48440 research outputs found
Sort by
Adapting to the Hybrid-Electric Shift – Recommendations for Automakers & Automotive Retailers
No full textThe automotive industry is evolving as consumer preferences and environmental concerns drive the shift to hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Rising hybrid vehicle sales have resulted in complex consumer and retailer decision-making situations, while automotive retailers are looking to create opportunities for new market segments. This paper investigates the impact of hybrid and electric vehicle consumption on consumers and automotive retailers, focusing on the underlying factors driving these shifts and offering strategic recommendations for automotive manufacturers and retailers. Our analysis highlights the alternatives to purchasing new vehicles, examining the growth of the hybrid-electric conversion kit industry, and emphasizing industry optimization and consumer adoption strategies. The key finding reveals a consumer-driven shift from EVs to hybrids, driven by affordability concerns and the limitations of current EV infrastructure. The study underscores the importance of hybrid vehicles as a bridge to transitioning consumers and retailers to electrification
CS MQP - Improving Remote and Local Control of Signal Generation Equipment using a Raspberry Pi for Lab Automation
No full textApplied Signal Technology (AST) uses Software Defined Radios (SDRs) to generate signals for testing products. The original system for controlling these SDRs involved running a program called Pharos: a shell program that only allowed running one command at a time. This project expanded and created multiple interfaces to interact and configure the SDRs. This included a website for remote access with a user-friendly interface for both computers and an in-lab touchscreen, a REST API for other services to interact and automate SDR usage, and a CLI to run multiple commands all within one line. With these improvements, testing can be automated and performed remotely, replacing manual testing, reducing execution time, increasing testing performance
Bridging Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Chatbots: Development and Evaluation of a Conversational AI Tutor (CAIT)
No full textASSISTments, a platform dedicated to enhancing classroom learning through intelligent tutoring systems (ITS), has developed the Conversational AI Tutoring (CAIT) chatbot. CAIT leverages randomized control trials (RCTs) to evaluate various instructional strategies and improve student learning outcomes. In this project, we extended CAIT’s functionality with a focus on assessing its effectiveness in real classroom settings. By collecting data from real student interactions while solving middle school math problems, we developed a conversational analyzer to process and interpret these conversations. Although the results were inconclusive due to limited student data, this work lays the foundation for future research, with the goal of optimizing CAIT’s impact on learning
7Factor 2024-2026: Staffing Tool/Project Force (Team 2)
No full textThis paper details the development of key financial management features in ProjectForce, a SaaS platform used by 7Factor. Our team implemented support for creating, reading, and updating Agreements and Rates, enhancing the system’s ability to manage complex billing scenarios. Additionally, we enabled creating and viewing Agreement Rates, ensuring clients are billed appropriately for work. We designed new user interface components to match ProjectForce’s existing design while incorporating modern design standards
Increasing Distribution of the Hawaiian ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Tree
No full textOur project sought to increase the distribution of Hawai‘i’s state endemic tree, the ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree, by working with the ‘Ōhi‘a Legacy Initiative (OLI). We conducted research on nursery production by contacting 73 nurseries through surveys. We then interviewed respondents to identify potential partnerships to help with OLI’s mission. Following interviews, we forged meaningful connections with nurseries to expand tree propagation, developed educational materials to raise public awareness, and created a heat map to track distribution. Additionally, we produced digital marketing tools to enhance engagement. Our work provides solutions to increasing the scope of OLI’s ‘ōhi‘a lehua giveaway program, allowing for both environmental impact and cultural preservation of the ‘ōhi‘a lehua tree
Advancing AMA's El Agromercado: Strategic Solutions for Greater Impact
No full textSince its beginnings in 2022, the farmers market run by the Apoyo Mutuo Agrícola (AMA) has faced numerous logistical and expansion challenges. The goal of this project was to support the sustainable growth of AMA’s market by streamlining communication systems, enhancing customer experience at the market, and developing social media marketing guidelines. These goals were accomplished through a combination of stakeholder interviews, market observations, and statistical analysis. We provided AMA with custom designed systems to streamline their communications with vendors and customers, designed a new physical layout for the market, and developed social media guidelines with an initial content library.
Climate Change Research Project
No full textHong Kong, a global hub for trade and innovation, faces pressing climate challenges due to its dense urban landscape and vulnerability to rising temperatures and increased flooding from heavy rainfall. In collaboration with the Business Environment Council (BEC), this research assesses the private sector’s approaches to climate adaptation and resilience (a&r), focusing on critical industries such as transportation, power/ utilities, real estate, and finance. The study combines an analysis of Hong Kong's climate risks with a comparative review of resilience strategies from cities like Singapore, New York City, and London, identifying transferable practices to strengthen local initiatives. A comprehensive checklist was created to evaluate the preparedness of businesses in addressing climate risks, with the findings providing actionable recommendations to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity across Hong Kong’s private sector.
Identifying and Implementing a Translation Tool for use in Habitat for Humanity ReStore Locations
No full textLanguage barriers in Habitat for Humanity's ReStore second-hand stores prevent communication between employees, volunteers, and non-English speaking customers. Through research and piloting in the Worcester and Ashland ReStores, we established that Spanish, Portuguese, and Persian are key languages and built a web-based translation solution with Microsoft Translator, OpenAI's Whisper, and GPT-4o-mini. The solution was deployed on Amazon Web Service (AWS) for scalability, at an estimated $15 monthly in operating costs, and was successfully piloted in real customer interactions. Our project offers a low-cost, replicable strategy for nonprofits to enhance access through translation technology
Growing Together: Strengthening La Conde’s Community Kitchen and Support Networks through Gardening
No full textPuerto Rico has the fourth oldest population globally and faces challenges supporting the mental and physical health of its elderly, especially in marginalized rural communities. Our project developed a community garden to aid La Conde, a community-based organization supporting an older population on the San Juan outskirts. We interviewed established community gardens in San Juan and La Conde stakeholders to implement a pilot community garden program that provided produce and supported at-home gardening. We developed a full-scale garden design for La Conde with potential for four garden beds and constructed two pilot garden beds, a compost system, and a volunteer management process. These efforts demonstrate that community gardening is a low-cost program that enhances wellbeing
Power Examination and Optimization of a Transcutaneous Oxygen Monitor
No full textThis project aims to optimize the power management system of a wearable transcutaneous oxygen (PtcO₂) monitoring device by addressing key challenges in battery selection and voltage stability. A comprehensive evaluation of battery technologies led to the selection of the 500mAh Adafruit LiPo battery, which offers an optimal balance of capacity, size, and reliability. To ensure accurate luminescent oxygen sensing, the study emphasizes the significance of voltage stability and implements advanced battery monitoring techniques, including Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) calibration and VBAT monitoring. The integration of these enhancements significantly improves device performance, extending operational lifespan while maintaining a compact and portable design. The findings provide a strong foundation for future advancements in wearable medical technology, particularly in enhancing energy efficiency and real-time monitoring capabilities