Engineering Commons^™

Coherent Synchronization For Distributed Digital Phased Arrays, Zachary C. Numa

Master's Theses

Distributed digital phased arrays are rising technologies that help enable applications such as search and rescue operations, wireless communication, radar navigation, and military operations, among many others. Due to their improved angular resolution, digital phased arrays offer superior direction-finding capabilities compared to traditional analog phased array systems. However, this improvement comes at the cost of increased complexity—specifically, the need for precise synchronization of phase, time, and frequency across physically separated nodes. Without synchronization, the distributed phased array's gain and direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimations deteriorate significantly.

There are multiple aspects to implementing and synchronizing a non-stationary distributed digital phased array. This research …

Open Source Microgrid Integration, Zachary J. Kwast

Master's Theses

Microgrids are small-scale electrical systems that operate in tandem with a centralized grid to provide power to a smaller group of target devices. These microgrids are used for a wide range of different purposes, which invites the need for a generalized model that can be tweaked for a variety of uses. This document goes over the theory used to design an open source AC and DC microgrid meant for use by anyone. The microgrid is created using a Raspberry Pi that controls two different power converters so that a wide range of voltage and current characteristics can be achieved. These …

Investigation Into Silicone-Silicate Conversion Due To Atomic Oxygen In The Low Earth Orbit Environment, Justin T. Self

Master's Theses

Silicones have been widely used over the years in spacecraft for a variety of functions, but atomic oxygen (AO) exposure in Low Earth Orbit causes a silicate (SiO₂) surface layer to rapidly develop on the silicone which results in a permanent change in its thermal and optical properties. Although this silicone to silicate conversion is known to occur, statistical predictions of layer formation as a function of time on orbit are not found in literature. This thesis utilized optical and scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and nonlinear regression statistical techniques after RF plasma asher …

Development Of A Health And Wellness Assessment For Kytc Personnel, Gabriel Dadi, Farshid Taherpour, Caitlin Pope

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Highway construction workers operate in high-stress, hazardous settings where they have to perform physically taxing labor in environments where exposure to variable weather conditions, heavy equipment, high volumes of vehicle traffic, and other conditions that induce stress and anxiety are the norm. Up to 70% of workers in this industry have reported experiencing mental health issues, including secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Few state departments of transportation, however, offer adequate resources staff can draw on to effectively manage their psychological well-being. To help Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) roadway maintenance and construction workers develop …

Aggregator Zone Selection For Ev Smart Controls Based-On Ml Clustering Of Grid Strength, Distance, And Charging Homogeneity, Rosemary E. Alden, Sam H. Lowe Ii, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Smart electric vehicle (EV) charging control methods from a central utility hub often require communication infrastructure over a large service area of electric power distribution systems with a large number of nodes. Industry standards such as Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 2.1 have evolved to include topologies for local controllers to the individual chargers, i.e. EV aggregator zones. A machine learning (ML) application of k-means clustering is proposed to establish zones for coordination of EV charging based on grid strength and EV owner decision-making to charge per day. Very large-scale distribution networks including the IEEE 123 and 8500 benchmark feeders …

Cluster-Based Volt/Var Optimization On A Utility Distribution Feeder With Forecasted Ev Penetration, Steven B. Poore, Grant M. Fischer, Rosemary E. Alden, Evan S. Jones, Aron Patrick, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

With significant increase in EV adoption expected in the near future and the associated impacts on power systems, the effect of volt/var optimization (VVO) as the next step to conservation voltage reduction (CVR), requires reevaluation. Implementation of a cluster-based VVO control strategy employs a novel approach with machine learning (ML) load forecasting to reduce device adjustments through k-means clustering of contiguous time steps with similar active power load in which a single adjustment would be sufficient. The cluster-based VVO method is tested on a complex real world utility distribution feeder with 2,018 nodes, 8.65MW peak load, 9 capacitor banks (CBs), …

Hybrid Fea And Meta-Modeling For De Optimization Of A Pm Stator-Excited Motor With A Reluctance Rotor, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents an innovative method for designing high-performance electric motors by integrating machine learning (ML) based meta-modeling with a differential evolution (DE) optimization algorithm. The approach utilizes finite element analysis (FEA) data to train the ML meta-model, allowing for efficient optimization of high-power-density machines, such as the reluctance rotor and permanent magnet (PM) stator combined excitation motor, which is characterized by nonlinearities. The meta-modeling process employs an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with 3 hidden layers and uses the motor’s geometrical variables as inputs. The accuracy of the meta-model in capturing the nonlinear relationships between design parameters, core losses, and …

Three And Two Phase Rotating Field Inductive Couplers For Wireless Power Transfer With One Phase Per Layer Windings, Donovin D. Lewis, Lucas Gastineau, Omer Onar, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Multiphase inductive wireless charging coils have been proposed recently to improve coupler surface power density, reduce component stress and size, and provide near-constant power delivery to charge mobile electric systems. Several aspects for the fundamental characterization of multiphase coils are explored up to six phases including approximate mutual inductance with size and turn variation, induced voltage, and output power estimation. The relative component stress and size of passive components for resonant operation are compared between the multiphase variants. A combination of an experimentally validated 3D electromagnetic finite element analysis (FEA) and power electronic co-simulations are used to validate the estimated …

Cryogenic Thermal System For Coreless Axial Flux Pm Machine With Litz Wire Winding For Electric Aircraft Propulsion, Matin Vatani, Chaianan Sailabada, Philippe Masson, Juan C. Ordonez, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Electric machines for aviation demand ultra-efficient, compact designs with high specific power density, which can be achieved through advancements in both electromagnetic design and thermal management. This paper proposes and investigates an integrated thermal management approach for a coreless stator axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machine featuring a double-sided Halbach array PM rotor, two stators, and an aluminum nitride (AlN) cold plate positioned between the stators for direct cooling. The cold plate incorporates internal serpentine channels for liquid hydrogen circulation. The electromagnetic performance and efficiency of the machine at cryogenic temperatures are assessed using temperature-dependent data from the literature, indicating …

Mitigation Of Pm Eddy Current Losses Using Offset Windings In Coreless Afpm Machines, Matin Vatani, Diego A. Lopez Guerrero, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Permanent magnet eddy current losses can become substantial in coreless stator axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines operating at high speeds and under high electric loading, potentially leading to elevated temperatures and an increased risk of demagnetization. This paper investigates the origins of these losses through a detailed harmonic analysis of the winding factor and introduces a mitigation strategy. The proposed method utilizes two-layer offset windings, effectively minimizing undesirable armature flux harmonics through harmonic interaction between the offset layers. Two cases are studied: one in which each stator layer is connected to a separate inverter and another in which both …

Assessment Of White Matter Changes Using Quantitative T1Ρ Mapping In An Open-Field Low-Intensity Blast Mouse Model Of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (Mtbi), Dina Moazamian, Shengwen Xie, Jiyo S. Athertya, Qingbo Tang, Roland R. Lee, Eric Y. Chang, Jeffrey M. Tomlin, Catherine E. Johnson, Jiang Du, Yajun Ma

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) occurs when shock waves travel through blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid, leading to cerebral demyelination, which results in cognitive impairments and neuropsychiatric issues that impact quality of life. This study aims to evaluate myelin changes in white matter in mice with mTBI induced by an open-field low-intensity blast (LIB) using a newly implemented 3D adiabatic T1ρ prepared fast spin echo (Adiab-T1ρ-FSE) sequence for quantitative T1ρ MRI mapping. Thirty male C57BL/6 mice, including 15 mTBI and 15 sham controls, were scanned on a 3T Bruker MRI scanner. Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining was performed to …

Comparative Analysis Of Lab-Data-Driven Models For International Friction Index Prediction In High Friction Surface Treatment (Hfst), Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFSTs) are often utilized as a spot treatment to enhance selected areas with high friction demand rather than extended pavement sections and are helpful in increasing skid resistance and minimizing road accidents. A laboratory design approach was created to assess the fundamental ideas behind the international friction index (IFI) concept and update the present IFI model parameters for HFST applications based on test findings to gain a better understanding of HFST performance. Two aggregate types in three sizes were tested under controlled polishing cycles. Friction and texture were measured using the Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) and …

Enhancing Autonomous Vehicle Resilience Through Engineering Requirements And Snow-Adaptive Lane Detection, Alexandra Marie Masterson

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates two distinct but interrelated challenges in the development of resilient autonomous vehicle (AV) systems: the formalization of engineering requirements for AV perception subsystems and the enhancement of visual lane detection under snow-covered road conditions. In the first study, field experiments were conducted using a campus-deployed autonomous research vehicle to evaluate the impacts of perception related failures including GPS outages, HD map inconsistencies, and weather interference—on vehicle operation. These findings were used to develop a set of qualitative engineering requirements that promote AV resilience through proactive design. In the second study, a custom snow-focused lane detection dataset was …

A Controlled-Source Physical Model For Long Period Seismic Events, Sananda Ray, Gregory P. Waite, Radwin Askari

Michigan Tech Publications

Long-period seismic events (LPs) are observed within active volcanoes, hydrothermal systems and hydraulic fracturing. The prevailing model for LP seismic events suggests that they result from pressure disturbances in fluid-filled cracks that generate slow, dispersive waves known as Krauklis waves. These waves oscillate within the crack, causing it to act as a seismic resonator whose far-field radiations are known as LP events. Since these events are generated from fluid-filled cracks, they have been used to analyse fluid transport and fracturing in geological settings. Additionally, they are deemed precursors to volcanic eruptions. However, other mechanisms have been proposed to explain LP …

Prepare Lora Physical Layer For Testing In Low Earth Orbit On A Cubesat, Sammy Brunton

Electrical Engineering

This project is a collaboration with OWL Integrations, a company that specializes in adaptable, low-cost communication systems. OWL has developed a board specifically designed for space applications called the Space Quacker Advanced Development (SQuAD), which is an adaptation of their existing board called the Quaker Advanced Development (QUAD).

This project focuses on testing the existing SQuAD board design to make sure that it is flight-ready for deployment on Cal Poly CubeSat’s satellite, SAL-E. To achieve this, the project must ensure compatibility with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) conditions by testing the integrated high-power long-range (LoRa) receiver and enhanced hardware to meet …

2024 – 2025 Cal Poly Wind Power Ac-Dc Rectification Subsystem For Collegiate Wind Competition 2025, Ryan Rayos, Annabella Piercey, Alex Liu

Electrical Engineering

This project focuses on the design and development of a bidirectional AC-DC rectification subsystem for a wind energy conversion system (WECS), tailored for the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition. The subsystem is defined by its core inputs and outputs where it receives AC power from the wind turbine generator and delivers stable DC power to auxiliary electronics and variable loads. Conversely, the system can also accept DC power, such as from wall power, and output AC power to drive the permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) as a motor, overcoming cogging torque and initiating turbine blade rotation. This bidirectional functionality is enabled …

Expeditionary Ocean Power Generator, Ethan Gossard, Julian Steele, Alex Gray, Hunter Herring-Alderete

Electrical Engineering

Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters are currently being explored as a new form of energy harvesting. The Naval Facilities' Expeditionary Ocean Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) has commissioned an interdisciplinary project for students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to design a prototype Expeditionary Ocean Power Generator (ExOPG) for charging batteries in the ocean.

The Mechanical Engineering team is responsible for assembling the prototype chassis, which converts the vertical bobbing motion of a buoy into kinetic rotational energy that can be used to rotate a generator shaft. They are additionally tasked with isolating the electrical components from the harsh …

Recent Advances In Multitone Microwave Frequency Measurement, Md Abu Zobair, Behzad Boroomandisorkhabi, Mina Esmaeelpour

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This review explores various advanced photonic-assisted techniques for microwave frequency measurement, highlighting their distinct advantages and challenges in detecting multi-tone and broadband microwave frequency signals. Different optical processing techniques for instantaneous frequency measurement, including frequency-to-time mapping techniques, are discussed in detail. The application of multicore and few-mode fibers, artificial intelligence-enhanced, and complex modulation techniques are also discussed. These recent advances collectively push the boundaries of microwave frequency measurement, offering robust and scalable solutions for various applications.

From Tarmac To Timetable: A Data-Driven Study Of Airline Delay Performance In Nigeria, Kelechi V. Iwuagwu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This capstone project investigates the patterns, causes, and impacts of flight delays in the Nigerian aviation sector from January 2024 to January 2025. Utilizing a dataset containing flight details—including scheduled and actual departure/arrival times, routes, and airline information—the study employs advanced data analytics and visualization techniques to uncover critical insights. The research highlights discrepancies between scheduled and actual flight performance, identifies delay patterns across airlines and timeframes, and explores the ripple effects of delays on subsequent flights.

Furthermore, Nigerian passengers frequently express frustrations over flight delays, cancellations, and poor communication from airlines, yet no publicly available data systematically documents these …

Sla Evaluation And Composition In Reconfigurable Cloud-Based Services, Michael Iannelli

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Given the business model of offering data and computing services in a cloud setting, a major question arises: How do the services of one cloud provider compare to those of others? With the ubiquitous use of smartphones and tablets, the ability of a cloud provider to support QoS and client mobility becomes paramount. This research proposes a methodology for evaluating service-level agreements (SLAs) between cloud providers and their consumers, with a particular focus on dynamic SLA composition to adapt to changes in the application requirements and the external environment—such as traffic surges, security threats, or evolving business models.

In one …

Reference Correlations For The Density And Viscosity Of Molten Alkali And Alkaline Earth Fluoride Salts, A. Birri, R. Chesser, N. Termini, J. C. Numbers, Kevin Garland, M. A. Rose

Michigan Tech Publications

While there is a significant body of literature pertaining to thermophysical property measurements of molten salts, there is often a wide degree of variability among independent measurements of the same compounds. As such, the scientific community benefits greatly from an unbiased, independent assessment of duplicate datasets, so that reference correlations which describe these thermophysical properties as functions of temperature can be determined and then commonly used by researchers, scientists, and engineers. With regard to molten fluoride compounds, a significant time has elapsed since density and viscosity reference correlations have been determined; Janz conducted the most recent effort, in 1988, to …

Quantifying Harmful Trunk Postures: Inertial Sensor Analysis Of Trunk Angle To Support Low Back Pain Prevention, Elsa E. Bates

Master's Theses

Low back pain is a highly prevalent condition worldwide, impacting up to 80% of individuals at least once in their lifetime. A critical gap in current prevention strategies is the lack of tools to accurately measure trunk posture and movement in real-world environments. Accurate identification of biomechanical risk requires information about movement intensity, duration, and frequency, yet traditional assessment methods rely on self-reporting or visual observation, which are time-consuming and prone to error. To address this gap, a wearable monitoring method, consisting of two Inertial Measurement Units, was designed to quantify risk exposure to the spine by measuring angular position …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Extractor Orientation On The Performance Of An Electrospray System, Hannah Grace Sargent

Masters Theses

In this thesis, a single-emitter porous electrospray thruster was tested at nine different extractor electrode positions. The nine positions were: center, four slightly offset in each cardinal direction, and four significantly offset in each cardinal direction. Slightly offset was defined as ~25% of the distance from the center to the edge of the extractor orifice (~125 ± 2 μm) and significantly offset was defined as ~60% of the distance from the center to the edge of the extractor orifice (~302 ± 2 μm). Three diagnostic measurements were recorded to determine the effect of the extractor electrode position on thruster operation: …

Key Determinants In Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations, Sania Pirouzi

Theses (2016-Present)

The growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) requires metropolitan areas to strategically plan the placement of charging infrastructure to support accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability. This study investigates key determinants for the optimal siting of EV charging stations, using Houston, Texas, as a case study. Through a comprehensive literature review and expert consultation, eight critical criteria were identified: land use type, population density, median income level of residents in the area, vehicle ownership rate in the area, young and middle-aged residents share in the area, flood risk, traffic density and proximity to major roads, and educational attainment of the residents in …

Student-Led Video Podcasting In A Chemical Behavior Of Materials Course, Erick Salvador Vasquez

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Video podcasts, or vodcasts, are a form of podcasting that combines video and audio to deliver various types of educational content effectively. To our knowledge, very few studies have focused on student-produced podcasting for learning technical engineering concepts. This study explores using student-created technical videos in a course on the chemical behavior of materials through three separate assignments. The first assignment centered on sustainability aspects. Students, divided into groups of three, were tasked to review two influential journal articles on plastic waste input into the ocean and metal recycling. Each group had to prepare and deliver a technical script about …

Hyflex Engagement Tracking, Jane Courtney

Case studies: Digital Education

While authentic assessment methods can be easily implemented in modules that lend themselves to problem-based learning, quality assessment is harder to achieve in more technically rigorous subjects. For these modules, there has been an over-reliance to date on traditional exams. The move online due to COVID-19 made summative assessment of these technical subjects very difficult and also had many academics reporting reduced engagement in the online environment. However, in the technically rigorous Power Systems Analysis module, this challenge was approached as an opportunity to modernise and test online assessment possibilities. This was done through three mechanisms: Numbas*, Rubrics+ and Engagement …

Research Into Job Classifications For Kentucky Department Of Vehicle Regulation Employees, Mallory Brown, Andrew Martin, Jeeyen Koo, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation (DVR) faces persistent challenges with employee recruitment, retention, and workforce alignment due to outdated job classifications and compensation structures. This study investigates if DVR’s reliance on the general Administrative Specialist job series is warranted given the duties performed by its staff. Through a job task analysis, financial modeling, and personnel data review, researchers assessed the feasibility of introducing a new DVR-specific job series based on the Vehicle Regulation Specialist (VRS) position currently being used by the Division of Motor Carriers. The proposed VRS series includes two levels — VRS I (Grade 13) and VRS …

Drop Ceiling Inspection Robot, Kris Chon, Henry Fang, John Hoang, Kevin Zhang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Electricians face significant health and safety hazards when inspecting drop ceilings, including exposure to dust, asbestos, and the risk of falls. To address these challenges, this project proposes a lightweight, autonomous robot capable of inspecting drop ceilings and assisting with wire tracing tasks—thereby distancing electricians from hazardous environments. The robot employs tread-based mobility to navigate fragile ceiling panels, integrated ultrasonic sensors and bumpers for obstacle avoidance, and an antenna system to detect and follow energized wire signals. Visual feedback is provided to the operator through a real-time video feed over a secure NoMachine interface, with manual and semi-autonomous operation modes …

Electroporation Protocol Development For Cal Poly Cell Therapy Laboratory Courses, Gabrielle Melamed

Biomedical Engineering

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease caused by unchecked cell proliferation. The disease contributed to 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2022, with hematological malignancies (leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas) accounting for over 1.4 million deaths in the United States from 1999 to 2020. This thesis focuses on the treatment of these cancers, with an emphasis on non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). R-CHOP (Rituximab-Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin hydrochloride, Oncovin/Vincristine, and Prednisone) is the standard of care first-line treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of NHL, and encompasses a mixture of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and corticosteroids. The R-CHOP regimen cures 50% to 70% patients, …

Biofeedback For Upper Limb Bionics, Arissa Anaya, Adam Moger, Connor Bly, Theodore R. Hughes

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of this document was to present a senior design project from Cal Poly sponsored by Matt Robinson at the Hanger Clinic in San Luis Obispo to provide biofeedback for users of upper limb protheses. This project focuses on individuals with trans-radial upper limb amputations, including patients with congenital limb deficiencies who use trans-radial prosthesis, who receive very little or no sensory feedback from their prosthetic device. This sensory feedback device was intended to be used as a training tool with a myo-electric hand-like upper limb prosthesis in a clinical setting. This document provides an overview of the different …