on engineering technology students leaves administrators and practitioners in this area without adequate resources to advise and guide this unique population. This absence of research can most likely be attributed to smaller student populations as compared to other related fields, receiving attention, such as engineering. A preliminary systemic review reveals that research defining whom the engineering technology students are and how they think is largely unavailable. This study is expected to further improve our understanding of engineering technology students and how they change over time. Both freshman and senior engineering technology students were asked …

Initial Survey Of Engineering Technology Capstone Courses And Teamwork Building Using Catme, Anne M. Lucietto, Andrew Simon Scott, Kenneth A. Connor, Frederick C. Berry

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

This paper represents a first step in what is to become a multi –institutional initiative focused on identifying best practices for developing and improving teamwork skills within the Capstone experiences of engineering, technology and computing programs. Teamwork in this paper is defined and measured as the dimensions measured by the CATME Peer Review [1], which is currently used by thousands of technology and engineering instructors and institutions worldwide. The CATME Peer Review measurement tool is used to collect self and peer evaluations of team members’ contributions on five different teamwork dimensions [2]. These teamwork dimensions are 1) pose the knowledge, …

Generalized Differential Calculus And Applications To Optimization, R. Blake Rector

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis contains contributions in three areas: the theory of generalized calculus, numerical algorithms for operations research, and applications of optimization to problems in modern electric power systems. A geometric approach is used to advance the theory and tools used for studying generalized notions of derivatives for nonsmooth functions. These advances specifically pertain to methods for calculating subdifferentials and to expanding our understanding of a certain notion of derivative of set-valued maps, called the coderivative, in infinite dimensions. A strong understanding of the subdifferential is essential for numerical optimization algorithms, which are developed and applied to nonsmooth problems in operations …

A Meta-Analysis Of Energy Savings From Lighting Programs In Michigan, Teryila Ephraim Amough

Dissertations

In order to fill the gap in aggregates savings, the challenges faced by electric utilities for the demand of lighting energy are addressed by lighting efficiency programs. The shrinking capacity and electrical grid reliability call for improved ways to evaluate energy saving programs with evaluation methods that are robust in determining the impact of lighting programs. This study employed meta-analysis as an evaluation method to determine energy savings, impact, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), pollutants, and health effects from lighting programs in Michigan. The findings of the study showed the programs impact in Hedges’ g of 0.36 for the overall …

Introduction To Me 128: Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, And Heat Transfer Activity, Nikhitha Saraswathi Byragani, Nicholas Hanson Loey, Daniel Armas Miranda

Mechanical Engineering

This report describes the development of a prototype lab experiment intended to introduce mechanical engineering students at California Polytechnic State University to concepts in the realms of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer. These topics have been neglected in the introduction class for multiple reasons, but the instructing group feels it is possible to integrate a lab into the class demonstrating basic concepts from these subjects. The proposed prototype is a self-sufficient energy generating and transfer mechanism. Unfortunately, the primary project goals of being producible on-campus and for under a specified $500 per unit were not obtained with the included …

Cal Poly Caramel Counter Top Candy Wrapping Machine, Alexander Miller, Roman Stambaugh, Trevor Steele

Mechanical Engineering

The purpose of this project was to automate the caramel wrapping process for a small batch confectionist. Using a purely mechanical system that is hand-powered, the machine cuts and wraps caramel candies in a double twist fashion.

Additive Manufacturing Part Failure Detection, Angel Coria Jr, Shaunessy Grant, Jacob Whipple

Mechanical Engineering

The objective of this project is to create a part failure detection sensor system that will allow Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to detect cracking during the building process. Due to the time intensive nature of the SLM process, a part that may take 14 days to create could have a defect within the first hour of manufacturing, but the operator would have no idea that there was a fault in the manufacturing until culmination of the process. The proposed system will allow the operator to know when in the process the part became defective, and therefore save resources and machine …

Inyo National Forest Sign Maker, Brandon Mainini, Lauren Kirk, Alec Boyer

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Thv Leaflet Gripping Fixture, Final Project Report, Jacob Charles Cope, Marcus Benjamin Azevedo, Christopher Allen Mcwilliams

Mechanical Engineering

Statement of Confidentiality: The complete senior project report was submitted to the project advisor and sponsor. The results of this project are of a confidential nature and will not be published at this time.

Sae Small Vehicle Lifts, Augustus G. Holz, Nathan K. Harry, Tobias W. Shirts

Mechanical Engineering

The SAE (Society for Automotive Engineers) vehicle teams at Cal Poly need an easy way to access the undersides of their vehicles to facilitate maintenance and servicing. The purpose of this project was to provide a solution that could lift the vehicles effectively and safely from above so that the underside of the vehicles can be accessed, as well as elevating the vehicles to an ergonomic working height. Design specifications were determined based off each vehicle’s requirements in addition to what the team intends to do with their suspended vehicle. After several concept iterations, the team decided to purchase an …

Collision Mitigation System: Pedestrian Test Target, Final Design Report, Timothy Ryan Lee, Melanie Lim, Tiffany Margaret Prather, Chris Michael Welch

Mechanical Engineering

Daimler Trucks North America is creating an advanced emergency braking system which uses radar sensors that detect pedestrians and automatically applies the brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. To improve and validate their technology, they need a mechanical pedestrian target that can mimic a human walking across the street. However, the assisted braking may not work properly during every test and the pedestrian target must be able to survive impact with a vehicle at low speeds. Four senior Mechanical Engineering students from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo decided to take on the challenge.

The main features …

Guided Target Control System Final Design Report, John Barry, Zachary Eagan, Ryan Mackintosh

Mechanical Engineering

Daimler Automotive, the parent company of Mercedes-benz requires improved methods for testing their Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems. To this end they have presented a series of four senior projects to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. One of the Projects is to build a facsimile of a human crossing the street. The other three projects of which this is a part; are to produce an autonomous car facsimile. These projects are intended for use in testing new Autonomous Emergency Braking Systems and may serve as the basis for future senior projects.

Development Of 3d Compression Molded Composite Primary Structure, Sean D. Tischler, Jacob H. Goldstein, Alea A. Perez

Mechanical Engineering

The work accomplished by the Black Gold team improved upon the carbon fiber compression molding research and information available on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus. The team used the rear suspension rocker arm off a Ventana Alpino mountain bike as a design goal for this project. This research and body of work includes the methods used to design a compression molded part for complex part loading and shape. This extends to the process of choosing an appropriate layup process, in addition to benefits and drawbacks of the use of chopped fibers in compression molding. The research includes the …

Small-Scale Intelligent Vehicle Design Platform, Christopher Grant, Jay Miley, Evan Phillips

Mechanical Engineering

Intelligent Vehicle Design is a growing field with the potential to save many lives by actively minimizing the impacts of human error. Though there are many ways to research intelligent vehicle control, full-scale implementations are expensive and dangerous and computer simulations have extremely steep learning curves. Researchers and students need an accessible, adaptable, and robust development platform to rapidly create and test autonomous control algorithms. While small-scale platforms are often designed from the ground up for specific projects, this requires analysis, design, and manufacture. The goal of this project is to develop a small-scale intelligent vehicle that can be configured …

Marine Biomass Analyzer, Kai Jay Staal, Brian Paris, Tyler Cottle

Mechanical Engineering

This report documents the design, fabrication, and testing for a marine biomass analyzer. The goal of the project and constructed system was to determine the validity and efficacy of a process that could flatten benthic macrofauna to a consistent thickness such that a biomass for the collected sample could be accurately determined. The system that was built and tested consists of a drive train that turns a mill subassembly where the organisms are flattened, supply and collection spools that hold the white fabric and clear film used to capture the organisms, a collection zone where the sample is injected, and …

Leading Edge Boundary Layer Suction Device For The Cal Poly Rolling Road Wind Tunnel, Daniel C. Glover, Liam M. Madden, Robert J. Cabri

Mechanical Engineering

Over the course of three quarters from Fall of 2016 to Spring of 2017, our team designed and built a boundary layer suction device. The boundary layer suction device has three main functions: a scoop that redirects most of the boundary layer air out of the wind tunnel, fans that suck the remaining boundary layer air through a porous plate and ducting and out of the wind tunnel, and a transition bridge that transitions the remaining air smoothly onto the rolling road. The wind tunnel is owned by Cal Poly and the rolling road is a new addition to it. …

Universal Fixture For Orbital Tube Welding, Kevin P. Mcgowan, William Divittorio, Jesse Castaneda

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Megan's Treadmill, Michael Peck, Daniel Byrne, Eddie Ruano

Mechanical Engineering

Megan is a 21-year-old Special Olympian in the local San Luis Obispo area who loves to move. Due to a visual impairment, Megan is limited in the amount of time she can be active and she currently relies on the help of a partner when she exercises. For example, during the school year, Megan participates in the Friday Club in the local recreation center where she teams up with a kinesiology student to obtain physical activity. She also competes every year in the Special Olympics held at Cuesta College. Megan races in the 50- and 100-meter dash holding a baton …

Blend It Wine Blending Distribution System, Connor Clarry, Russell Temple, Matt Moren

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Compost Chomper, David Anthony Jungquist, Cory James Parmenter, Joseph Mark Mcgill

Mechanical Engineering

The purpose of this final design report is to detail the design, manufacturing, and testing of a bicycle powered compost cutter for use by the Captain Raymond Collin’s Elementary school. Students in the garden program are tired of manually chopping up garden waste into small enough pieces to be composted effectively. Project Sponsor and Master Gardener, Susan Deogracias had the idea to create a pedal powered compost cutter which would save time and improve moral for the aspiring gardeners.

This report details the ideation process the team went through in defining the compost cutting system. Engineering methods are documented for …

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 …

Personal Utility Cart, Eric Joseph Johnson, Jason K. Munter, Sean R. Portune

Mechanical Engineering

This final design report will detail the entire engineering design process from conceptualization through manufacturing and testing. After introducing the topic and scope of the project this document presents all of the benchmarking and research performed in order to obtain as much information about similar current products and possible solutions. Next the objectives of the project are presented where the needs are transformed into engineering specifications that will guide the design of the product. Design developed is then presented with ideation, idea evaluation and selection, analysis, manufacturing considerations, and final design selection. The final design is then presented with each …