College of Engineering Fall Design Showcase 2023

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IN R E E N I G N E F COLLEGE O

E S A C W O H S N DESIG

Fall 2023

FROM IDEAS TO IMPACT

FROM THE DEAN Dear Industry Partners, Alumni, and Friends, On behalf of the College of Engineering at Boise State University, I would like to welcome you to our annual Design Showcase! Twice a year the College of Engineering highlights the unrelenting spirit from our students through their creative and experiential learning across our various departments and programs.

I invite you to meet over 30 student teams, faculty, mentors, and project sponsors. Join our amazing students as they present their student-led projects. For the first time this fall, our showcase will also feature the work being accomplished by our various graduate students in our masters and doctoral programs. This ‘Out of the Blue’ thinking changes the way we look at cybersecurity, transportation, materials, robotics, and more across Idaho and beyond.

Maybe you have a project of your own which would benefit from an innovative approach and a motivated design team. We are always looking for new projects, project clients and sponsors, and partnerships to challenge our emerging professionals!

JoAnn S. Lighty, Ph.D. Dean, College of Engineering Professor, Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering

INSTRUCTOR AND DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL CONTACTS CIVIL ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING PLUS

Robyn Mattison, PE Phone: 208-426-3749 Email: robynmattison@boisestate.edu

Courtney Hollar, Ph.D. Phone: 208-426-1006 Email: courtneyhollar@boisestate.edu

COMPUTER SCIENCE

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Eric Henderson, Ph.D. Phone: 208-426-5769 Email: ehenderson@boisestate.edu

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE Kody Walker Phone: 208-426-2485 Email: kodywalker@boisestate.edu

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Aaron Smith, Ph.D. Phone: 208-426-2360 Email: aaronsmith9@boisestate.edu Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D. Phone: 208-426-4078 Email: hannahohern@boisestate.edu

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

MICRON SCHOOL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Brian Higgins Phone: 208-426-4804 Email: brianhiggins@boisestate.edu

Harold Ackler, Ph.D. Phone: 208-426-5916 Email: hackler@boisestate.edu

Boise State University College of Engineering

THANK YOU

TO OUR VISIONARY EMPLOYER PARTNERS The College of Engineering works closely with members of the Visionary Employer Partnership Program in an effort to provide meaningful engagement opportunities between the companies and the College of Engineering, as well as greater visibility for companies with College of Engineering students, faculty, and alumni. Benefits include opportunities to enhance their on-campus recruiting experiences, priority invitations to participate in guest speaker events, networking events, career fairs, and highlighting member companies across our social media channels and websites.

INAUGURAL PARTNERS 2023-2024

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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THANK YOU TO OUR PROJECT SPONSORS Our projects’ sponsors generously support the College of Engineering’s Design Showcase teams. Thank you for providing your time, experience and financial support that help make our students’ projects and programs successful.

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE City of Wilder Eagle Sewer District Eaglewood Homes Idaho Army National Guard (IDARNG) KFalkDesign LLC New Meadows School District Micron Technology Inc. PlayOn Game Marketing Power Engineers Reyco Systems Swan Valley School District U.S. Department of Energy Visioneering Space Corp.

BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Civil Engineering Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Biomaterial and Muscoskeletal Engineering Laboratory

INDIVIDUALS Andrew Cortens, Ph.D. Aykut Satici, Ph.D. Brian Scott Bob Shirley Charles Ulwelling Chelsie Johnson Chuck McClain Courtney Hollar, Ph.D Dee Fredrickson, Ph.D. Elton Graugnard Ph.D. Eric Henderson, Ph.D. Erin Brown Ira Burton Jerred Edgar, CW4 Kevin Falk Michael Jacobson Ph.D. Molly Urich

Monte Eldfrick Morgan Diefendorf Natasha Bunten Neil Jenkins Pat Baker Patrick Hester Rob Anson, Ph.D. Samuel Nichols Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D. Thad Welch Ph.D. Wyland Atkins Yang Lu, Ph.D.

DESIGN SHOWCASE STUDENTS CIVIL ENGINEERING (CE) Frisco Adams Copen Bauer Samantha Chowanec Mabin Dahal* Lucas Denny Grant Goertzen Eli Loudenback Carbella Medina Cedar Miller Gregor Posadas Jonathan Rand Dylan Rene Elliot Stauffer Braeden Sullivan

COMPUTER SCIENCE (CS) Md Khorshed Alaml* Jordan Caspar Michael Chiwere* Chris Dagher* Spencer Duffin Connor Espino Jake Forsberg Colton Hawkins Matthew Kelley Guy Kogan Andrew Martin Carson Morris Austin Nelson Christine Pinney Austin Platt Logan Reiss Cristian Sanchez Patrick Santana Josh Schriger

Aidan Scudder Alex Silva Brayan Silva Kachinga Silwimba* Andrew Sorensen Johann Vargas Jake Vercella Zachry Weber Zixi Zhao Tianjie Zhang*

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIANCE (CORE) Britton Adams Hope Bosworth Makayla Danley Amra Durmic Austin French Ivan Godinez Jordan Graham Travis Kidlow Amanda Lane Kim Leatherberry Rudy Martinez Logan Mecham Jerry Pistorius Jonas Plew Anthony Ramirez Cameron Reid Ritchie Rodriguez James Swain Andrew Thompson Hunter Tomczyk Clinton Walker Kacey Wheeler Daniel White Abigail Wisdom Adam Womack

* Graduate Student

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Boise State University College of Engineering

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING (ECE)

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (MBE)

Alyssa Abbott Gage Coprivnicar Jessica Corn Robert Dowen Robert Guzman Grace Harker Eric Kondratyuk Kolby Modrow Charli Ralston Braden Reizenstein Joshua Reser Betsy Rosales

Branden Anderson Erica Basa Jacquelyn Castro Jose Escobosa Sarah Goldrod* Trey Gunst Steven Isaacs Ian Jensen Jaelen Johnson Calvin Jones* Brett Juhasz Adam LaBlond Jessica Lambert Jordan Loew Fernando Marez William McKinney Paul McLeod Levi Nesbitt Shannon Oates Brian Patterson Michelle Patterson Brian Penney* Devon Piovesan Ben Robinson Danielle Siegel* Steven Wible Sam Williams Zack Williamson Cristian Zavala

ENGINEERING PLUS (EPLUS) Noa Bothe Dylan Catalano J Chen Archer Cureton Tyler Dambitis Savannah Doran Michael Doud Cooper Morey Hazen Miller Nicholas Miller Jessica Schneider Riley Schrock Kylie Stewart Dinghan Tay Christian Wonenberg Jake Wessels

MATERIALS SCIENCE ENGINEERING (MSE) Marjan Albooyeh* Madilyn Paul*

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOL

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CIVIL ENGINEERING (CE)

CE-1 Hawkins Range Reserve Trailhead

By Boise Engineering Co.

CE-2 I-86 Raft River Bridge Replacement

By Backcountry Engineers

CE-3 Union 93 Apartment Complex By Treasure Valley Consulting

GRAD STUDENT PROJECT MS-CE-4

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COMPUTER SCIENCE (CS)

CS-1

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE (CORE)

BroncoLogic: A Formal Logic Educational Tool

CS-3 Happy Gifter

CS-4 NIST-Crawler: NIST DB Systems Integration

CS-5

EPLUS-1 Coded Garage Door

Cyber Informed Engineering Practices for Secure Chip Design

EPLUS-2

CORE-2 Securing Idaho’s Rural Communities from Cyber-Attacks

CORE-3 Securing Idaho’s Rural School Districts from Cyber Threats

CORE-4 CORE-5 Securing our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

CORE-6 Supporting Cyber Readiness Innovation Training Through Policy Resilience

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ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING (ECE)

ECE-1

CS-6

ECE-2

TrackStar: Employee Skill Tracking App

GRAD STUDENT PROJECTS PHD-C-8-12

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MATERIALS SCIENCL AND ENGINEERING (MSE)

EPLUS-3 Embedded Microchip Cat Feeder

EPLUS-4 Get Kevin Climbing Again

EPLUS-5 Woodcraft Router Table Bench

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MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (MBE)

MBE-1

Peer Assessment Visualizations

CS-7

Crutch Accessories

Securing Idaho’s Rural School Districts from Cyber Threats

Interactive Display Panel for the Children’s Museum of Idaho

Poseidon: Automated Calibration Report Indexing

ENGINEERING PLUS (EPLUS)

CORE-1

ALD-ER: ALD Entity Recognition

CS-2

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Lead-Acid Battery Health Assessment with Impedance Measurement Device

ECE-3 Renewable Generation Electrical Protection Design and Testing

ECE-4 Solar District Cup: The Lummi Tribal District

Custom BioPrinter: Low Cost Alternative to Proprietary Machines

MBE-2 Lobster Processing Automation

MBE-3 Hockey Puck Passing Machine

MBE-4 SLA Resin Curing Chamber

MBE-5 Solar Concentrated Coffee Roaster

MBE-6 Three and Four-Point Concrete Bending Test

MBE-7 Sophomore Design l (ME 287)

GRAD STUDENT PROJECTS PHD-BME-8-10 MS-MBE-11

GRAD STUDENT PROJECTS MS-MSE-1 PHD-MSE-2 Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE-1

TEAM MEMBER(S) Gregor Posadas Jonathan Rand Dylan Rene Braeden Sullivan

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Robyn Mattison, PE

MENTOR(S) Bryan Bostenero, PE Mark Cummings, PE Brendon Daniels, PE Jesus Osorio, PE Jacob Schlador, PE Matt Schroll, PE Taylor Schwers, PE

HAWKINS RANGE RESERVE TRAILHEAD BY BOISE ENGINEERING CO. Hawkins Range Reserve was a property that spanned nearly 400 acres in the city of Boise foothills off Bogus Basin Road. Boise Engineering Co. was tasked with designing public access facilities at the beautiful piece of foothill property, including the structural, transportation, geotechnical, and hydrological elements of the trailhead. A strong emphasis was placed on ADA compliance, sustainable design, and building practices, as well as preserving and highlighting the natural beauty of the landscape throughout the designs. These facilities incorporated paved access roads, paved parking stalls with trailer access, a restroom facility that encompassed water and sewage disposal, a picnic shelter, and stormwater design. The goal was to allow all members of the community to enjoy this wonderful property while still preserving the natural beauty that was the Boise Foothills.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE-2

TEAM MEMBER(S) Frisco Adams Copen Bauer Grant Goertzen Eli Loudenback

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Robyn Mattison, PE

MENTOR(S) Scott Litchfield, PE Herbert McDowell, PE Jacob Schlador, PE

I-86 RAFT RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT BY BACKCOUNTRY ENGINEERS Bridge numbers 10650, which served westbound traffic, and 10645, designated for eastbound traffic, were the critical structures that carried Interstate 86 over the Raft River.

Located 28 miles east of Burley, Idaho, these bridges were constructed in 1930 and 1960, respectively, and no longer complied with current design standards. Additionally, there was a third bridge, facilitating a frontage road passage over the Raft River adjacent to the westbound structure. The primary objective of this project was to replace the two existing highway bridges with new pre-stressed concrete bulb-tee girder structures supported by precast concrete piles, meeting current design standards and providing an adequate hydraulic opening. The frontage road bridge was also replaced, utilizing a steel wide flange girder design. The design involved both the technical engineering aspects of bridge design in compliance with the ITD Bridge Design Manual (2022), the ITD Bridge Hydraulic Manual (2021), the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specification (2022), HL-93 AASHTO Vehicular Live Loading, and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD 2022), as well as factors like aesthetics, safety, and sustainability.

CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE-3

TEAM MEMBER(S) Samantha Chowanec Lucas Denny Carbella Medina Cedar Miller Elliot Stauffer

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Robyn Mattison, PE

MENTOR(S) Paul Blackham, PE SE TJ Centanni, PE Dan Manning, PE SE Jacob Schlador, PE

UNION 93 APARTMENT COMPLEX BY TREASURE VALLEY CONSULTING This project aimed to rejuvenate a property previously owned by Union Pacific Railroad, situated across from Meridian City Hall. The existing site was plagued by abandoned structures and blight, with just one active building. The primary objectives included eradicating blight, providing downtown-core multifamily housing, creating public and private parking, enhancing the entire block, and promoting both residential and commercial opportunities. Treasure Valley Consulting encompassed right-of-way improvements, a public restroom facility, the construction of a public access path, and adherence to the Meridian Fire Department’s access standards. The site design prioritized easy vehicle and pedestrian access, with ground-floor commercial spaces integrated into the two apartment buildings. The building placements maximized natural light and created an inviting public space. A rich array of amenities enriched the project, including a leasing office, playground, pet area, landscaped zones, and well-planned walking paths. To underscore the commitment to sustainability, the development featured solar panels, harnessing renewable energy to reduce environmental impact. This transformative project breathed new life into a blighted area, offering a mixed-use development that enriched downtown Meridian’s fabric, embraced community needs, and enhanced the overall urban experience.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Mabin Dahal

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Bhaskar Chittoori, Ph.D.

MS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

MS-CE-4

EVALUATING THE SYNERGY OF GEOCELL AND MICROBIAL-INDUCED CALCITE PRECIPITATION (MICP) IN ENHANCING PAVEMENT BASE STABILITY: A FIELD STUDY ON US 95 The imperative to develop resilient and sustainable infrastructure is escalating, particularly as urban road networks face unprecedented stresses. Conventional pavement bases often rely extensively on quarry materials, exacerbating environmental degradation and amplifying the energy footprint of construction projects. The extraction, transportation, and processing of these quarry materials contribute to deforestation, habitat eradication, and greenhouse gas emissions. Given these environmental and operational challenges, there is a pressing need for innovative, sustainable alternatives in pavement engineering. One solution involves using native materials treated with Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) alongside geocell technology in pavement construction to reduce reliance on quarry materials. Previous research at Boise State has demonstrated in laboratory settings that this is a viable alternative for certain types of soils with moderate fines content (approx. 30%). The next step is to verify this solution in the field, ensuring its effectiveness and practicality in real-world pavement construction scenarios.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Christine Pinney Logan Reiss Andrew Sorensen

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Elton Graugnard Ph.D.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-1

ALD-ER: ALD ENTITY RECOGNITION Researchers working with materials often use information from scientific research papers when formulating their own experiments.

These papers contain a wealth of information about materials and processes used in the author’s experiments which are helpful for other researchers. Unfortunately, all this information is stored in the exposition and requires reading through the paper to extract the details. ALD-ER is a first step towards automating the extraction of this information by training a model using machine learning to recognize paragraphs that contain the desired information.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Spencer Duffin Patrick Santana Alex Silva

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Andrew Cortens, Ph.D.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-2

BRONCOLOGIC: A FORMAL LOGIC EDUCATIONAL TOOL Instructors and students engaged in courses involving formal logic often face the burdensome task of manually creating, completing, and grading truth tables for various exercises. The manual process is not only tedious but also error-prone, making it a potentially suboptimal method for teaching and learning. The Truth Tables (TT) application was started in previous semesters but has several deficiencies related to statement validity checking, automated grading, and the user interface. This project aimed to upgrade the existing Truth Tables application to address the existing problems and add enhanced features.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Connor Espino Colton Hawkins Johann Vargas Zachry Weber

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Natasha Bunten

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-3

HAPPY GIFTER Happy Gifter is a web-based application that focuses on providing end users with a way to find thoughtful gifts for their friends and family. Currently, the company has an unfinished website that needs to have full functionality to be used for its intended purpose. This project aimed to enhance the existing web interface, including features such as mobile responsiveness, an Admin page, user profile management, and AI functionality.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-4

TEAM MEMBER(S) Jake Forsberg Guy Kogan Josh Schriger

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Charles Ulwelling Ira Burton

NIST-CRAWLER: NIST DB SYSTEMS INTEGRATION Micron generates NIST reports (or PDF files) every time a board is calibrated. These reports consist of a cover page as well as several hundred pages of calibration data. All of these reports are stored in what is called the Enterprise Document Center, or EDC. The EDC must store these reports for up to 16 years. The EDC’s user interface (UI) is simple, and it can be difficult to retrieve the correct information for particular boards due to the size of the dataset. Due to this, a product is necessary to store all the relevant information Micron may need to retrieve and easily display it to the user. The NIST-Crawler is designed to be able to crawl through the reports stored on the EDC and store the relevant information from the reports’ cover sheets in a database. It will have a simple UI to allow a user to quickly and easily retrieve any data they need for any board still stored in the system based on several search options.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-5

TEAM MEMBER(S) Andrew Martin Carson Morris Austin Platt

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Rob Anson, Ph.D.

PEER ASSESSMENT VISUALIZATIONS PeerAssessment.com is a service that allows students and teachers to review and analyze these reviews to improve their academic experience. The functional idea is to enable users to keep track of how groups and individuals are working together and seek improvement where necessary. PeerAssessment.com is a relatively young platform, and its reports are given in static text that places the burden of analysis mostly on the instructor.

Our goal is to provide a tool to improve the visual representation of the user data to ease the understanding of the questionnaire result sets. The functionality that comes with this project will prove invaluable to PeerAssessment.com, as easier visualization and data aggregation are very attractive to average consumers.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-6

TEAM MEMBER(S) Matthew Kelley Austin Nelson Aidan Scudder Jake Vercella

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Chuck McClain

Molly Urich

POSEIDON: AUTOMATED CALIBRATION REPORT INDEXING Micron is currently tasked with manually reviewing thousands of calibration certificates globally throughout the year. Certifications are submitted with the tools either electronically or on paper, and Micron must store electronic copies of them in their document storage system for a minimum of 10 years. According to audit standards and internal requirements, these certificates must have key terms and/or stamps on them depending on the identified requirements. To streamline this process and enhance efficiency, we propose to create an automated system called Poseidon.

This system will automate the task of searching calibration reports for specific keywords and timestamps. By implementing Poseidon, Micron aims to free up resources, minimize mistakes, and expedite the process for calibration report reviews.

COMPUTER SCIENCE

CS-7

TEAM MEMBER(S) Jordan Caspar Cristian Sanchez Brayan Silva Zixi Zhao

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Henderson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) PlayOn Game Marketing

TRACKSTAR: EMPLOYEE SKILL TRACKING APP The semiconductor industry operates within an ever-changing environment characterized by intense competition. In this dynamic landscape, all major players are continually seeking talented individuals who can assist them in addressing ongoing challenges. The constant evolution of technology underscores the importance for companies, such as Micron, to establish a systematic approach for acquiring and sustaining a highly skilled workforce.

This project aims to deliver an effective method for tracking the training, skills, skill gaps, and organizational readiness of Micron’s engineers. It also focuses on establishing mechanisms to maintain and support the most effective talent within the company.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Chris Dagher

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Aykut Satici, Ph.D.

PHD IN COMPUTING

PHD-C-8

A DIFFERENTIABLE SOFTWARE STACK FOR DATA-DRIVEN ROBUST CONTROL SYNTHESIS FOR ROBOTIC LOCOMOTION AND MANIPULATION The presented software stack is fully differentiable, enabling the utilization of analytical gradients of arbitrary order in the creation of robust controllers for robotic locomotion and manipulation. These controllers can be trained to meet various performance requirements, achieving desired behaviors. The software is implemented in Python using JAX, a fully differentiable library centered around accelerated linear algebra and autograd. It also incorporates Brax, a rigid body dynamics simulation engine designed for robotics, and Equinox, a neural network library for JAX. The development of neural networks within this framework is highly flexible, and controller training can be conducted using parallel simulation steps, ensuring efficient and rapid training. As a result, this framework allows for the design and training of neural network controllers for robotic systems involved in complex locomotion or manipulation tasks in a matter of minutes or hours, rather than days. This facilitates rapid iteration and development of controllers, whether on CPU or acceleration hardware such as GPUs and TPUs.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Tianjie Zhang

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Yang Lu, Ph.D.

PHD IN COMPUTING

PHD-C-9

A PHYSICS-INFORMED NEURAL NETWORK SOLUTION TO EVALUATE THE THIXOTROPIC PROPERTIES OF CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS The prediction of thixotropic behaviors in cementitious materials can be achieved through rheological partial differential equations (PDEs). However, accurately and efficiently solving these PDEs for viscous fluids has become challenging due to the increasing number of parameters in rheological constitutive equations and the non-ideal behavior observed in experiments. In response to this, we propose a physics-informed neural network (PINN)-based framework called RheologyNet. This framework serves as a surrogate solution to predict the general thixotropic behavior of cementitious materials. RheologyNet incorporates the complex PDEs into its architecture, connecting macroscopic viscous flow behaviors with microstructural changes. Numerical experiments have indicated that RheologyNet can accurately and efficiently predict the rheological properties of cementitious materials compared to traditional fully-connected neural networks (FNN) and mechanistic Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In Particular, RheologyNet demonstrates significant promise in simulating history-dependent thixotropic behaviors.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Md Khorshed Alaml

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Arvin Farid, Ph.D.

PHD IN COMPUTING

PHD-C-10

COUPLED 2D NUMERICAL MODELS TO SIMULATE PFAS TRANSPORT THROUGH VADOSE ZONE The need to develop resilient and sustainable infrastructure is growing, particularly as urban road networks face unprecedented stresses. Conventional pavement bases often involve extensive use of quarry materials, leading to significant environmental degradation and an increased energy footprint in construction. The extraction, transportation, and processing of these quarry materials contribute to deforestation, habitat loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Given these environmental and operational challenges, there is a pressing demand for innovative and sustainable alternatives in pavement engineering. One proposed solution is to utilize native materials treated with microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) alongside geocell technology in pavement construction, aiming to reduce reliance on quarry materials. Previous research conducted at Boise State has demonstrated in laboratory settings that this approach is a viable alternative for certain types of soils with moderate fines content (approx. 30%).

The next step involves verifying the effectiveness of this solution in real-world field conditions.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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PHD IN COMPUTING

TEAM MEMBER(S) Kachinga Silwimba

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Alejandro Flores

PHD-C-11

EVALUATING SOIL PARAMETERS’ EFFECT ON CLM5 SOIL MOISTURE PREDICTIONS USING EMPIRICAL ORTHOGONAL FUNCTIONS AND SELFORGANIZING MAPS Land surface models (LSMs) play a crucial role in simulating the movement of water and energy through the plant-soil system.

However, there is a significant variation in the outputs of different models. This study focuses on analyzing the impact of soil parameters on soil moisture predictions in the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) across regions in the Contiguous United States (CONUS). The analysis employs Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) to unravel the complex relationship between soil properties and moisture dynamics in diverse geographic areas. Through EOF and SOM analysis, distinct patterns in soil moisture are identified and categorized, with a specific emphasis on the influence of soil texture and hydraulic properties. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the accuracy and effectiveness of CLM5 in simulating soil moisture under various conditions and climate scenarios in the CONUS. The findings highlight the potential of EOF-SOM analysis as a valuable tool for improving insights into environmental and Earth system modeling.

PHD IN COMPUTING

TEAM MEMBER(S) Michael Chiwere

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Grady Wright

PHD-C-12

OPTIMAL COMPLEXITY, SPECTRALLY ACCURATE SEMI-LAGRANGIAN METHODS FOR ROTATING SHALLOW WATER EQUATIONS Semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian (SSL) methods have proven effective for the rotating shallow water equations (SWE), allowing for larger time steps compared to Eulerian schemes governed by the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) stability criterion. This leads to significant speedups in simulation time. SSL methods involve a Lagrangian discretization of advection terms, necessitating interpolations of wave velocity and height to off-grid points. Traditional approaches use lowerorder methods, such as tensor-product Lagrange interpolation with cubic polynomials. While justifiable for SSL methods employing low-order techniques for approximating spatial derivatives associated with gravity terms, the rationale is less clear when spectrally accurate methods, like the double Fourier sphere (DFS) method, are utilized. This study presents an SSL method based on Yoshimura’s work (2021), employing the DFS method for both spatial discretizations and off-grid interpolations, ensuring spectral accuracy at every step. To enhance the efficiency of DFS interpolation, the nonuniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT) is employed. The outcome is the first truly spectrally accurate SSL method for the SWE on the sphere with near-optimal complexity. Through comparisons with Yoshimura’s original SSL method, which utilizes low-order interpolation, the new method’s accuracy, stability, and computational cost are assessed using the standard SWE test suite.

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-1

TEAM MEMBER(S) Britton Adams Rudy Martinez Jonas Plew Kacey Wheeler

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

CYBER INFORMED ENGINEERING PRACTICES FOR SECURE CHIP DESIGN Hardware security has become an escalating concern in today’s cybersecurity environment, given that chips are ubiquitous in nearly every device, including cars, phones, and medical equipment. The potential danger lies in the fact that exploiting these chips can have severe consequences due to the broad spectrum of devices they are embedded in and the critical functions they serve.

Understanding the growing cyber risk to hardware is crucial, and finding effective ways to mitigate these risks is essential. In this cyber-informed engineering project, our team aims to map Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) to Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles. The focus includes assessing predicted risk levels/likelihood associated with identified weaknesses and proposing possible mitigations or controls. The outcome will be presented in an easy-to-read table, providing a comprehensive overview of the vulnerabilities, associated principles, risk assessments, and recommended measures to enhance hardware security.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Travis Kidlow Cameron Reid Andrew Thompson Daniel White

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) City of Wilder Chelsie Johnson

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-2

SECURING IDAHO’S RURAL COMMUNITIES FROM CYBER-ATTACKS In a collaborative effort with the City of Wilder and Boise State University Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) Program, a Cyber Risk Assessment was conducted on various city operations, including the police department and water treatment facility. This assessment is a systematic process involving the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of cybersecurity risks that may impact the operations of a small rural town. Undertaking a Cyber Risk Assessment is a critical step in safeguarding rural communities from potential cyber-attacks, as such incidents could have far-reaching consequences for public health, community safety, and national security.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Amra Durmic Kim Leatherberry Jerry Pistorius Anthony Ramirez

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) New Meadows School District Dee Fredrickson, Ph.D.

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-3

SECURING IDAHO’S RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM CYBER THREATS In a collaborative effort with the New Meadows School District, Boise State University Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) Program conducted a Cyber Risk Assessment for the school district. This assessment is a systematic process involving the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of cybersecurity risks that could potentially impact the operations of Idaho’s schools. This critical step is essential in safeguarding our critical infrastructure and ensuring the cybersecurity resilience of Idaho’s Rural Schools.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Ivan Godinez Logan Mecham Hunter Tomczyk Adam Womack

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Swan Valley School District Michael Jacobson Ph.D.

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-4

SECURING IDAHO’S RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM CYBER THREATS In a collaborative effort with the Swan Valley School District, Boise State University Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) Program conducted a Cyber Risk Assessment for the school district. This assessment is a systematic process involving the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of cybersecurity risks that could potentially impact the operations of Idaho’s schools. This critical step is essential in safeguarding our critical infrastructure and ensuring the cybersecurity resilience of Idaho’s Rural Schools.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Jordan Graham Ritchie Rodriguez James Swain Abigail Wisdom

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Eagle Sewer District Neil Jenkins

CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-5

SECURING OUR NATION’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE In a collaborative effort with the Eagle Sewer District, Boise State University Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) Program conducted a Cyber Risk Assessment on their water treatment facility. This assessment is a systematic process involving the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of cybersecurity risks that could potentially impact the operations of a water treatment facility. Undertaking a Cyber Risk Assessment for such critical infrastructure is an essential step in protecting water treatment facilities from potential cyber-attacks, as these incidents could have serious consequences for public health, community safety, and national security.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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CYBER OPERATIONS AND RESILIENCE

CORE-6

TEAM MEMBER(S) Hope Bosworth Makayla Danley Austin French Amanda Lane Clinton Walker

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Kody Walker

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Idaho Army National Guard Jerred Edgar, CW4

SUPPORTING CYBER READINESS INNOVATION TRAINING THROUGH POLICY RESILIENCE In a collaborative effort with the Idaho Army National Guard, Boise State University Cyber Operations and Resilience (CORe) Program, the team is set to conduct a Cyber Readiness Innovation Training for Washington County. As part of this initiative, the team will be updating third-party/vendor cybersecurity policies for Washington County. The goal is to align these policies with business objectives and enhance cybersecurity resilience within rural counties. This effort aims to bolster the county’s readiness to address cybersecurity challenges and safeguard its information systems effectively.

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

TEAM MEMBER(S) Alyssa Abbott Jessica Corn Kolby Modrow

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Benjamin Johnson, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Pat Baker Erin Brown

ECE-1

INTERACTIVE DISPLAY PANEL FOR THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF IDAHO The Interactive Display Panel for the Children’s Museum of Idaho was an engaging and educational installation designed to captivate young minds aged one to nine. This interactive masterpiece featured an array of buttons, switches, vivid LEDs, sound effects, and numerical displays. It provided a dynamic platform for kids to explore, learn, and have fun. With an intuitive interface, children could press buttons, flip switches, and observe the colorful LEDs while learning about cause and effect. Sound effects and numerical displays added an auditory and numerical dimension to the experience, making it an immersive and multi-sensory learning tool. This interactive panel entertained, stimulated creativity, and encouraged early childhood development through play.

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

TEAM MEMBER(S) Robert Dowen Charli Ralston Braden Reizenstein

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Brian Higgins

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Thad Welch, Ph.D.

ECE-2

LEAD-ACID BATTERY HEALTH ASSESSMENT WITH IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT DEVICE We were tasked with creating an affordable and user-friendly device for assessing the health of Tuk-Tuk batteries. The primary challenge was the absence of portable and cost-effective impedance measurement devices for lead-acid batteries.

Existing options were either unwieldy, expensive, or required specialized expertise.

Our goal was to design an accessible device for technicians to measure lead-acid battery impedance. Our approach involved developing a specialized impedance measurement tool with a user-friendly interface for ease of operation and data analysis. We successfully achieved our goal by utilizing a development board to inject a signal into the battery and measuring the voltage/current response. The signal was injected multiple times over a wide range of frequencies. This allowed us to calculate the impedance of the battery and create a Nyquist plot using a Python script.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Joshua Reser Betsy Rosales

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Andres Valdepena, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Chris Byrne, PE

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Power Engineers

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ECE-3

RENEWABLE GENERATION ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DESIGN AND TESTING Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation empowers engineers to design more robust power systems by advancing traditional simulation technology. Through the integration of physical hardware “in the loop,” a more accurate representation of how physical components will function in a system is achieved. This provides engineers with a better understanding of how similar components will behave in the real world. A HITL test bed of a renewable energy facility was designed in HYPERSIM for use with the OPALRT HITL simulator. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) System Advisor Model (SAM) was leveraged for string sizing of the solar energy collectors. Validation of protective relaying was conducted for overvoltage and overcurrent faults, with a relay functioning as the device under test.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Gage Coprivnicar Robert Guzman Grace Harker Eric Kondratyuk

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Andres Valdepena, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Theron Beam

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) U.S. Department of Energy

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

ECE-4

SOLAR DISTRICT CUP: THE LUMMI TRIBAL DISTRICT The Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe in Washington state, is proactively pursuing a sustainable energy future through their Strategic Energy Plan 20162026. A central objective of the plan is to generate 30% of the tribe’s electricity from renewables by 2026, with a particular focus on solar energy. To achieve this, our team proposed a 6.1 MW solar and 1.6 MWh storage plan that aligns with the Lummi Nation’s twin goals of energy self-sufficiency and emission reduction. To test grid connection, we simulated the proposed Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) systems’ grid interconnection in Real-Time Digital Simulation (RTDS). This approach ensures the reliability and efficiency of the renewable energy infrastructure, ultimately advancing the tribe’s aspirations for a more sustainable, economically prosperous, and environmentally responsible future.

TEAM MEMBER(S) J Chen Archer Cureton Michael Doud Dinghan Tay

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D Sue Latta

MENTOR(S) Meta Austin Sean Varie

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Eaglewood Homes

ENGINEERING PLUS

EPLUS-1

CODED GARAGE DOOR We are working with Eaglewood Homes, a home building company based in Boise, Idaho. The construction team frequently leaves valuable and bulky tools in under-construction homes, and unfortunately, theft of these items has been a recurring issue. Currently, Eaglewood Homes lacks a system to track access by contractors, making it challenging to hold individuals accountable for stolen goods or monitor the work done. Contractors are provided with the keypad pin, and the admin of Eaglewood Homes must visit all under-construction homes quarterly to change the pin and update the contractors on the new one. However, as the under-construction homes lack Wi-Fi, utilizing existing products that require Wi-Fi is not feasible. To address these challenges, we have developed a circuit that interfaces with the garage door motor through an app using Bluetooth. This solution not only eliminates the need for Wi-Fi but also provides Eaglewood Homes with a comprehensive view of access history, offering improved security and accountability.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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ENGINEERING PLUS

EPLUS-2

TEAM MEMBER(S) Dylan Catalano Tyler Dambitis Kylie Stewart

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D. Sue Latta

MENTOR(S) Randy Geile

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) KFalkDesign LLC Kevin Falk

CRUTCH ACCESSORIES Our client, Kevin Falk, who uses forearm crutches due to having a prosthetic leg and foot on his right side, encounters difficulty carrying various items, such as bowls and cups. To address this challenge, he has requested attachments for his crutches that would provide him with the convenience of carrying different items. In response, we have designed a set of attachments, including a gyroscopic cup holder, a phone pocket, and a bowl holder. These attachments aim to enhance Kevin’s day-to-day life by offering practical solutions for carrying items while using his forearm crutches.

ENGINEERING PLUS

EPLUS-3

TEAM MEMBER(S) Savannah Doran Hazen Miller Christian Wonenberg

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D Sue Latta

MENTOR(S) Kevin Falk Randy Geile

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D

EMBEDDED MICROCHIP CAT FEEDER Our dedicated team is currently focused on developing an innovative cat feeder poised to revolutionize pet care. This feeder is designed with the unique ability to restrict access exclusively to a single cat, ensuring controlled and monitored feeding. The motivation behind this development is to address the concerns of our client, Courtney, who needs a tailored solution for managing the distinct dietary requirements of her two beloved feline companions. Finn, the enthusiastic eater of the pair, tends to consume excessive amounts, requiring careful portion control. In contrast, Hobbes is a more finicky eater with specific feeding preferences, favoring multiple small meals throughout the day. To accommodate these distinct needs, our feeder integrates a sophisticated system that recognizes each cat’s unique microchip, permitting only the designated cat to access the food within. This innovative approach not only ensures regulated feeding but also fosters a healthier and more balanced diet for each of Courtney’s cherished pets.

ENGINEERING PLUS

EPLUS-4

TEAM MEMBER(S) Noa Bothe Cooper Morey Jessica Schneider Jake Wessels

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D Sue Latta

MENTOR(S) Randy Geile

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) KFalkDesign LLC Kevin Falk

GET KEVIN CLIMBING AGAIN Our client, Kevin Falk, is a Boise State professor and lifelong athlete who has not been rock climbing since his above-knee amputation on his right leg. Our engineering team has undertaken the challenge of creating a prosthetic leg attachment tailored specifically for rock climbing for transfibular amputees like Kevin. We have designed and engineered an attachment that seamlessly integrates with his existing prosthetic socket, ensuring easy application and removal. The prosthetic attachment is constructed from materials, including types of steel and rubber, chosen for their exceptional reliability and durability.

These material qualities are crucial for ensuring the product’s compatibility with the surfaces present in the Boise State indoor rock-climbing facility. Our goal is to provide Kevin with a prosthetic attachment that not only meets the unique demands of rock climbing but also enhances his overall experience and confidence in returning to this lifelong passion.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Nicholas Miller Riley Schrock

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Courtney Hollar, Ph.D. Sue Latta

MENTOR(S) Sue Latta

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Monte Eldfrick

ENGINEERING PLUS

EPLUS-5

WOODCRAFT ROUTER TABLE BENCH Our team is collaborating with Monte Eldfrick of Woodcraft of Boise to design and develop a router table bench that is compatible with different router table brands sold

by Woodcraft, such as Kreg and JessEm. The primary goal is to create a versatile bench that provides ample storage space for various add-on accessories. Additionally, the bench should be constructed using products and materials available through Woodcraft. Monte has challenged the team to design the bench with the added feature of being flat-packed for efficient shipping and distribution purposes. Furthermore, the plan is for the bench to be built in Boise’s Maker Shop, emphasizing a collaborative effort between the Maker Shop and Woodcraft of Boise. This project aims to deliver a functional and adaptable router table bench that aligns with the specific needs of Woodcraft customers and facilitates ease of construction and shipping.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Branden Anderson Steven Isaacs Jessica Lambert Zack Williamson

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D. Sophia Theodossiou, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Biomaterial and Musculoskeletal Engineering Lab at Boise State University

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-1

CUSTOM BIOPRINTER: LOW COST ALTERNATIVE TO PROPRIETARY MACHINES Dr. Theodossiou’s BioMaterial and Musculoskeletal Engineering Lab is in need of a low cost alternative to market available 3D printers used to print cells and biomaterial (bioprinters). An automated ink depositor like the designed bioprinter aids the lab in printing specific structured cell formations for analyzing different types of stressors. Market research shows that commercial bioprinters run upwards of $100K and their proprietary bioinks cost approximately $400 for just 3 milliliters. Due to the restrictions on the proprietary bioinks used for commercial printers, there are only a few usable biomaterials available and they are not publicly characterized. The team’s solution solves these problems by adapting the commercially available Ender 3D printer to print bioink prepared by the lab.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Adam LaBlond Fernando Marez Shannon Oates Steven Wible Cristian Zavala

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Reyco Systems – Wyland Atkins Patrick Hester Brian Scott

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-2

LOBSTER PROCESSING AUTOMATION Reyco Systems is seeking an innovative solution to transform the lobster processing method, currently reliant on only manual labor into a fully automated system. The implementation of our device with Reycos vision in mind will not only enhance efficiency but also ensure a safer working environment, and reduce the strain on employees through the automation integrated into our design. Our team has been assigned the challenge of developing a functional prototype capable of mimicking the butchering process, reducing labor by 50% while meeting the production demands.

Upon successful upscaling of the prototype, Reyco aims to maintain the ability to process 10,000 pounds of lobster within an 8-hour timeframe.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-3

TEAM MEMBER(S) William McKinney Brett Juhasz Michelle Patterson Devon Piovesan

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D.

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Bob Shirley

HOCKEY PUCK PASSING MACHINE Independent inventor Bob Shirley, frustrated by the absence of an adequate practice tool for amateur hockey players, derived his own from a Champion Workhorse trap thrower. Recognizing its potential, he commissioned our team to reimagine and upgrade his concept. By leveraging professional-grade tools, we produced precise, custom parts that could be mass produced. Our separator was CNC-milled from aluminum and the puck-dropping plate was cut with a plasma cutter, ensuring consistent performance. Additionally, we equipped the device with an Arduino Uno, relays, front lights, and a voice recognition module. This innovation enabled hands-free operation and automated training programs, which launch pucks and flash the lights in a sequence. Market research confirmed that our design has unparalleled quality, affordability, and an abundance of features, all at an accessible price point.

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-4

TEAM MEMBER(S) Jacquelyn Castro Jose Escobosa Jordan Loew Paul McLeod

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Monty Rigenhagen Ranajoy Bhattachary Aykut Satici Ph.D. Griff Allen

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Visioneering Space Corp. – Morgan Diefendorf Samuel Nichols

SLA RESIN CURING CHAMBER Our capstone project aims to address Visioneering Space Corp’s need for a larger UV resin curing device that can accommodate the print sizes of their new FormLabs resin printer.

Visioneering Space Corp will make use of our device to post-process printed parts with a maximum dimension of 13.2” x 7.9” x 11.8” or less. These prints are used to rapidly prototype designs that will be part of various NASA missions. This project consists of designing and fabricating a UV curing device that utilizes 405 nm wavelength UV light and heat that can reach up to 80 degrees Celsius to cure the 3D printed resin. It will also provide a programmable temperature controller and multiple curing cycles to accommodate different resin types from Formlabs.

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-5

TEAM MEMBER(S) Erica Basa Ben Robinson Brian Patterson Sam Williams

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D. Todd Otanicar, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Griff Allen Daniel Codd Ph.D. Dylan Grzanic

SOLAR CONCENTRATED COFFEE ROASTER A Concentrated Solar Coffee Roaster (CSCR) is an apparatus for roasting coffee beans utilizing clean, solar energy. Currently, coffee roasting is largely only available to those with industrial equipment, consuming copious amounts of energy. The aim of the CSCR is to revolutionize the craft of coffee roasting in an innovative and sustainable way. Using a mirrored parabolic dish, the system takes the energy emitted from the sun and concentrates it to a point. The temperature at the focal point is enough to sustain the needed heat for a 10-minute roast. A drum with a rotating auger ensures an even distribution of heat during the roasting process leading to a coffee with a smooth profile.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Boise State University Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Levi Nesbitt Ian Jensen Jaelen Johnson Trey Gunst

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D. Nick Hudyma, Ph.D.

MENTOR(S) Griff Allen

PROJECT SPONSOR(S) Boise State University Department of Civil Engineering

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-6

THREE AND FOUR-POINT CONCRETE BENDING TEST The Civil Engineering Department tasked the team with designing and fabricating a fixture to test concrete blocks to learn more about the behavior of concrete with different forces acting on the blocks. The project design was required to incorporate a preexisting frame and linear actuator which were previously used to test concrete samples. Through sponsor guidance and researching other bending tests, a bending test that is capable of three- and four-point bending tests was designed through individual components and fabrication. The Civil Engineering Department will utilize the bending test for acquiring load and displacement data to demonstrate the behavior of concrete under various loading conditions to students in labs and demonstrations.

TEAM MEMBER(S) 49 Students enrolled in ME 287

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Griff Allen Hannah O’Hern, Ph.D.

MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

MBE-7

SOPHOMORE DESIGN I (ME 287) As an introduction to the engineering design process, sophomore engineering students were tasked with designing a vehicle that could successfully traverse the Circular All-Terrain Simulator (CATS) while carrying an unstable payload. The CATS, which is a 4.5 foot rotating wheel, consists of six obstacles along the track (the wheel’s inner face). These obstacles include rough terrain, a tunnel, a rope bridge, a seesaw, and a closed gate. Using the design process, students created a problem statement for the provided scenario, understood the stakeholders and the required needs, and then agreed upon classwide specifications to adhere to. Finally, using the manufacturing capabilities of the Engineering Innovation Studio, they fabricated each other’s designs, tested them on the CATS, and then revised them based on their design’s performances.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Danielle Siegel

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Erin Mannen, Ph.D.

PHD IN BME

PHD-BME-8

INFANT ROLLING COORDINATION DEPENDS ON THE MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENT IIn 2022, an estimated 12,000 injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments involving inclined nursery products, where most injuries occurred when unrestrained infants rolled over or fell out of the products. Given that infants spend a significant amount of time in these inclined environments, it becomes crucial to understand how an infant’s movements, especially the ability to roll, may be influenced by an incline. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify how an infant’s coordinated rolling movements are affected by different mechanical environments. The findings revealed that infants employ different movement patterns to achieve a roll based on the seatback incline. This suggests that achieving a rolling milestone on a flat surface does not directly translate to different mechanical environments. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring infant safety and developing appropriate guidelines for the design and use of inclined nursery products.

Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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PHD IN BME

TEAM MEMBER(S) Calvin Jones

PHD-BME-9

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sophia Theodossiou, Ph.D.

SUDAN BLACK B TREATMENT OF SILK FIBROIN (SF) ALLOWS FOR THE ATTENUATION OF AUTOFLUORESCENCE WITHOUT COMPROMISING CYTOCOMPATIBILITY OR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SF HYDROGELS Silk fibroin (SF) is favored for its biocompatible and mechanically tunable properties, making it an attractive material for guiding tissue differentiation in cells. However, SF naturally autofluoresces across many wavelengths used for fluorescent imaging, presenting challenges in imaging embedded cells. Previous studies have employed Sudan Black B (SBB) treatment of SF hydrogels to quench autofluorescence but only after fixing the cells within the construct. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of treating SF with SBB before cell seeding and crosslinking the SF into a hydrogel. The aim was to determine if this treatment could effectively quench SF autofluorescence while preserving the favorable biocompatibility and mechanical properties of SF hydrogels.

PHD IN BME

TEAM MEMBER(S) Brian Penney

PHD-BME-10

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Sophia Theodossiou, Ph.D.

TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF CHALLENGING THERAPEUTICS VIA SILK FIBROIN MICRONEEDLE FILMS Microneedle patches offer an effective, minimally invasive, and painless alternative to traditional drug administration routes, such as injections or oral administrations. However, many materials currently used in microneedle patches lack sufficient biocompatibility and tunable release profiles. Silk emerges as an ideal biomaterial to address these challenges due to its bioand cytocompatible nature, supporting various chemical modifications to enhance its affinity for different drug payloads. In this context, a novel Silk fibroin microneedle film has been created to deliver live microbes as well as antifreeze proteins for the prevention of frostbite. This innovation leverages the unique properties of silk to provide a versatile and biocompatible platform for drug delivery through microneedle technology.

MS IN MBE

TEAM MEMBER(S) Sarah Goldrod

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Erin Mannen, Ph.D.

MS-MBE-11

INFANT CAR SEATS INDUCE HEAD-NECK AND TORSO-PELVIS FLEXION Research indicates that excessive time spent in car seats is associated with increased rates of deformational plagiocephaly, as well as decreased oxygen saturation levels, leg movements, and muscle activity in infants. As some U.S. infants spend a significant portion of their time in commercial products, including car seats, understanding the impact of these products on an infant’s movements, muscle activation, and body position is crucial for informing musculoskeletal and motor development, as well as ensuring product safety. The purpose of this study was to assess an infant’s muscle activation and body position in a commercial car seat used outside of the motor vehicle (often referred to as an infant carrier when used outside of the car) compared to a firm flat playmat. The findings revealed significant differences in the body position of infants between the carrier and the playmat, while limited significant differences were found in muscle activation. This research contributes valuable insights into the potential effects of using commercial car seats on infant musculoskeletal development and safety.

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Boise State University College of Engineering

TEAM MEMBER(S) Marjan Albooyeh

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Jankowski, Ph.D.

MS IN MSE

MS-MSE-1

LEARNING ANISOTROPIC PARTICLE INTERACTIONS IN COARSE GRAINED MOLECULAR DYNAMICS WITH MACHINE LEARNING Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide valuable insights into material behavior and equilibrium structures, but their computational complexity limits exploration of large-scale systems. Coarse-grained (CG) MD simulations mitigate this by reducing degrees of freedom. Existing CG models often focus on parameterizing spherical CG particles, but realistic structures may demand methods accommodating non-spherical (anisotropic) shapes. In this work, machine learning is employed to learn interactions between anisotropic CG particles using orientation-dependent descriptors derived from immediate neighborhoods in atomistic simulations. This approach aims to enhance the efficiency and applicability of CG simulations for systems with non-spherical structures.

TEAM MEMBER(S) Madilyn Paul

FACULTY ADVISOR(S) Eric Jankowski, Ph.D.

PHD IN MSE

PHD-MSE-2

REPRODUCIBLE WORKFLOWS FOR PARAMETERIZING AND SIMULATING MODELS OF COMPLEX CONJUGATED COPOLYMERS FOR ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS Organic semiconductors that can self-assemble into morphologies with high charge mobility have the potential to transform green energy generation, but measuring or predicting the stable morphologies and their charge mobilities is difficult. Here we develop computational workflows for screening the morphologies of organic photovoltaic (OPV) macromolecules and copolymers. We employ the Espaloma1 toolkit to parameterize all-atom forcefields, signac-flow2 to manage simulation workspaces, MoSDeF tools3 to initialize simulation volumes, and HOOMD-Blue4 to perform molecular dynamics simulations.

We compare predicted morphologies between all-atom and united atom representations with a variety of methods of handling partial charges for a set of complex donor-acceptor copolymers5 and justify the use of the coarser models to predict morphology in these systems. Finally, we summarize short-range structural motifs and long-range periodicities that emerge across conjugated polymers with varying backbone rigidity.

FULLY ACCREDITED Design Showcase | Fall 2023

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