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AGED 539 Graduate Internship Report - Mt. Whitney High School
No full textThis project reviewed a high school agricultural education program with an emphasis on agricultural mechanics. Program strengths and needs were identified through curriculum and resource evaluation. Based on the findings, a budget was developed to support equipment, materials, and instructional improvements for the ag mechanics program
Reverse Design of Solid Rocket Grain Geometry
No full textThe reverse design of solid rocket motors remains a challenging process due to the nonlinear relationship between the grain geometry and the internal ballistics. The reverse design process involves obtaining an optimal grain geometry given a target performance curve set by mission requirements, which is the inverse problem of the forward design. The purpose of this study is to assess the validity and implementation of neural network and simulated annealing algorithms to perform the reverse design process. A modified phase field model of the eikonal equation is derived to simulate the evolution of combustion surfaces over time, enabling burn back analysis as well as internal ballistics calculations. Initial grain geometries are generated using a parametric function called the superformula, which provides a flexible representation of complex surfaces with six parameters. The neural network is trained to predict the optimal grain geometry parameters from a given target chamber performance curve. Separately, simulated annealing is implemented to optimize the superformula parameters utilizing the error between target and calculated performance curves as an objective function. Since simulated annealing requires an initial grain geometry as a starting point for the optimization, a method of combining neural network and simulated annealing is proposed. This method performs simulated annealing on the outputs of the neural network to potentially reduce computational costs and increase practicality. Results from this study shows that a simple neural network is not able to perform the reverse design process alone while the simulated annealing and the combined method are. Additionally, the NN+SA method was able to reduce computational costs, making it the most viable method for reverse design for the specific cases studied. Although the exact reduction in computational costs was not able to be quantified due to the random initialization of SA, this study shows that the NN+SA method produces similar results to SA for worse case scenarios and up to 3000 seconds faster in the best case scenarios specifically explored in this study
Acoustic-Based Quality Monitoring in Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printing
No full textThis project investigates the use of acoustic signals captured during Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing to predict part quality and detect process anomalies. Traditional quality monitoring in FDM often relies on visual inspection or post-process evaluation, which can be slow and inconsistent. This research explores a low-cost, non-contact alternative using microphones and accelerometers to capture real-time audio and vibration signatures of the printing process. By applying signal processing and machine learning techniques to these acoustic signals, the project aims to classify part quality and identify defects such as under-extrusion, layer misalignment, or nozzle clogging. The outcomes have potential applications in smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and low-cost quality assurance systems
Engaging Students in Materials Engineering Through a Marble-Based Property Ranking Game
No full textThis SURP proposal is centered on the design and development of a Materials Marbles Game, an educational tool designed to introduce students to materials science and materials selection through tactile interaction and hands-on experimentation. The game will incorporate measurement of key material properties—such as mechanical, thermal, electrical, and mass density—using spherical marbles made from different materials. These measurements will then be used to construct a physical Material Property Chart (Ashby-Cebon plot) on a game board, fostering a hands-on, embodied understanding of how different materials behave. The game will also illustrate the thought process behind materials selection, a critical aspect of engineering design. The Materials Marbles Game is aimed at being adaptable for both classroom use and outreach initiatives, making it an effective tool for high school seniors, first-year engineering students, and public engagement events. This project will also develop corresponding teaching resources (guides and videos) to support instructors so that the game can be implemented in multiple Cal Poly courses and/or in local K-12 schools. To measure the game’s educational efficacy, we will develop methods to evaluate the impact of the game on students’ self-efficacy, interest in engineering, and design thinking. We will also create ways to illicit feedback from students and instructors in future courses that use the game. Both will form the basis for future educational studies
Wearable Sensing Systems and Data Analytics for Pressure Sensing Prosthetics
No full textThis interdisciplinary research, in collaboration with Sony, aims to improve the fit and comfort of socket prosthetics for amputees by utilizing sensing technology and data analytical techniques. Many amputees face issues with prosthetic fit, which can lead to discomfort, pain, and even tissue damage. Our goal is to address these problems by developing a low-cost, universal, and wearable sensing system that can continuously monitor the pressures at the residual limb and prosthetic socket interface. This product will provide feedback to the user, allowing for real-time adjustments, ensuring a comfortable fit, and avoiding injury. Our research group has extensive experience in wearable sensors and machine learning/artificial intelligence. We plan to integrate Sony’s electronic boards with wearable sensing systems and investigate the performance of different data analytical algorithms. The students will have the opportunity to closely work with Dr. Wang’s interdisciplinary research group
Reenvisioning Identities that Precede Us: “Body Acknowledgement” as Social Justice Practice within a Communication Ethics Course Redesign
Get PDFWe infuse this conversation of “body neutrality” through social justice responsiveness (compassion, equity, and accountability of body/presence privilege) by specifically attending to intersections of race, gender, and body mindset built into our identities. In reimagining the term “body-neutrality” through identity engagement, we introduce the term “body acknowledgment” as an active interpretative state. As a co-authored pedagogical “co-conspiring” for racial justice (Houdek and Ore, 2021, p. 92), we (instructor, teaching assistants, and previous students) offered a course redesign centering social justice strategies to address the following question: How can dialogue about intersectional communication work toward redesigning learning with difference and develop pedagogical strategies that foster social justice-based inquiry for students and teaching assistants in a Communication Ethics course? Centering narrative reflection during four units — Intent, Implementation, Interpretation, and Impact — of our course, faculty and students critically contemplated how their “identities that preceded them” influenced communication ethics. Before explaining the course redesign through these four key units, we offer the theoretical underpinnings for each term to invite possibilities to address equitable identity engagement in other courses