Engineering Commons^™

Santa Clara Radio Astronomy Project (Scrap) V, Alejandro Hernandez, Agustin Garcia

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

Santa Clara Radio Astronomy Project (SCRAP) V aims to develop an entirely operational, real-time platform software for an affordable radio telescope that can operate autonomously. This thesis describes the design and implementation process of the fifth generation project through concentrating on the following three key areas: the creation of the live data acquisition and visualization dashboard, thorough verification of the hardware chain received by us, and outdoor system protection from weather factors. The live data dashboard that was created in the MATLAB App Designer completely solved the architecture issues faced with its predecessor being the Python version of the system, …

Enhanced Triboelectric Effect Using Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Coated Fiber Mats For Biomechanical Energy Harvesting, Fernando Viesca, Diego De Leon, Kevin Alejandro, Rigobert Ybarra Jr., Md. Wasikur Rahman, Victoria Padilla, Horacio Vasquez, Karen Lozano, M. Jasim Uddin

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a cutting-edge technology for developing self-powered wearable electronic devices. In this study, TENGs were fabricated using two fiber mats: forcespun polytetrafluoroethylene (FS-PTFE) microfibers and electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (ES-PVA) nanofiber (NF) mats. The FS-PTFE mats were coated with functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Functionalized MWCNTs were dispersed in water-based solutions containing three different surfactants—sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, and Triton X-100 to enhance fiber interaction. The NF mats were subsequently immersed in aqueous systems. The surfactant facilitated the uniform deposition of COOH-MWCNTs onto the FS-PTFE fibers, serving as a negative layer, while ES-PVA mat …

A Data Analysis Study Of Temperature Based On California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (Calcofi) Data., Afsana Mimi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This research presents an integrated analytical framework for predicting ocean temperatures using long-term observations from the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) data files. The study applies advanced data engineering and statistical modeling to assess how a variety of indicators, such as salinity, dissolved oxygen, key nutrients, and ocean depth shape oceanic temperature patterns along the California coastline. Using Microsoft SQL Server software for large-scale data integration and the R for statistical packages (R Core Team, 2025) for statistical computation, I developed and compared multiple regression models, including the ridge regression model, to evaluate the relative influence of physical and …

Thermally Induced Color Changes In Iron Oxide Pigments Used In Architectural Coatings, Han Diep

Master's Theses

The 2025 Palisades Fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of Los Angeles, destroying thousands of structures and severely impacting the communities after. This widespread destruction demonstrated an urgent need for more effective wildfire prevention strategies. Architectural coatings do not only provide aesthetics and protection against environmental conditions but can also function as a thermal indicator when a fire breaks out. This study examines the thermally induced color transformation of iron oxide pigments, commonly used in earthtone paint, to provide information relevant to CAL FIRE for improved analysis of wildland-urban interface (WUI) fire behavior and mitigation …

Creating A Framework For Quantifying Wildland Urban Interface (Wui) Fire Vulnerability Factors, Ryan L. Delalio

Construction Management

Wildfires have been the focus of geospatial research for decades. Climate change and increased suburban development in California are leading to an increase of Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). These zones are at higher wildfire risk, and a metric is needed to determine the most vulnerable communities to help them assess their personal wildfire risk. By analyzing current WUI wildfire vulnerability literature, the main contributing factors behind the impact of wildfires in California emerge. These factors are then paired with datasets that contain geospatial information about the factors to help us find the locations of highest vulnerability. This paper serves as …

Skip The Grid 2026: Off-Grid Power For Hopi And Navajo Families, Xanthus Aurelius Poole Silverstein

Construction Management

Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service-learning project that provides sustainable energy solutions to families with school-aged children living in the Navajo and Hopi Nations. In March 2026, a team of 23 students from five academic disciplines at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) partnered with Heart of America, SOLV Energy, and NextPower to complete the fifth year of the program. The project's purpose was to improve quality of life and support educational success by providing reliable access to electricity, lighting, and refrigeration in underserved communities. Participants were organized into five installation teams consisting of Cal Poly students, faculty, industry …

Skip The Grid: Providing Solar Energy To Navajo And Hopi Families, Derrick Huang

Construction Management

In Spring 2026, the Skip the Grid program sent its 5^th consecutive service project team to the Navajo Nation. Consisting of 4 faculty and 23 interdisciplinary students from various majors such as Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Management, and more, the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) team partnered with non-profit Heart of America, SOLV Energy, and NextPower to install Two 200-watt PV panels, a Yeti 1500X battery, a refrigerator, and two LED lights to families in the Navajo and Hopi Nations in Northeastern Arizona. Within 3 installation days, the Skip the Grid team was able …

Restoreband: An Electromyography Band For Tracking Forearm Muscle Action And Activation In Post-Stroke Adults, Mairin T. Mullen, Melody Nwagwu, Kosuke Nishimura, Benjamin Miramon

Biomedical Engineering

This study involves the design of a non-invasive surface electromyography (EMG) band to estimate hand posture for individuals recovering from stroke and other neuromuscular disorders. The device is meant to measure forearm muscle activation to provide objective recovery data that can supplement traditional rehabilitation. Current EMG systems are often expensive, cumbersome, and difficult to use. The goal of this study is to develop an affordable, accurate, and easy to use solution that improves access to EMG motor monitoring.

The key stakeholders include stroke survivors, clinicians, and the project sponsor, Dr. Espinoza-Wade. This report includes project introduction, background, objectives, and project …

The Effects Of Adipose Tissue Trauma On Vascular Function After Collateral Arteriogenesis, Nathan Tran

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects an estimated 200 million people worldwide and is characterized by arterial narrowing that reduces perfusion to the limbs. Collateral arterioles can naturally restore blood flow through a remodeling process called arteriogenesis, making it a promising therapeutic target. However, the femoral artery ligation (FAL) model used to study arteriogenesis requires surgical access deep to the inguinal fat pad, and approaches for handling the fat pad vary widely across surgeons and protocols. Since adipose tissue harbors a large population of macrophages, the immune cells that govern arteriogenesis, fat pad manipulation may introduce confounding inflammatory stimuli that disrupt …

Hydpn: A Hybrid Deep Reinforcement Learning, Programming, And Neighborhood Operations Framework For Integrated Scheduling On Parallel Batch Processing Machines, Yuqi Wang, He Luo, Guoqiang Wang, Zhaoxia Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Batch processing machines (BPMs) are widely used in industries such as semiconductors, metal processing, and healthcare, where jobs are processed in batches. As production, inventory, and distribution become increasingly integrated to improve efficiency, research on their joint scheduling in parallel BPM environments remains scarce. This paper addresses the integrated scheduling problem in parallel BPMs, involving production, inventory, and distribution stages, with the objective of minimizing total costs. A unified cost-based model is first formulated, applicable to both in-facility and external distribution scenarios. A hybrid algorithm framework, HyDPN, combining deep reinforcement learning, dynamic programming, and neighborhood operations is proposed. Extensive experiments …

Del Miedo A La Ternura: Deconstrucción De Imaginarios Constitutivos De La Iag Para Imaginarla Como Una Tecnología Futura, Elizabeth Rodríguez Rendon

GDI. Revista de investigación de Género, Diseño e Innovación

El artículo propone una reflexión crítica a modo de ensayo sobre los imaginarios sociotécnicos que han configurado históricamente el desarrollo de la tecnología y, particularmente, de la Inteligencia Artificial Generativa (IAG). Se sostiene que la ciencia moderna occidental se estructuró a partir del miedo como afecto dominante, heredado de las tradiciones prometeica y fáustica, las cuales promovieron una relación con la técnica basada en el control, la dominación de la naturaleza y el rechazo de la finitud humana. Desde esta lógica, la tecnología ha sido imaginada como instrumento de poder, defensa y superioridad, reforzando narrativas de fascinación y temor frente …

Triangle Sorting As A Real-Time 3d Renderer, Alexander Green, Xinyi Wang

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

This project explores the design and implementation of a 3D rendering system based on triangle sorting, integrated into a simple interactive game environment. The goal of the project is to evaluate whether a triangle-sorting–based renderer can function effectively in real time while maintaining visual correctness and performance.

To test the renderer in a practical setting, it is embedded within a 3D environment that supports camera control and real-time navigation through the rendered scene. The system focuses on real-time navigation, model loading, camera movement, and rendering of a low-poly 3D scene. The use of a low-poly visual style helps reduce computational …

Scu2u, Sattvika Bhatt, Austin Nguyen, Dhruv Patel, Izzy Perez, Shaunak Sharma

Computer Science and Engineering Senior Theses

On college campuses, the lack of short-range delivery options creates frequent distractions and interruptions, reducing productivity and convenience for students and faculty. To address this problem, SCU2U was developed as a low-cost autonomous food delivery rover designed to provide sustainable on-campus solution. The system utilizes a client-server network architecture that enables remote processing and monitoring over a campus Wi-Fi network.

The rover uses a 2D LiDAR sensor to scan its environment and utilizes SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) to build and localize with a reference map of its environment. Autonomous navigation is implemented using ROS2 and the Nav2 framework, which …

Skinclusive Ai: Towards Equitable Skin Cancer Detection For Deployment On Edge Devices, Joseph Galicinao

Master's Theses

Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, yet existing deep-learning models exhibit significant racial disparities because many widely used datasets are heavily skewed toward lighter skin tones. In addition, many approaches are not designed for deployment on resource-constrained devices, which limits accessibility. This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of classical machine learning and deep-learning based models for binary skin lesion classification, identifying the Swin-Tiny transformer architecture as the most effective backbone. To address bias, we curate a skin-tone balanced dataset, and introduce fairness-aware training through adversarial training, and joint distribution oversampling, to improve performance across protected attributes. …

A Polygon Approach For Satellite Coverage Computation Problems, Caleb I. Arbreton

Master's Theses

During celestial body observation mission planning, predicted sensor coverage is a key analysis tool used by designers to inform concept of operations. It enables trade studies by applying a metric to assess how well different sensor, satellite, and constellation configurations can observe a mission's region of interest. The effectiveness of the studied components is then paramount in determining whether they are justified in the system architecture. Coverage computation becomes more difficult as sensor types and regions of interest (RoIs) deviate from simple shapes, and as problem formulations seek higher-fidelity results. These simplifications include: conical camera sensors, RoIs represented as simple, …

Dot Product Engine Based Neuromorphic Hardware For Continuous-Time Biomedical Signal Classification, Sanjeev Srinivasan

Master's Theses

Accurate diagnosis of pathological conditions from biomedical signals, such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) is often performed offline, making it time-consuming, costly, and inefficient, especially when abnormal patterns are rare and long-term monitoring generates large amounts of data. To address this, this work proposes a compact, scalable, and programmable neuromorphic system designed for real-time preliminary arrhythmia detection and classification using ECG signals, that can be extended to other biomedical signals. The proposed design processes ECG signals using a delta modulation-based spike encoder, followed by classification with a dot-product engine (DPE) based spiking neural network (SNN) processor and winner-take-all (WTA) circuit. The architecture …

Development Of A Multi-Mode Switching-Inverter Laboratory Module For An Introductory Power Electronics Course, Darcy Eliasi

Master's Theses

DC–AC converters, or inverters, are essential power‑electronic interfaces widely used in photovoltaic systems, microgrids, energy‑storage installations, and numerous other modern electrical applications. This thesis presents the design, construction, and testing of an improved laboratory module developed as a student learning tool for demonstrating four fundamental inverter switching techniques: simple square wave (SSWI), modified square wave (MSWI), bipolar PWM, and unipolar PWM. Building upon the previous module, the improved design centers on three key enhancements. These include the selection of a more suitable wave‑generation solution, a multiplexer‑based mode‑selection architecture that reduces user complexity and eliminates conflicting signal configurations, and the integration …

Optimization Of Repeat Ground Track Constellation Design For Complex Discontinuous Regional Coverage, Paige Jewell

Master's Theses

The continued growth of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations motivates efficient constellation design methods to reduce cost and complexity. Although brute-force methods are commonly employed in the preliminary design of satellite constellations, pairing analytic methods with optimization algorithms provides a more efficient means of searching the design space. Constellation design for continuous global and regional coverage is well-established; however, strategies for discontinuous regional coverage remain underdeveloped. This thesis focuses on an analytic geometry-based method for computing satellite coverage and revisit metrics, coupled with genetic algorithm optimization to efficiently explore the design space. The viability of this method is shown …

Development Of A Computer Vision Based Rendezvous And Docking Test Platform, David T. Forbes

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the work completed in the development and testing of a low-cost modular sensor package capable of rendezvous and docking by providing a vehicle with relative navigational commands. These navigational commands are created using relative localization data gathered and processed onboard the sensor package, with validation, in post-processing, against global localization data. This research aims to reduce the cost of smaller autonomous vehicles by removing the need for custom control units, as its modular nature will allow it to be adapted to many different systems and vehicles. Discussed within this thesis is the rapid prototyping, development, and testing …

Effects Of Atomic Oxygen Exposure On Stressed Drag Sail Materials For Low Earth Orbit Applications, Nazanin Sadeghian Dezaki

Master's Theses

As low Earth orbit (LEO) has become an increasingly valuable region for satellite operations, it has grown increasingly congested. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deorbit regulations require satellites to be deorbited within 5 years of launch, and drag sails represent a practical means of meeting this requirement. An important consideration for drag sail design is the effect of atomic oxygen (AO) on sail materials. To address the gap in the literature regarding the behavior of stressed drag sail materials under AO exposure, a new test plate was manufactured for the California Polytechnic State University minimum atmospheric experimentation (MAX) AO chamber. …

A Higher Order Panel Method With Vortex Particle Wake, Luca Flick-Kaiser

Master's Theses

Panel codes were some of the earliest methods for computing the flow around aircraft. Despite the availability of higher fidelity CFD methods, panel methods remain an essential tool for the development of modern aircraft, allowing engineers to quickly iterate during the conceptual design phase.

This work develops and implements a high order panel method using Python. The wake is modeled using vortex particles, resulting in an accurate wake representation with minimal user input. The integration of the higher order singularity distributions has been extended to include the calculation of the velocity gradients necessary for the vortex particle implementation. The use …

Computer Vision Methods For Detecting Counterfeit Usd Bills, Tyler W. Jones

Master's Theses

This thesis addresses the global challenge of counterfeit paper currency by proposing a classical computer vision framework for distinguishing genuine United States Dollar (USD) bills from counterfeit ones using image data. In contrast to existing approaches that rely on a large number of easily reproducible visual features, this work prioritizes the detection of a single, robust security feature: the ultraviolet (UV) reactive security strip embedded in genuine USD bills of denominations $5 and above. By focusing on a feature that is inherently difficult to replicate, the proposed method reduces the likelihood of counterfeit bills being misclassified as genuine.

The system …

Development Of A Free-Floating Space Robotic Simulator, Truman: Terrestrial Robotic Unit For Multibody Analysis And Navigation, Jackson W. Cordova

Master's Theses

This work describes the development of a 3 Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) robotic manipulator for use on a free-floating planar air-bearing vehicle. The system developed aims to serve as a foundation for future space robotics research at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)’s Space Robotics Laboratory. Systems doc- umentation describes conceptual operation and architecture of the proposed system: Terrestrial Robotic Unit for Multibody Analysis and Navigation (TRUMAN). The key operation of TRUMAN is to study a self launch maneuver of a free-floating ve- hicle including 4 distinct phases: launch off a fixed rail, coast, reorientation using manipulator motion, and capture of …

Spaceotter: A Floating Spacecraft Simulator Air Bearing Vehicle For Hardware-In-The-Loop Experiments And Research, Alexander Debartolo

Master's Theses

Growing interest in nanosatellites has increased demand for accessible ground-testing methods, which have historically been expensive and restricted. Floating Spacecraft Simulators (FSS), built around Air Bearing Vehicles (ABVs), address this gap by approximating a zero-gravity, friction-minimized environment suitable for testing spacecraft control systems, robotics, and propulsion on the ground.

This thesis presents the design, realization, and initial performance characterization of the Space Optically Tracked Testbed for Experiments and Research (SpaceOTTER) ABV, developed for the Cal Poly Space Robotics Lab. SpaceOTTER is the first step toward emulating the 3 degree of freedom (3-DOF) planar dynamics of a simulated spacecraft and is …

Design And Evaluation Of An Assistive Powered Hand Orthosis For Grasp Activities For People Post-Stroke, Sydney Alexander

Master's Theses

After suffering a stroke, many survivors experience physical disability that affects their ability to complete daily tasks using their hands. Physical therapy is often pre scribed to people post-stroke, but is not fully effective at restoring hand function. The goal of this project was to design and fabricate an assistive device for people post-stroke to help with grasp and release. The device was designed to address com mon shortcomings of existing similar devices. State of the art devices in this domain were investigated to determine a set of design improvements. A novel motor-actuated hand orthosis was designed to decrease weight, …

Efficient Mathematical Modeling And Synthesis Of Realistic Musical Instrument Sounds, Andrew Chookaszian

Master's Theses

This thesis develops and evaluates a compact parametric additive synthesis model for isolated musical instrument tones. The method analyzes a single-note recording, estimates its fundamental frequency, extracts harmonic amplitude and frequency behavior, and stores the sound as a reduced set of interpretable parameters. These parameters include the note duration, pitch, per-harmonic amplitude envelopes, phase information, and amplitude- and frequency-modulation vibrato parameters. The stored model is then used to resynthesize the tone without directly using the original audio waveform.

The model was evaluated using synthetic signals, real instrument samples, objective error metrics, storage comparisons, pitch and duration modification tests, and listening …

Hamster: Hybrid-Actuated Mobile Spherical Terrain Exploration Rover, Winnie Gao

Master's Theses

The expansion of space exploration to increasingly challenging planetary environments requires mobility systems capable of extreme traversal capabilities and operational reliability. This thesis presents the design, development, and testing of a low-cost Hybrid-Actuated Mobile Spherical Terrain Exploration Rover (HAMSTER) intended for use on a planetary surface exploration mission. HAMSTER uses a pendulum-based actuation method for steering and an actuated internal shaft to propel the vehicle forward. The internal structure includes a two-tiered central case composed of the navigation control module, accelerometer, motor controller, primary DC motor, battery, voltage regulators, Raspberry Pi, pendulum servo motor, and drive shafts. Additive manufacturing through …

Design And Implementation Of An Embedded Control System For The Cal Poly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator, Neil Mahesh Bedagkar

Master's Theses

This thesis presents the development of a cascaded reaction wheel control system for Cal Poly's Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator. This work considers system architecture, empirical modeling, high-fidelity simulation, embedded firmware, hardware integration, and experimental characterization. In discrete-time simulation, it is shown that nonlinear direct model reference adaptive control (NDMRAC) enables a nonlinear, partially known plant with realistic actuator dynamics to track the response of a canonical second-order transfer function, with settling time within 4.67% and percent overshoot within order of magnitude of the second-order response. In hardware, the feasibility of a cascaded reaction wheel control architecture is experimentally demonstrated, achieving …

Trustworthy Intelligence Fusion For Search And Rescue: Designing Grounded And Secure Multi-Agent Ai For Mission Decision Support, Yayun Tan

Master's Theses

Search and rescue (SAR) operations require teams to integrate uncertain information under severe time pressure. Large language model (LLM)-based multi-agent systems (MAS) can support decision-making, but they also risk producing hallucinated outputs and processing unreliable or malicious data. This thesis addresses these risks through three linked studies. First, it proposes a modular eight-agent SAR MAS architecture that reflects the structure of real SAR missions by assigning specialized roles to different agents. Second, it introduces a post-hoc probabilistic verification framework that checks LLM agent outputs against a probabilistic knowledge graph built from historical SAR incidents.  Third, the thesis examines indirect adversarial …

Characterization Of The Thermally Driven Red Hue Effect In Coated And Uncoated Concrete Systems: Implications For Post-Fire Assessment In Wildland Urban Interface Communities, Juan C. Palominos Jr

Master's Theses

The increasing frequency and intensity of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) wildfires, such as the destructive 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire that destroyed over 6,000 structures, have underscored the urgent need for rapid post-fire safety assessment methodologies. This study sought to quantitatively characterize the Thermally Driven Red Hue Effect (TRHE), a unique, irreversible color shift observed in architectural coatings and concrete substrates, to determine its reliability as a permanent visual record of thermal exposure. Concrete substrates were formulated with three distinct coarse aggregates: gold granite (14.7% Fe), red cinder (22.4% Fe), and green rock (33.6% Fe) and coated with a 20 PVC waterborne …