Engineering Commons^™

Drones For Marine Science And Agriculture, David Caldera, Sai Murthy

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Our research project was launched at Cal Poly in 2019 with the goal of assisting researchers at the CSULB Shark Lab in detecting sharks from aerial images. Under the guidance of Dr. Franz J. Kurfess, students trained an object detection algorithm using shark images and were able to achieve high rate of detection. Following this success, the team has constructed multiple drones and expanded their research to include applications in the fields of agriculture and ecology. This summer the goal is to use a iPhone 14 Pro in lieu of a traditional camera system for real-time object recognition. Object detection …

Mechanical Design And Fabrication Of Rotating Test Stand For Supersonic Wind Tunnel, Suren I. Sanai, Sam Groom, Peter Kim, Nandeesh Hiremath

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This research project focuses on the design and manufacturing of a rotating test stand for the Cal Poly Supersonic Wind Tunnel (SSWT). In order to establish essential design parameters, the project employs compressible flow isentropic relationships to calculate the Mach number within the test section and determine static pressures. This comprehensive effort integrates preliminary design and manufacturing processes, utilizing CAD designs and a range of machinery for component fabrication, while also highlighting initial testing of the rotating test stand's ability to withstand predicted aerodynamic loads. As part of the research's future work, rigorous structural stability testing and the implementation of …

Building A Benchmark For Industrial Iot Application, Pranay K. Tiru, Soma Tummala

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

In this project, we have developed a rather robust means of processing and displaying large sums of IoT data using several cutting-edge, industry-standard technologies. Our data pipeline integrates physical sensors that send various environmental data like temperature, humidity, and pressure. Once created, the data is then collected at an MQTT broker, streamed through a Kafka cluster, processed within a Spark Cluster, and stored in a Cassandra database.

In order to test the rigidity of the pipeline, we also created virtual sensors. This allowed us to send an immense amount of data, which wasn’t necessarily feasible with just the physical sensors. …

Time-Lapse Imaging Of Colorectal Cancer Tumors, Jasmeet Sandhu

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This project was aimed to test and validate a newly constructed live-cell imaging system that allows for imaging and live cells and tissues. This system is comprised of an incubation chamber that controls that temperature and pH of live cell culture while on a microscope.

Review Study On Promoting Diversity And Inclusion In Engineering Education Through Digital Twins, Devon Bountry

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This study investigates the effect of digital twins in engineering education. This research was based on published research papers, conference papers, and case studies. Throughout a large range of studies, it was shown that digital twins can increase learning motivation and retainment through uses such as game-centered learning, personalized learning, and virtual prototyping. Particularly in engineering laboratory classes, digital twins can increase the variety of laboratory options while not increasing the cost due to equipment. This results in less barriers for students as there are more learning tools available at no additional cost or other requirements.

Exploring Cognition And Affect During Human-Cobot Interaction, Angelika T. Canete, Javier Gonzalez-Sanchez, Rafael Guerra Silva

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Collaborative robots (Cobots) have recently gained popularity due to their capability to work collaboratively with human operators. This collaborative relationship has been named under the robotics discipline of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC), in which humans and robots work together to accomplish a common task while also being in the same physical space. An important part of collaboration is the human's decision-making, which is largely affected by their affective and cognitive state. A cobot lacks this fundamental understanding of the human operator. In this research, we utilize a server-client program to communicate the affective states of a human user to a Raspberry …

Upper Limb Tensegrity Exoskeleton, Emily Mendyke, Sha'anan Levy, Alan Zhang

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Tensegrity structures are composed of stiff rods and elastic cables suspended in a flexible tension network. Their inherent properties have several key advantages when used in assistive medical devices such as supportive braces or rehabilitation exoskeletons: 1) the lightweight and natural compliance reduces the power consumption required to operate the system; 2) the system stiffness and pretension can be individually tuned to accommodate the user’s needs; and 3) the impact-resistant properties can protect users in the event of collisions and falls. This project explores the design space of assistive tensegrity devices to augment human dexterity in the upper limb. Suitable …

Sociotechnical Thinking In Statics And Dynamics, Raul Espinoza

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

This project introduced Canvas modules to instill a sociotechnical mindset in engineering students. By emphasizing the synergy between social and technical systems, the modules aim to produce engineers capable of crafting solutions that are technically adept and socially responsible.

Development Of User Interface And Testing Harness, Jacob Amezquita, William Albertini

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

No abstract provided.

Interfacial Thermomechanical Behavior Of Hybrid Carbon Fibers, Sriraj Srihari

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The carbon fiber/epoxy interface is of great importance in composite design due to its load transfer mechanisms from the weak epoxy to the stronger fiber. Improving the strength of the interface reduces the risk of failure at the interface and improves the load transfer to the fiber. In this study, two types of nano-species ZnO nanowires and nickel-based metal organic frameworks were grown on carbon fibers to improve the interfaces. The interfacial mechanics of the enhanced fibers are evaluated using nanoindentation studies. Composite samples with Aeropoxy matrix and vertically aligned fibers are fabricated for this purpose. A Bruker TI-980 TriboIndenter …

Design And Characterization Of A High Pressure Flow Loop For Heat Transfer Experiments Of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Joseph Sauerbrun

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) sees heightened heat transfer characteristics near its critical point due to its drastically changing thermophysical properties. Conventional single phase heat transfer theory was not developed to capture this nonlinear variation in properties and cannot predict the heat transfer characteristics of sCO2 to a practical level useful for design. To delve deeper into the behavior near the critical point and shed light on this crucial phenomenon, a state-of-the-art closed flow loop was developed. This setup enabled convective heat transfer experiments of sCO2 under diverse boundary conditions and test section geometries. Key components of the loop include the …

Online Aircraft System Identification Using A Novel Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning Method, Nathan Schaff

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This thesis presents the development and analysis of a novel method for training reinforcement learning neural networks for online aircraft system identification of multiple similar linear systems, such as all fixed wing aircraft. This approach, termed Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning (PIRL), dictates that reinforcement learning neural networks should be trained using input and output trajectory/history data as is convention; however, the PIRL method also includes any known and relevant aircraft parameters, such as airspeed, altitude, center of gravity location and/or others. Through this, the PIRL Agent is better suited to identify novel/test-set aircraft.

First, the PIRL method is applied to …

Explorations In Monocular Distance And Ranging (Modar) Techniques For Real-World Applications, Devon Vail

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

In this work, an initial prototype of a monocular camera system capable of retrieving depth-from-focus using a liquid focus-tunable lens is constructed out of hobby-grade photography equipment. This concept has been explored previously in laboratory settings using specialized equipment; this work seeks to determine the feasibility of retrieving depth-from-focus using commercially available components. To achieve this, an iterative exploration of existing techniques was performed to verify their utility in the final ensemble of processes to retrieve depth from 2D images. Initially, blurry images were simulated by applying Gaussian blur to test images to verify the functionality of a Laplacian of …

Spoken Language Processing And Modeling For Aviation Communications, Aaron Van De Brook

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

With recent advances in machine learning and deep learning technologies and the creation of larger aviation-specific corpora, applying natural language processing technologies, especially those based on transformer neural networks, to aviation communications is becoming increasingly feasible. Previous work has focused on machine learning applications to natural language processing, such as N-grams and word lattices. This thesis experiments with a process for pretraining transformer-based language models on aviation English corpora and compare the effectiveness and performance of language models transfer learned from pretrained checkpoints and those trained from their base weight initializations (trained from scratch). The results suggest that transformer language …

Modeling And Compensating Of Noise In Time-Of-Flight Sensors, Bryan Rodriguez

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

Three-dimensional (3D) sensors provide the ability to perform contactless measurements of objects and distances that are within their field of view. Unlike traditional two-dimensional (2D) cameras, which only provide RGB data about objects within a scene, 3D sensors are able to directly provide depth information for objects within a scene. Of these 3D sensing technologies, Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors are becoming more compact which allows them to be more easily integrated with other devices and to find use in more applications. ToF sensors also provide several benefits over other 3D sensing technologies that increase the types of applications where ToF sensors …

Erosion Resistant Rock Shoulder, Chung R. Song, Richard L. Wood, Basil Abualshar, Mark O'Brien, Bashar Al-Nimri, Mitra Nasimi

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Highway shoulder rocks are exposed to continuous erosion force due to unexpected floodings caused by climate change. The evaluation methods of the erosion resistance of highway shoulder rocks are not currently well-developed. This study developed a new large-scale testing device, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Erosion Testing Bed (UNLETB), which has the capability of testing the shoulder gravels. Different gradations were tested using UNLETB, and the results distinguished a high-resistant group and a low-resistant group. The low resistant group was treated with different binding agents: Ammonium Lignosulfonate (LIGNO10), Soybean Soap Stock, and DirtGlue. The treated samples showed better erosion resistance based …

Catalytic Hydrogenation Of Dimethyl Oxalate To Ethylene Glycol Using Silver Based Catalysts On Sba-15, Nicolas Edouard Gleason-Boure

Theses and Dissertations

Ethylene glycol (EG) is an important industrial chemical in the manufacturing of certain plastics. There is growing industrial interest in the production of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) from syngas, which can be hydrogenated to produce EG. Many studies have focused on the catalytic reduction of DMO using copper-based catalysts on silica supports, but fewer studies have been done on the effects of silver for this reaction. This work presents an in-depth study of silver catalysts prepared via various methods including incipient wetness impregnation, charge enhanced dry impregnation, and the use of various organic solvents. Reaction studies show that using pure methanol …

Elastic Sensing Skin For Monitoring Of Concrete Structures, Emmanuel Abiodun Ogunniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Soft elastomeric capacitors (SECs) are emerging as potential low-cost solutions for monitoring cracks and strains in concrete infrastructure, a crucial aspect of structural health monitoring. Effective long-term monitoring of civil infrastructure can reduce the risk of structural failures and potentially reduce the cost and frequency of inspections. However, deploying structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies for bridge monitoring is expensive, especially long-term, due to the density of sensors required to detect, localize, and quantify cracks. Previous research on soft elastomeric capacitors (SEC) has shown their viability for low-cost monitoring of cracks in transportation infrastructure. However, when deployed on concrete for strain …

Simulation-Based Optimization Of A Dc Microgrid: With Machine-Learning-Based Models And Hybrid Meta-Heuristic Algorithms, Tyler Van Deese

Theses and Dissertations

The field of economic dispatch (ED) focuses on optimizing power flow in a power system to minimize costs. It has the potential to significantly enhance system effectiveness, and efficiency, and reduce operating costs. Various techniques have been employed to tackle this problem, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. One promising approach is simulation-based optimization (SBO), which allows for accurate modeling of system interactions and improved representation of expected results. However, SBO requires running numerous simulations to identify an optimal solution, and there is a possibility of not achieving the global optimum. This work aims to address these challenges using …

Design Of A Test Frame And Its Corresponding Test Methods For A Deployable Composite Boom, William Luther Montgomery

Theses and Dissertations

Deployable composite booms (DCB) are an advanced class of support beams growing in applications including solar collectors and solar sails. DCBs can be coiled or folded into a compact footprint and the ability to be deployed, and in some design, concepts redeployed, making them optimal components for aerospace where weight and volume are finite resources. DCBs are a cutting-edge technology that has yet to be perfected with a need for longer booms with increased stiffnesses to accommodate the latest proposed designs. Atomic-6 has proposed a 16-foot boom manufactured using an autoclave process which aims to reach the goal of producing …

A One-Dimensional Volcanic Plume Model For Predicting Ash Aggregation, D. W. Hoffman, L. G. Mastin, Alexa R. Van Eaton, Stephen Solovitz, Raul Bayoan Cal, J. K. Eaton

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

During explosive volcanic eruptions, volcanic ash is ejected into the atmosphere, impacting aircraft safety and downwind communities. These volcanic clouds tend to be dominated by fine ash (μm in diameter), permitting transport over hundreds to thousands of kilometers. However, field observations show that much of this fine ash aggregates into clusters or pellets with faster settling velocities than individual particles. Models of ash transport and deposition require an understanding of aggregation processes, which depend on factors like moisture content and local particle collision rates. In this study, we develop a Plume Model for Aggregate Prediction, a one-dimensional (1D) volcanic plume …

Development Of Pullulan/Chitosan/Salvianolic Acid Ternary Fibrous Membranes And Their Potential For Chemotherapeutic Applications, Salahuddin Ahmed, Megan Keniry, Victoria Padilla, Narcedalia Anaya-Barbosa, Md Noushad Javed, Robert Gilkerson, Kithzia Gomez, Acharan S. Narula, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study investigates the feasibility of centrifugal spinning for producing fibrous membranes containing pullulan, chitosan, and danshen extract. The danshen extract is composed of 20 wt% salvianolic acid B (SA). Citric acid was added to the mixture as a crosslinking agent to promote its use in the aqueous medium. The influence of the danshen concentration (25 wt% and 33 wt%) on fiber morphology, thermal behavior, and the biochemical effect was analyzed. Developed fiber-based membranes consist of long, continuous, and uniform fibers with a sparse scattering of beads. Fiber diameter analysis shows values ranging from 384 ± 123 nm to 644 …

Effect Of Room Size, Shape, Ac Placement, And Air Leakage On Indoor Airborne Viral Transmission, K. Choudhary, K. A. Krishnaprasad, ‪Nadim Zgheib, M. Y. Ha, S. Balachandar

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Highlights

• Statistical overloading is used to obtain spatio-temporal pathogen concentration.

• Symmetrically placed AC limits pathogen propagation over long distances.

• Well-mixed model captures room-averaged concentration for any shape and AC location.

• The pathogens level of mixing is reduced when AC is symmetrically positioned.

• Air leakage has insignificant impact on indoor pathogen distribution.

Abstract

We conducted Euler–Lagrange Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations with statistical overloading to investigate the effect of room shape, air-condition (AC) location, and the presence of an open window on indoor airborne viral transmission, particularly as it relates to the spatio-temporal distribution of viral-laden droplet nuclei. Two room geometries were …

Unhsc Street Sweeping Credit Calculator, Unh Stormwater Center

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.

Alca: Comparing Icelandic Aluminum Emissions To The World Through Statistical Reasoning And Programming-Based Predictive Tools, Markus Sujansky

Iceland: Climate Change and The Arctic

Aluminum production is a process that is heavily reliant on large amounts of available

energy, and therefore lends itself to locations where energy production is abundant. Iceland, as a global leader in Geothermal and Hydropower energy, has experienced an industrial boom in the past 20-30 years, quickly becoming a top 10 worldwide aluminum producer. However, although the three main companies that operate their smelting processes in the country are powered by clean energy, they still import raw materials from all over the world, with source locations ranging from Brazil to Australia. In order to find out if the long distance …

2023 Final Report For Databases In The 2022 Traffic Records Improvement Plan: Facilitating The Development Of Projects To Attain The Goals In The Implementation Plan For The 2022-26 Traffic Records Strategic Plan, Lenahan O'Connell, Samantha Wright, Reginald Souleyrette

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During fiscal year 2023, with financial support (Grant #M3Da-2022-04) from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC)-continued its work with traffic database officials to facilitate successful attainment of the remaining goals from the 2017-21 Traffic Records Strategic Plan (TRSP), which goals are in the 2022-26 TRSP Transportation Records Improvement Plan (TRIP). For most databases, some new goals were developed; this required further refinement of some projects or strategies to improve database performance. Projects to complete the goals in the TRIP were continued and some completed for the following databases: CRASH, Citation/Adjudication, Injury Surveillance (KIPRC and EMS), …

Enhancing Heat Transfer Performance In Simulated Fischer–Tropsch Fluidized Bed Reactor Through Tubes Ends Modifications, Laith S. Sabri, Abbas J. Sultan, Jamal M. Ali, Hasan Shakir Majdi, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fluidized bed reactors are essential in a wide range of industrial applications, encompassing processes such as Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and catalytic cracking. The optimization of performance and reduction in energy consumption in these reactors necessitate the use of efficient heat transfer mechanisms. The present work examines the considerable impact of tube end geometries, superficial gas velocity, and radial position on heat transfer coefficients within fluidized bed reactors. It was found that the tapered tube end configurations have been empirically proven to improve energy efficiency in fluidized bed reactors significantly. For example, at a superficial gas velocity of 0.4 m/s, the tapered …

Improving Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Diagnosis, Sida Zhang

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of dizziness. Especially for people over 45, the risk of BPPV is substantial. On the other hand, BPPV is often misdiagnosed and may require expensive examinations. This thesis introduces a prediction model based on machine learning to quickly, inexpensively, and accurately diagnose BPPV. The thesis starts by introducing BPPV and the statistics of BPPV misdiagnosis. Then, a patient survey is introduced. The patient survey includes 50 BPPV-related questions, which are used as training data for the machine learning model. Logistic Regression, Decision Tree, and Naïve Bayes were compared …

Reduced Bias User Preference Methods For Determining The Pareto-Optimal Solution Point, Dylan Thomas Johnson

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Engineering design is filled with tradeoffs between competing objectives such as performance, mass, cost, and schedule. A designer must navigate these complex multi-objective problems and deliver the right solution for their application. Multi-objective optimization techniques are powerful and widely used; however, a key drawback to these techniques is that they often output a set of equivalent solutions called the Pareto Front. The designer must perform an additional multi-objective down selection on the Pareto Front to determine a single Pareto-optimal solution point for their design. Existing Pareto Front processing techniques either use traditional infinitely adjustable weights, which can yield results that …

Design And Validation Of A Variable Stiffness Three Degree Of Freedom Planar Robot Arm, Andrew L. Bernhard

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The need exists for robotic manipulators that can interact with an environment having uncertain kinematic constraints. A robot has been designed and built for proof of concept of a passive variable compliance control strategy that can vary joint stiffness to achieve higher performance dexterous manipulation. This novel planar robot incorporating variable stiffness actuators and common industrial controls allows the robot to comply with its environment when needed but also have high stiffness for precise motion control in free space. To perform both functions well, a high stiffness ratio (max/min stiffness) is required. A stiffness ratio up to 492 was achieved. …