Electrical Engineering

X-Band for Small Satellite Communication

As space operations become more accessible to small players, many are looking to the possibility of lunar and deep space projects. In these cases, the distance that must be bridged by communications is enormously greater than in Low Earth Orbit, so more advanced radio technology is necessary to provide adequate bandwidth at such distance. The objective of this project was to develop a complete X-band transceiver design (building on the work done during SURP 2020) to support future deep space CubeSat missions out of Cal Poly and beyond.

Sound-based Detection of Detection of COVID-19 using Machine Learning

In the year of 2021, even with the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, the emergence of COVID variants have solidified the disease as a consistent presence in the foreseeable future. Current widespread testing methods for the virus are slow, expensive, or require specialized equipment to yield accurate results, causing uncertainty and spread while results are processed, and also disproportionately impact low resource communities that do not have access to equipment needed. This project sought to find a machine learning framework for COVID-19 classification using cough sounds only, providing instant, low cost, high accuracy test results and eliminate or significantly reduce the problems in existing methods.

Next Gen Avionics

The Next Gen Avionics SURP focused on getting System Board II, Cal Poly CubeSat Lab’s next generation avionics board, up to speed. The topics focused on during this project were systems engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering.

The CAR (Confront, Address, Replace) Strategy

Is it time for Confronting, Addressing, & Replacing (CARing) exclusionary terminologies in engineering? The CAR (confront, address, replace) Strategy is a new pedagogy aiming to drive out iniquitous terminologies (e.g., “master-slave”) in STEM.

Optimization of Backtracking Parameters in the Cal Poly Goldtree Solar Farm

The 4.5 MW Cal Poly Goldtree Solar Farm is the largest solar array in the CSU system. It generates up to 25% of the university’s yearly power. However, it currently faces an issue of shading. During some mornings and evenings, solar panels will cast shade on other panels which will decimate the performance of any module that is shaded. Backtracking is a technique that combats this by sub-optimally tracking the sun until the sun is high enough in the sky so that no shade will be cast on any modules. Due to the uneven terrain of the solar farm, this is a difficult technique to perfect. The goal of this project is to investigate and identify the areas where there is significant power loss due to row-to-row shading, then adjust the current backtracking algorithm such that performance is improved.

Virtual Reality in Engineering Education During COVID-19 and Beyond

Since COVID-19 first shut down schools and universities, students have been struggling to obtain the most out of their education. The current model of conducting lectures and labs through video conferences or pre-recorded meetings does not engage students like meeting in-person would. The research being proposed is distance learning modules that will give students a more engaging and interactive experience than simply watching a video. The goal is to allow students to feel like they are back in the classroom without having to leave the safety of their room. The primary focus will be in augmented or virtual reality solutions as well as the possibility of a design that will give students control over objects and equipment in actual labs again.

Coronavirus Update and Resources

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