College of Engineering
Senior Design Showcase April 26, 2018
FROM THE DEAN On behalf of the College of Engineering at Boise State University, I would like to welcome you to our annual Senior Design Showcase! This year’s event has 44 projects designed by 219 seniors in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering. In addition, there are 10 projects designed by 50 Freshman from the Engineering and Innovation Residential College. Our students are excited to talk to you about the challenges they faced and the discoveries they made working through problems in robotics, circuit integration, bridge design, instrumentation, materials characterization, and many, many more. I invite you to talk to our students about their projects, their teamwork, and their problem solving strategies. Maybe you have a project of your own that would benefit from fresh ideas and a motivated design team. We are always looking for new projects and sponsors to challenge our emerging engineering professionals! JoAnn S. Lighty Dean, College of Engineering Professor, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering
INDUSTRY SPONSORS THANK YOU TO OUR INDUSTRY SPONSORS Our sponsors generously support the College of Engineering’s Senior Design Showcase. Thank you for providing your time, experience and financial support that help make our program a success.
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Boise State University College of Engineering
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
FROM THE DEAN
5-7
CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS
#1 5th/Fort/Hays Intersection Redesign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
#2
Briarhill Neighborhood Improvements Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
#3
Cole/Lake Hazel Road Intersection Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
#4
Fresh Air Manufacturing Company Site Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
#5
Gary-Glenwood-State St. Intersection Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
#6
I-15 Rose Road Interchange Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
#7
Konsko River Remediation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
#8
Vagabonda Ranch: Equestrian Center in Garden Valley, Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
#9
Macedonia Landfill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
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COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECTS
#10 Predictable Ryde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
#11
Grad Tracker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
#12 Interfaith Donation Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
#13 Nelson Irrigation Valve Controller Firmware Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
#14 Mobile Irrigation Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
#15 Adopt A Meal Web Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
#16 At-Home Speech Therapy Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
#17 Pisces Improvement and Precipitation Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
#18 Geologic Research Automated File Transfer System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
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ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PROJECTS
#19 Toyota Prius Battery Charger and Data Logger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
#20 Bogus Basin Nordic Solar Lighting System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
#21 Bicycle Collision Avoidance System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
#22 Potato Storage Wireless Sensor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
#23 BITZ Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
#24 Automated Plasma Delivery System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
#25 Software Defined Radio Based Passive Radar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
#26 Photovoitaic Inverter Control and Fault Detection Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
13-14 ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND MECHANICAL & BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING JOINT PROJECTS
#27 Autonomous Lawn Care Unit Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
#28 Light Measurement System Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Boise State University College of Engineering
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TABLE OF CONTENTS – CONTINUED 14-16 MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING PROJECTS #29 Strain Gauge Validation Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
#30 Mechanical Characterization of 3D Printed Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
#31 Electrochemical Deposition of DNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
#32 Superlattice Structure and Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
#33 Correlation of Structural Changes During Cold Deformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
#34 Characterization of Metastable Yttria Phase in Thermally Sprayed Coatings . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
16-19 MECHANICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING PROJECTS #35 Idaho National Laboratory Tensile Testing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 #36 2-Axis Remote Linear Motion Mechanism for Use in INL’s Transient Reactor Test Facility . . 16
#37 ASHRAE HVAC Design Calculations Competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
#38 Pedal Powered License Plate Reading Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
#39 Sound Analysis – Albertsons Library Collaborative Study Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
#40 Southwest Idaho Rocket Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
#41 JigaRex 2.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
#42 The Electric Ski Scraper Sharpener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
#43 Automated Sealant Applicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
#44 Differential Thermal Analysis System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
19-22 FRESHMAN IN THE ENGINEERING AND INNOVATION RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE #45 Emerging Technology in the Engineering/Gaming Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
#46 Accessibility Swing Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
#47 Shelf Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
#48 Easy-Change Trash Can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
#49 Rotating USB Charge Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
#50 Expandable Laptop Mouse Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
#51 Writing Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
#52 Back Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
#53 Solder Reflow Oven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
#54 Headphone Management Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
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Boise State University College of Engineering
#1 – 5TH/FORT/HAYS INTERSECTION REDESIGN DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ahmed Alomari David Rau Luke Rudolph Andrew Smith Kelsie Styrlund CLIENT: ACHD PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Mandar Khanal
The 5th-Fort-Hays intersection in Boise, Idaho is a five-way intersection in need of a redesign. The intersection is located in the developed, north end of Boise near the Veterans Affairs Hospital and Federal Building. The location posed a problem when considering intersection design options. Acquiring construction permitting for the redesign is complicated when having to work with the federal government, therefore design options that minimize the impact to federal land were prioritized. The intersection design option that has been chosen is to turn Hays Street into a dead end at the entrance to the intersection. Hays Street between 6th and the intersection will be turned into a two-way residential only street with parking on both sides. At the entrance to the intersection, where the dead end starts, there will be a pedestrian walkway. A bike lane will also be added to the intersection along Fort Street. Traffic counts for the signalized intersections were obtained from Ada County Highway District. Traffic counts for the unsignalized intersections were done by Exotic Engineering. The information was evaluated and modeled to determine the traffic flows for different intersections and then the best option was chosen based on traffic flow, surrounding conditions, and cost.
#2 – BRIARHILL NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Jaber Alarbash Hamad Alkhaldi Dale DeRossett Kristy Newkirk Sydney Shoemaker CLIENT: The Briarhill Townhomes Homeowners Association PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Robert Hamilton
The Briarhill Townhomes Homeowners Association (HOA) in Boise, Idaho enlisted the services of SAAND Engineering to design a stormwater catchment system, an irrigation system, and other best management practices (BMPs) to reduce the amount of runoff from the property. In addition, the HOA sought to implement a solar collection system and Firewise landscaping plan. Through extensive literature review, SAAND Engineering created a design for the proposed project. A landscaping plan using fire resistant plants was designed to create a 20 to 50 foot firebreak along Hill Road. To irrigate the landscaping, the amount of spring water runoff on the property that could be collected was determined. A 4,500 gallon irrigation tank, fed by the continuously flowing spring, is used to irrigate the landscaping. The cylindrical tank is made of corrugated galvanized steel and supported by a mat foundation. The pump to pressurize the irrigation system is housed inside an 8’x8’x8’ concrete masonry walled structure which are supported by strip footings with a wood frame roof. Assuming average power usage, the size of a solar system was determined and laid out in a site plan. This design has met the original objectives of the HOA while allowing for future capacity increases.
#3 – COLE/LAKE HAZEL ROAD INTERSECTION DESIGN DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ahamad Almoumen Jawad Almubarak Madison Austin Ben Rowett Brandon Woods CLIENT: ACHD PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Mandar Khanal
The current T-shaped intersection of Cole Road and Lake Hazel Road needs to be updated. Lake Hazel Road will soon be extended eastward, and a new intersection needs to be designed to accommodate the future traffic growth. After running projected 2030 traffic models using PTV Vistro software, it has been determined that a Median U-turn intersection is the best fit for future traffic patterns. The expected traffic volume along Lake Hazel Road and Cole Road will increase significantly. The elevation of the road will be raised 16 feet from the current level to vertically align with the north and east sides, where a future bridge will cross the New York Canal. The top layer of the intersection will be made of concrete. Special attention will be made to retain water runoff in planters and plant native vegetation. A public involvement campaign will be initiated months before the project begins. The Median U-Turn intersection will allow for future traffic demands beyond 2040. Boise State University College of Engineering
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#4 – FRESH AIR MANUFACTURING COMPANY SITE DESIGN DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ahmad Dashti Piper Gutridge Mohammed Khan Vincent Schlageter Micah Smith CLIENT: Fresh Air Manufacturing Company (FAMCO) PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Robert Hamilton
The Ascension Group has created a solution to maximize the usable space of Fresh Air Manufacturing Company (FAMCO). Over the past 3 years, FAMCO has experienced 20% growth per year in sales, and expect that they will continue to grow at this rate. As a result, their current shipping facility is not adequate to keep up with the increased demand. In addition, as the company expands, there has been an issue with a lack of parking on site. Space is limited, due to the property layout and proximity to other buildings and the road. Ascension Group has reduced these limitations by providing consultative services that have addressed new loading docks, parking, and access solutions. FAMCO has requested several designs so that they may get an estimate for the project cost, in order to determine the benefits of the renovations. Ascension Group used field-based methods and computational analysis to complete several designs that maximize shipping and receiving capabilities while also increasing on-site parking for employees.
#5 – GARY/GLENWOOD/STATE ST. INTERSECTION PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Diego Breedlove Steven Cranney Anthony Dini Johnathon Owsley Ammar Yadikar CLIENT: ACHD PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Mandar Khanal
C2° Engineering is redesigning the State St., Gary, and Glenwood intersection. The intersection was found to be inadequate for future traffic volumes by 2040. To better accommodate future traffic, four alternative intersection designs were analyzed to determine which would best suit future traffic volumes. The intersections design options examined were as follows: a no build, an expanded seven-lane intersection, a median U-turn, and a displaced left turn. Software programs PTV Vistro, Vissim, and HCS7 in conjunction with other analysis methods were used to compare the alternative intersection designs. After review, the intersection chosen was a displaced left turn. This would displace the westbound left turn lane on both State St. and Glenwood, allowing through and leftturning traffic to move at the same time. All left turns from Gary and westbound State St. would be restricted to use Saxton St. instead. The pre-existing drainage and stormwater structures were also analyzed and upgraded to account for the change in traffic design. The new intersection design will accommodate future traffic, local businesses, transit systems, pedestrians, and cyclists.
#6 – I-15 ROSE ROAD INTERCHANGE PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Andy Adams AbdulAziz Alfoudri Mohammed Alotaibi Chris Ayers Anthony Jankowski Alex Poortinga CLIENT: ITD, District 5 PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Mandar Khanal
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The purpose of the I-15 Rose Road Interchange Project was to maintain a safe and efficient transportation route across I-15. The existing bridge is nearing the end of service life and is functionally obsolete. The project required the on/off ramp pattern and length to be updated, a culvert redesigned, and a new overpass bridge designed. The team broke the design work into several sections: structural, geotechnical, transportation, and environmental. Structural design required that the bridge be extended to span 282 ft., widened to 60 ft., and vertical clearance increased to 17.6 ft., while also decreasing the footprint so that future changes may be made to the freeway traffic pattern below the bridge. Geotechnical work involved the design of retaining walls and foundations for the abutments, piers, and culvert. Transportation was responsible for ramp acceleration and deceleration lengths and updating of the layout from semi-cloverleaf to a narrow diamond formation. A short environmental analysis was done to limit the impact on the area due to construction and consider several alternatives for land/hardscaping and fire prevention.
Boise State University College of Engineering
#7 – KONSKO RIVER REMEDIATION DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Shahad Almajed Abdulaziz Almusaad Cullen Eckhart Garett Tapia Kendall Teitenberg CLIENT: Peace Corps PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Robert Hamilton
The Konsko River, located in Southern Macedonia, experiences varied flow throughout the year due to snow packs in the local mountains, a relatively flat grade, and highly permeable soils. During times of low or absent flow, the river is used as a wild landfill and for gravel mining by the neighboring town of Gevgelija and is accessed via informal roads which are also used to cross the river. The river can occasionally experience high flows from heavy rains and snow melt that hasten erosion and cause safety concerns. Lynx Engineering designed viable solutions that are cost effective, yet efficient, for the developing nation. The five components of this project included: cleaning up the river segment, creating a landfill, allowing for continued gravel extraction, controlling erosion along the banks of the river, and designing another means by which to cross the river. Lynx Engineering designed a compound channel to account for varying flows and an earthen crossing utilizing culverts to address the problems facing this segment of the Konsko River. Implementing these components will improve the river’s status in terms of quality and appearance and provide a template for future remediation projects in the country.
#8 – STATE HIGHWAY 44 CANYON CANAL BRIDGE PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Nasser Alenezi Taeyun Kong Angela Lively Jake Poulsen Kaleb Tackett Lucas Rodrigues Vieira CLIENT: HDR Inc. PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Mandar Khanal
The Canyon Canal bridge is located on State Highway 44 in Middleton, Idaho between N. Dewey and N. Paradise Avenues. The bridge carries an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of 10,000 vehicles per day. It has been established that the bridge is structurally deficient for the current code standards and must be replaced to accommodate the area’s projected annual traffic growth rate of 3.4%. The project must remain within the current operational right-ofway and the current roadway width must be maintained. Multiple engineering disciplines such as structural, transportation, geotechnical and environmental engineering have been taken into account for the project. Moreover, project limits set by local and state agencies have also been taken into consideration during the design of the project. As outcomes, the Upright Engineers team has come up with final plans for a new structure to replace the current bridge and a new pavement section to meet future traffic demand in the area. The replacement structure that has been designed is a 10-foot wide, four-sided box culvert with retaining walls at both openings to assist steady canal flow. Also, final roadway design has been done for a 100-foot approach to the bridge from each direction.
#9 – MACEDONIA LANDFILL DEPARTMENT: Civil Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Dalia Alnajjar Jasem Altannak Duncan Breedlove Curtis Butterfield Mauricio Montoya CLIENT: Peace Corps PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Robert Hamilton
Macedonia has been working towards admittance to the European Union (EU). Part of this requirement is for Macedonia to manage solid waste in a manner that is safer for the environment. This report looks at an alternative method for the disposal of solid waste and provides technical direction for municipalities. It is the hope that these modest landfills will provide a turning point for Macedonia to change the public’s perception regarding their handling of solid waste. This landfill is designed to capsulate waste and to minimize the movement of water through the various layers, which creates leachate. To do this requires several design considerations that protect the landfill from failure and prevents groundwater contamination. Such design considerations include slope stability of the waste heaps and native soils, semi-impermeable layering system, leachate collection and treatment system, ventilation and gas collection, run-on and run-off controls and groundwater monitoring. The design also includes additional features that bring functionality to the use of the landfill. These features include access roads, sorting area and an equipment storage structure. This design is a solution that not only can change the way Macedonians manage but also change the way they perceive and dispose of their solid waste. Boise State University College of Engineering
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#10 – PREDICTABLE RYDE DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Ryan Bailey Charles Burnell Jay Capcha Michael Plaisance Azamat Tulepbergenov Cameron Wright CLIENT: Predictable Ryde PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
Predictable Ryde is a cloud based SaaS that provides realtime school bus information to parents and schools. Parents use the Bus Tracker mobile app to view their child’s realtime bus location and receive text message alerts. School’s access live bus fleet tracking and analytics. Unlike other school bus tracking systems, Predictable Ryde is free for schools and inexpensive for parents, easy on school transportation departments, and focuses on parents’ wants/needs. Predictable Ryde is deployed in 5 school systems across the country. Predictable Ryde is built to grow and will expand into additional school districts. Predictable Ryde provides real-time school bus information to parents and schools. This effort will be to create one or more Voice Apps for the Google Assistant platform.
#11 – GRAD TRACKER DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Huma Aatifi Ronald Campbell Ramzi Korkor Connor Nagel Monica Robison CLIENT: Jerry Alan Fails PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
Grad Tracker will be a website to track a graduate and PHD students’ progress in their degree. Not only is it helpful to students, but also to advisors who will be able to monitor the student’s progress towards a completed degree. The Grad Tracker will provide an interface in the web that will centralize all the information a student needs. Previously, it was necessary for a student to fill out forms which instigated a longer process and waiting time for the school system to operate. A student will be able to login and update their profile by adding the enrolled classes, research publication, and defended proposal and can receive an approximate percentage of the curriculum completed. This new website will provide a more organized and efficient alternative to the status quo.
#12 – INTERFAITH DONATION APPLICATION DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Chandra Adhikari Francis Betikoetxea Luke Bosse Gregory Brasier Jake Carns Amy Feiling Ian Gilman Tyler Nicholls Michael Spagnolo Brendan Tierney Tim Wilson Terrence Wiseman CLIENT: Interfaith Sanctuary PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
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Interfaith Sanctuary is a homeless shelter in Boise. They often have a need for specific items and ask the community for help. The generosity of local residents often far exceeds these needs, and Interfaith Sanctuary can be overwhelmed by the quantity of donations. To help better manage the community response, we are building web and mobile applications, in Android and iOS, for those who want to donate. Using either of the apps or the web service, the donor will be able to see what items Interfaith Sanctuary needs. Staff can easily specify the supply categories and quantities that they need for a specific season or event. As donations arrive or are pledged, the quantities of each need are reduced to prevent excess. Upon receiving the donation, staff will be able to supply the donor with a receipt for their records. Additionally, the donor will also have an option to make donations directly via Amazon.com. Technologies we are using include Java Spring, PostgreSQL, Ionic, Vue.js, and Amazon Web Services.
Boise State University College of Engineering
#13 – NELSON IRRIGATION VALVE CONTROLLER FIRMWARE PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Tyler Bevan Phil Gore Jared Guttromson Kyle Hoff Stephanie Labastida Elijah Prenn Andrew Rafla Ian Truslow CLIENT: Nelson Irrigation Corporation PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
The aim of this project is to write application specific firmware for an Arm M0+ microcontroller to manage the operation of a single latching solenoid for watering applications. The firmware will open and close the solenoid from a schedule that will be sent to the device from an Android application via a bluetooth low energy connection. The bluetooth chip will connect to the Arm processor using Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The schedule will be written to memory on the device in order to store complex watering schedules. In order to ensure that the device stays in sync with real time, a GPS chip will be connected to via. UART to receive up to date time synchronization at designated intervals. To open and close the solenoid, a voltage boost circuit will be programmed to charge a capacitor using pulse width modulation to the required voltage and send the power to the solenoid when it needs to open or close.
#14 – MOBILE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: John Kehr Shawn Koch Jared Mart Madia Mohammad Mousa Timothy Spencer Lois Urizar CLIENT: Nelson Irrigation Corporation PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
This is a product that includes an android app running on a mobile device and a battery operated valve controller that includes an Arm M0+ microcontroller running application specific firmware. The mobile device will communicate with the valve controller using Bluetooth Low Energy. The app would enable a user to author a schedule that is then transferred to the valve controller when it is within range (within 30 feet). The firmware would be written to accept and execute the schedule which includes opening and closing a single latching solenoid at specified times. The valve controller firmware has access to an on-board GPS receiver and is able to provide accurate time. The app should be able to support multiple numbers of valve controllers. The work here would be writing the mobile app and developing the processor firmware.
#15 – ADOPT A MEAL WEB APPLICATION DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Daniel Bakyono Melissa Bower Joey Carmona Saif Al Mahmud Nicholas McNew Zach Mikel Matt Smith Tyler Wigington CLIENT: Interfaith Sanctuary PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
Team Merge Conflicts developed a web application where organizations can sign up to donate meals to Interfaith Sanctuary. Currently, local organizations reach out to Interfaith Sanctuary and offer to provide meals at the shelter over the weekend, and the Interfaith Sanctuary administration manually coordinates with them to provide the meal. The Adopt-a-Meal Web Application allows organizations to volunteer to provide a meal at the shelter through a straightforward web interface by selecting a date on a calendar and filling out a form. Once a date is selected and the form is complete, Interfaith Sanctuary administration are notified and can review the volunteer’s request. Once approved, a volunteer organization’s information is added to the calendar and other organizations are no longer able to volunteer on that particular date. This assists Interfaith Sanctuary with coordinating donated meals while also recognizing local organizations that provide for the shelter. Additionally, the web application includes a dynamic thank-you list that updates the organizations who have donated meals, an admin settings page, and a meal suggestions page in which users can submit meal ideas for the specific serving size requested by Interfaith Sanctuary. Boise State University College of Engineering
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#16 – AT-HOME SPEECH THERAPY DEVICE DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Stacy Black Marshall Eddy Edin Hanic Tyler Manning Eldin Turulja Aaron Wamsley Alec Ward Lucas Westmoreland CLIENT: Micron PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
For children and adults with speech disabilities, speech therapy can be very expensive and time-consuming, especially for those who do not live in close proximity to a therapist. We are building a user interface and database for an at-home speech therapy assistance tool that will prompt for a specific word or phrase, record the response, use an open-source automatic speech recognition toolkit to score the response, display the score to the speaker, and then store the recorded audio and scoring information in a database. The database management system and ASR toolkit have been selected from off-the-shelf opensource software. Our task is to develop an interface between the user, the ASR, and the database.
#17 – PISCES IMPROVEMENT AND PRECIPITATION EDITING DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Nate Brinton Mack Bryan Tyler Egan Tara Felzien Ashley Gertman Robert Herrera Sam McMahon James Norwood Soraya Yazdanpour Isaac Zurn CLIENT: Bureau of Reclamation PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
Our project had two main goals. Previously, our project only consisted of one goal, but throughout our sprints, we had to adjust our focus and use the agile process to adapt to new challenges we faced which resulted in two goals for our team. Our first goal was to create a runnable and reproducible development environment for future teams that will work with Pisces code. To accomplish this goal, our team modified the existing Pisces code base and structure so that all of the provided unit tests run and pass on any development platform. This objective focused on reducing the substantial amount of technical debt to create a more sustainable project. The second goal for our senior design project was to create an algorithm that detects and corrects inaccurate data created by outside forces that negatively affect the rain gauges. These outside forces could be from electronic flutter, nearby sprinklers, stolen gauges, manual bucket dumps, etc.. The rain gauges are used by the Bureau of Reclamation to collect precipitation data for analysis. When the algorithm detects the inaccurate data, it proceeds to modify the incorrect data points and notifies the sponsor via email.
#18 – GEOLOGIC RESEARCH AUTOMATED FILE TRANSFER SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Computer Science TEAM MEMBERS: Logan Barclay Joe Bell Patrick Cullings Benjamin Hetz Chris McLellen Aaron Whetzel CLIENTS: Lab For Echohhydrology and Alternative Futuring Adapt Data Flow Optimizations Lab PROJECT ADVISORS: Shane Panter Marissa Schmidt
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Boise State University College of Engineering
The GRAFTS project provides a service that can be deployed locally by a researcher. The researcher can use this project’s web application to instruct the server to periodically download relevant data from the near past. Using the GRAFTS web application, the researcher will then be able to quickly discover which files are present or absent from the local data collection that will be permanently available for them to query. Additionally, this project provides a sub-setting service that allows the researcher to subset a file or set of files and retrieve only the specific data they are targeting.
#19 – TOYOTA PRIUS BATTERY CHARGER AND DATA LOGGER DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Khaled Alotaibi Hector Hernandez Patrick Moore Phocas Sunzu CLIENT: Dr. Hani Mehrpouyan PROJECT ADVISORS: Brian Higgins Dr. Wan Kuang
With the typical Prius warranty covering the battery for either 10 years or 150,000 miles, the need for repair and maintenance of generation 2 Prius batteries will be in high demand. There is a need for a reliable and competitively priced testing device. Dr. Hani Mehrpouyan, of the Boise State University Electrical and Computer Engineering department, tasked the team with designing a device to charge and discharge a generation 2 Prius battery while logging data to determine the health of the battery. The problem was broken down into its three core components; the charging process, the discharging process, and the data logging process. The final design utilizes three integrated circuits (I.C ’s) to provide functionality. One I.C controls the charging, one collects data and an implemented microcontroller provides control of the circuit via I2C protocol. The intuitive user interface is comprised of a liquid crystal display and four buttons which allows the user to switch between processes.
#20 – BOGUS BASIN NORDIC SOLAR LIGHTING SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Jonathan Camacho Sufyan Ibrahim Chris Lathouwers Joe Sparhawk CLIENTS: Clenera Renewable Energy Bogus Basin Recreational Association PROJECT ADVISORS: Brian Higgins Dr. Wan Kuang
The current Bogus Basin Nordic ski trail solar lighting system has reached its expected lifespan. To continue the option of Nordic skiing at night, the lighting system will need to be updated. Due to the expense of connecting the Nordic lighting to the power grid, implementing a solar lighting system is more cost effective. This project was developed to demonstrate a single sub-system that consisting of thirteen light poles. This includes updating the batteries, modules, and lights for the system. The entire lighting system will have ten sub-systems. Clenera Solar has donated the solar modules that the new system will utilize. This new system is being upgraded with a commercial MPPT (maximum power point tracking) controller. The team has also developed a custom controller with the same specifications. The prototype system consists of a solar module, an MPPT controller, two sealed lead acid batteries, and two light emitting diode flood lights. The most efficient and accurate solution for a solar system is to implement the commercial MPPT controller with upgraded flood lights and to have two solar modules for each thirteen pole subsystem. This new system will improve the lighting for the Nordic ski trail and should extend the life of the system for another 15 years.
#21 – BICYCLE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Khaled Alotaibi Luke Grice Joshua Perkins CLIENT: Technichem PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Wan Kuang
Brian Rencher, owner of local company Technichem, is an avid cyclist and supports efforts to improve cycling safety. According to the statistics from the National Highway Safety Administration there were a reported 818 fatalities and 45,000 injuries among cyclists in 2015. To help reduce the number of cycling injuries and fatalities Mr. Rencher sponsored this project to search for a solution. Preco, a vehicle safety radar solution company, donated a Preview Sentry unit for the team to investigate as a collision avoidance solution for cyclists. Using the Preco radar unit, our team designed a system to alert a cyclist of approaching rearward traffic that could be a potential threat. The radar unit is capable of tracking up to 16 objects and reports data through CAN protocol. Interfacing the radar unit with a microcontroller, it is possible to read the CAN messages, and using the reported distance, velocity, and angle data returned from the radar unit, determine if an object is a potential threat. The algorithm designed to process the data determines if the potential threat object is approaching the cyclist from an angle, or from directly behind them, and alerts the cyclist if the approaching object is on a possible collision trajectory.
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#22 – POTATO STORAGE WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Eric Fallon Dave Larson Thomas Lentz CLIENTS: Dr. Harish Subbaraman Dr. David Estrada PROJECT ADVISORS: Brian Higgins Dr. Wan Kuang Dr. Harish Subaraman
Potatoes have become a vital crop for the world’s food structure. The current storage and monitoring techniques promote spoilage leading to over 30% loss of yield. Team Flexsense is developing an early detection system capable of identifying changes in temperature and humidity. The overall system prototype comprises of a microcontroller, thermistor sensor, humidity sensor, and Xbee wireless module (mesh configuration). The basic flow of the system includes collecting data from the sensors, processing it through the microcontroller, and sending the data wirelessly to a network hub. In designing this system, the humidity and temperature sensors were first modeled with the LTspice circuit simulator. In addition, once the sensors were selected, real world experiments were completed to differentiate between raw vs simulated statistics. The system was then implemented on a custom circuit board and tested. After the completion of the prototype, the final system was capable of sending data up to distances of 40-60ft with sensor data readings with less than 5% error.
#23 – BITZ BOARD DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Travis Brodt Benjamin Chafetz Ian Mahaney Zach Taylor CLIENT: Dr. Kris Campbell PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Kris Campbell
Boise State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty member, Dr. Kris Campbell, has sponsored the design and development of a circuit, which has come to be named the “BITZ Board”, capable of electrically characterizing a packaged memristor device’s frequency response, including the effects of any packaging capacitances. The BITZ Board, a voltage-controlled oscillator with an integrated memristor in place of a variable capacitor, has been designed to interface with an Analog Discovery 2 (AD2) and Know Discovery board to utilize their waveform generation, measurement, and device switching capabilities. Dr. Campbell intends to use the BITZ Board’s output data to extract meaningful insights into memristor device operation and packaging effects on electrical performance, for various memristor device types designed in her research lab at BSU. The ease with which this measurement board can be integrated into existing laboratory measurement systems, and the speed with which the frequency response can be measured will provide a fast and dependable measurement tool.
#24 – AUTOMATED PLASMA DELIVERY SYSTEM The Plasma Medicine Research group at Boise State University has plasma devices that can debride dead tissue and kill bacteria in a flesh wound. Currently the plasma devices are stationary and can only treat the area of the wound directly underneath the plasma device.
DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Lane Dirkes Changyu Guo Steven Saldivar CLIENT: Dr. Jim Browning PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Wan Kuang
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The goal of this project was to create an automated system that is capable of identifying the wound area of a sample that need treatment and exposing them to a plasma source. This product assists with the testing of plasma devices as a viable treatment option for wound debridement and sterilization. The system images a sample using an 8MP camera and processes the image using MATLAB, identifying the areas of the sample that need treatment and mapping them to LabVIEW. LabVIEW utilizes the bitmap generated by MATLAB to control the stepper motors driving the XY stage. The sample is moved beneath a plasma source, where only the targeted areas are exposed for treatment. This project will give Dr. Browning’s research lab an effective method of exposing a full wound area. By exposing the full wound area, the researchers will be able to better observe the effects of plasma treatment on wounds.
Boise State University College of Engineering
#25 – SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO BASED PASSIVE RADAR SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Hillary Bernal Rio Pham Robins Yadav CLIENT: Dr. Hao Chen PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Hao Chen
Under the supervision of Dr. Hao Chen of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, our team constructed an inexpensive passive radar system. Two Yagi directional antennas were placed on top of the Engineering Building to detect and to track airplanes above the Boise Airport. One antenna is pointed toward Bogus Basin to capture the direct signal from the FM radio station, and the other antenna is pointed at the Boise Airport to collect the reflected signal from a moving airplane. These complex analog signals are converted into digital signals by dual software defined radio (SDR) dongles, with synchronized clocks, that connect the antennas to a laptop for signal processing. The signals are recorded with GNURadio, an open-source software development toolkit. The signal processing to extract frequency shift and time delay was implemented in MATLAB with Fast Fourier Transforms. This project demonstrates that a passive radar system can be designed for less than $100. The low-cost of SDR equipment, and increasingly available software tools for signal processing, show how accessible radar has become
#26 – PHOTOVOLTAIC INVERTER CONTROL AND FAULT DETECTION MODEL DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Chris Calderwood Andrew Kinsey Kayla Saunders CLIENT: Idaho Power PROJECT ADVISOR: Andres Valdepena
When connecting a photovoltaic inverter to the power grid, protection coordination needs to be reevaluated and additional protective devices added to the system, increasing cost and reducing efficiency. Idaho Power Company sponsored this project to investigate the reaction speed of a photovoltaic inverter with a cease to energize function, allowing the utility to stop the flow of power onto the grid during a fault condition. The goal of the investigation is to determine if the inverter can react to a fault fast enough to avoid contributing to the fault, which demonstrates that the same level of protection can be achieved without the added cost of additional devices and re-evaluation of protective device settings or trip sequences. A model was designed using MATLAB/SIMULINK integrating a photovoltaic array and distribution feeder model. Fault detection and inverter control were implemented to detect a variety of fault conditions. The model simulates a fault detection algorithm that we developed for to disconnect the inverter from the feeder in less than a cycle, quick enough to prevent changes in the protection scheme.
#27 – AUTONOMOUS LAWN CARE UNIT DESIGN DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Steve Browne (ECE) Susy Camargo (ECE) Austin Davis (ECE) David Flores (ECE) Justin Stadlbauer (ECE) Sean Weech (ECE) Fadel Alatiqy (MBE) Samuel Pritchard (MBE) Brady Sandercock (MBE) Luke Schumacher (MBE) Latif Zamankhan (MBE) CLIENT: The Micron Foundation PROJECT ADVISORS: Brian Higgins Lynn Catlin Dr. Wan Kuang
Avista Utilities has been seeking a solution to power quality problems in the residential environment. Overvoltages and transients can occur when distribution line capacitor banks are switched on to support voltage during periods of high power demand. Dr. Said Ahmed-Zaid, Kamran Latif, and others at Boise State University have been developing a new Residential Static VAR Compensator for Avista. Our team used computer-aided modeling to test this new technology’s voltage regulation and transient damping characteristics. Simulation tools such as ATP, LTSpice, Simulink, and PowerWorld were used to model a distribution line with customer loads and an integrated RSVC. This RSVC uses a switched inductor and a fixed capacitor in parallel with the customer load to create a variable inductance. The effective inductance is varied using a PID controller, which responds to voltage feedback from the bus. Control system parameters have been tuned to effectively reduce voltage spikes and regulate voltage in the steady state.
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#28 – LIGHT MEASUREMENT SYSTEM PROJECT SimplyLEDs is a local lighting company that offers high intensity lighting solutions for their customers. To produce new solutions, the engineering team at SimplyLEDs requires an in-house testing device for new light fixture prototypes. When changes are made to the prototypes, their research and development team needs to know how the changes affect the light output. Our team was tasked to develop a device that can take light intensity measurements for a full hemisphere around the light prototypes.
DEPARTMENT: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ahmed Gaid (ECE) Ryan Ursenbach (ECE) Brennan Webb (ECE) Hali Danna (MBE) Jake Holloway (MBE) Joshua Newberg (MBE) CLIENT: SimplyLEDs PROJECT ADVISORS: Brian Higgins Lynn Catlin Dr. Wan Kuang MENTOR: Charlie Wilkerson Kevin Haight Jack Smith
The device consists of two main parts: a cabinet with a rotating arm, and a tripod. The tripod is used to set the light sensor up to 30ft away from the light prototype. The arm on the device is designed to mount the LED and rotate it on two different axes. The cabinet houses the main electrical components, including a microcontroller. This microcontroller controls the motors to rotate the arm and LED, and records the light intensity of each position from the light sensor. The microcontroller then compiles the data into an IES file, which can be run by various programs to produce a plot of the light intensity.
#29 – STRAIN GAUGE VALIDATION PROJECT DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Mitchell Leibowitz Adrianna Lupercio Yaiza Rodriguez CLIENT: Idaho National Laboratory PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Brian Jaques
This project focused on acquiring and validating elongation measurements of prototype nuclear fuel and cladding as a function of temperature. Commercial resistive strain gauges and novel, aerosol printed capacitive strain gauges were tested while simulating the harsh conditions of a typical nuclear reactor, minus the irradiation aspect. Test conditions included a typical light water reactor (LWR) test temperature (315 °C) and a temperature ramp of 10 °C/min. The scope of the work performed included conducting a detailed literature review of current technology, an investigation into thermal creep in Al 6061-T0, testing the strain gauges and performing significant data analysis. Materials characterization of the strain gauges and test material, pre and post testing, was performed. In addition, theoretical thermal strain values from the elastic loading region and a digital image correlation system were used as data validation methods.
MENTOR: Dr. Richard Wright
#30 – MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF 3D PRINTED MATERIALS DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ziyad Binsulaiman Melissa Branagan Sterling Croft CLIENT: Hewlett Packard, Inc. PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Harold Ackler
3D printing is an increasingly common production method for hobbyists and industrial prototyping. There is a wide variety of printers and printing materials available for these applications. The materials used in 3D printers are well understood in their bulk applications. When these materials are subjected to 3D printing processes the material properties change based on the type of printer used. To investigate this effect three types of 3D printers are examined. The printers examined are fusion deposition, stereolithography, and multi-jet fusion printers. Each printer’s 3D printed parts’ mechanical properties are evaluated with an emphasis on the creep behavior of the material. Additionally, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and impact toughness were measured to help understand the effect 3D printing has on materials.
MENTOR: Dr. Darin Lindig
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Boise State University College of Engineering
#31 – ELECTROCHEMICAL DEPOSITION OF DNA
DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Nicholas Carter William Crow Catherine Walker Bethany Williford CLIENTS: Micron PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Elton Graugnard
The electrochemical deposition of DNA is a novel process that has the potential to significantly add value to the photolithography and semiconductor industries. Programmable, foldable DNA provides a potential opportunity for use as a nextgeneration masking material in photolithography processes. Thermodynamic deposition of DNA origami onto boron-implanted substrates has been successful utilizing high salt concentrations and considerable time. This project seeks to show that DNA origami can be electrochemically deposited onto a boron-implanted or boron-doped silicon substrate at faster rates and with a lower salt concentration.
MENTOR: Dr. Scott Sills
#32 – SUPERLATTICE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Donald L. Kellis Armin Mirahcic Riccardo Torsi Travis Winters
Correlating the properties to the physical structure of superlattices can provide a fast track for creating de novo materials with precise characteristics. The Micron superlattice team addresses the electrical property to structure correlation of a silicon-germanium sample though x-ray reflectance, x-ray diffraction, and resistivity. These measurements were monitored for superlattice samples that have been thermally annealed under varied conditions to induce structural changes. This work has fostered improved understanding of the resistivity changes occurring in the silican-germanium superlattice as a direct result of the thermal annealing process.
CLIENT: Micron PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Rick Ubic MENTOR: Dr. Francois Fabreguette
#33 – CORRELATION OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES DURING COLD DEFORMATION DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Abdulmajeed Alanazi Andres Correa Sean O’Kelley Justin Reidy CLIENT: Nanosteel
NanoSteel develops materials with advanced mechanical properties. They currently specialize in the commercialization of advanced high strength steels (AHSS) to help produce lighter, more fuelefficient vehicles without compromising safety. NanoSteel’s 3rd generation AHSS demonstrates unique mechanical properties that are related to its microstructure. During cold deformation, a magnetic ferrite nanophase develops, which permits the correlation of magnetic properties with mechanical properties and phases present. In this work, four 3rd generation AHSS samples, were cold worked (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% respectively) and subsequently characterized relative to microstructure, phases present and magnetic properties. Results show that magnetization and weight % ferrite increase as cold working increases.
PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Paul Lindquist MENTOR: Dr. Daniel Branagan
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#34 – CHARACTERIZATION OF METASTABLE YTTRIA PHASE IN THERMALLY SPRAYED COATINGS DEPARTMENT: Materials Science and Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Justina Freilich Tim Hachigian Cody Lynde George Warren CLIENT: NxEdge, Inc. PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Harold Ackler
NxEdge’s plasma spray process produces varying amounts of a metastable phase in their yttria coatings. There is little published information about this phase, so the effects of the phase on coating performance is unknown. It is also unknown which parameters of NxEdge’s plasma spray process contribute to the nucleation and growth of the metastable phase. The goal of this project is to characterize the yttria metastable phase found in NxEdge’s plasma spray coatings and to determine the parameters necessary to achieve optimal performance. To achieve this goal, characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used along with breakdown voltage and microhardness tests to quantify structure and mechanical performance. A summary table of results, including characterization data and parameter optimization values, will be constructed and delivered to NxEdge for further investigation.
MENTOR: Rob Miner
#35 – IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY TENSILE TESTING DEVICE The purpose of this project was to build a miniature tensile testing apparatus for Idaho National Laboratory. The device must be able to evaluate the mechanical properties of different materials while fitting within a confined system with specific environmental restraints. The tensile test module must have the capability to measure mechanical properties within the system, being able to repeatedly test different material samples accurately. Our design utilizes a bellows spring, which generates a significant amount of force when placed in a pressure differential. This force is then applied axially to the specimen being tested and the displacement, pressure, and temperature are recorded. From this data, a stress-strain plot is generated and the material properties are calculated.
DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Kristine M. Diedrich Laura Rill Kiegen Schauer CLIENT: Idaho National Laboratory PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTOR: Chris Davis Nicolas Woolstenhulme
#36 – 2-AXIS REMOTE LINEAR MOTION MECHANISM FOR USE IN INL’S TRANSIENT REACTOR TEST FACILITY DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Ryan C. Byrd Austin Jones Dustin Ma Mike Mcdonald CLIENT: Idaho National Laboratory PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTORS: Nicolas Woolstenhulme Chris Davis
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Moving test samples while running mechanical experiments on such samples is often an important and significant aspect of conducting research in the mechanical field. There are many types of tools used to both create and measure such motion in a wide variety of environments. However, there are occasions in which some environments do not permit the use of certain materials or components that are generally acceptable.Our team was tasked with developing a linear motion device that would move a small test sample at any position vertically and horizontally within a 2.5-inch sch 40 pipe with an inside diameter of 6 cm, that is 2 meters long with an accuracy and repeatabilityof 0.1-millimeters. We were restricted from using various types of metals and all plastic and rubber material due to the need to be able to operate within a nuclear reactor. We therefore had to develop a system that could operate from the top of the pipe,fit inside of the pipe, and move it to any location in either the horizontal or vertical direction within the specified tolerances. Our design implements the use of a lead screw for vertical positioning, and a splined shaft driving a metal timing belt tocontrol the horizontal position. The system is powered using stepper motors with encoders to measure the distance that the sample has traveled. Implementing these systems, we developed a device that adequately moves the sample within tolerance and meets material and size restrictions in the applied environment.
Boise State University College of Engineering
#37– ASHRAE HVAC DESIGN CALCULATIONS COMPETITION DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Daniel Courtright Anthony Keith Conlan Marron Andee Morton CLIENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTORS: Tim Johnson John Monserrat
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) hosts several student competitions each year. This year, the Boise State University team was responsible for completing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)Design Calculations for a four story, mixed-use complex near Istanbul, Turkey. The 70,000 square foot building includes retail, restaurant, office, and lodging spaces. The team had to consider needs for each space type in the building in order to design the most effective HVAC system. Aside from considering each space type, the team had to adhere to several owner requirements in order to assure a low-cost, energy efficient system. During the process, the team was also required to comply with several ASHRAE standards as well as the International Building Code. Several software programs were used for this project including Excel for analyzing weather data and computing ventilation requirements, Trane TRACE for load calculations, Sketch Up and Open Studio for creating an energy model and completing life-cycle cost analysis, and AutoCAD to determine zoning and final design layout of the HVAC system. The team was greatly assisted by members of the local ASHRAE chapter, CTA Architects, Tikker Engineering, and Norbryhn Equipment Company.
#38 – PEDAL POWERED LICENSE PLATE READING VEHICLE DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Tristan Christensen Saeed A Ghandoora Ryan Schlup Kara Snyder CLIENT: Boise State Dept. of Parking and Transportation PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTOR: Katy D’Amico
Boise State Transportation & Parking currently uses a License Plate Reading (LPR) system integrated with a motor vehicle. The LPR system enhances the parking enforcement by automating the process of acquiring and tracking license plates. Boise State Transportation & Parking uses this system to collect parking data and validate permitted parking. Boise State Transportation & Parking has tasked our team with designing a first-ever solution to adapt the current LPR system to a self-sustaining bicycle platform. This system integration will allow enforcement officers to navigate the campus and enjoy the beautiful Boise weather in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. Our team designed a bicycle trailer as the platform to encompass the LPR system, which provides the best protection for the LPR system. The integration of the system into the bicycle trailer involves a permanent magnet DC generator. The generator is powered by the rotation of a fixed cog on the rear wheel of the trailer, which will charge the battery powering the LPR system. The design also includes shocks to help dampen impulse forces that may be encountered and extra storage capacity for the rider’s accessories. By utilizing the bicycle and trailer combination, this allows Boise State Transportation & Parking to save money on a vehicle purchase, gas, and offers the enforcement officer the joy of being active and outdoors.
#39– SOUND ANALYSIS - ALBERTSONS LIBRARY COLLABORATIVE STUDY ROOMS DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Scott Cummings Stacie Harley Jared Jeka CLIENT: Albertson’s Library PROJECT ADVISORS: Lynn Catlin Dr. Joseph Guarino
Albertsons Library at Boise State University requested a sound analysis to be completed for the collaborative study rooms on the 3rd and 4th floors. The library staff receives numerous complaints about the noise between the rooms and surrounding areas. To focus in on the problem, a survey was conducted regarding the room users’ experience. Once data was obtained from the survey and classified, an acoustic analysis was completed of the lowest rated room. The analysis consisted of varying frequencies from 250-5000 Hz that were played at a constant amplitude. Measurements of the sound levels were taken in the same room and adjacent rooms at various locations. Potential solutions for the walls, corners, and ceiling were then tested to determine the most effective solution in reducing library complaints regarding noise.
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#40 – SOUTHWEST IDAHO ROCKET DESIGN DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Casey Hergesheimer Joseph W. Herker Miu Lun Lau Justan Meyer Taylor Howell Caleb Walin CLIENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering
Tripoli Rocket Association brings together Rocketry hobbyists throughout the country. High power rocketry is a hobby marked by knowledge, experience, and most notably cost. The team had to employ its knowledge of drafting, simulation, coding, and experimental design to complete this rocket. Additionally, the team had to learn how to implement the necessary electronics for the rocket to meet its objectives. This year, the Boise State Rocket team is competing with its peers at Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) to design a high power rocket and autonomous rover to accomplish three primary objectives: altitude, recovery, and deployment.
PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTOR: Robert Ragland
#41 – JIGAREX 2.0 DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Isaac Johnson Louise McGowin Noah Rusk Zachary Taylor CLIENT: Sun Valley Ski Tools, Inc. PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin MENTORS: Kyle Bradley Bob Ohlson
Sun Valley Ski Tools, a local ski and snowboard equipment company, is seeking improvements to their product, the JigaRex. The JigaRex is the market-leading universal jig that can mount bindings from a variety of manufacturers. Sun Valley Ski Tools commissioned a team of four Mechanical Engineering students to improve the clamping mechanism in order to increase longevity and accuracy of the jig as well as improve customer satisfaction. The previous JigaRex wore easily due to metal-on-plastic gearing and customers over-tightening the handle, so the new design relies on a spiral cam system to accommodate a variety of ski widths. Due to a different handle style and user-friendly clamping system, the new design limits wear and requires less input force from the user. With the system’s ergonomics and clamping mechanism changed, the team was able to retain the previous model’s modular nature. This allows customers to upgrade to the newer model while continuing to use the universal plates they already own.
#42 – THE ELECTRIC SKI SCRAPER SHARPENER DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Kari A. Higginbotham Joshua A. Kincaid Donald Ogden CLIENT: Sun Valley Ski Tools, Inc. PROJECT ADVISORS: Lynn Catlin MENTORS: Kyle Bradley Bob Ohlson
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In the peak of winter seasons, ski shops are overloaded with skis to be waxed. The waxing process involves applying a new layer of wax to the ski and then scraping off excess wax to produce a clean, smooth surface. The tool used to scrape the wax is referred to as a ski scraper. These scrapers tend to wear down quickly, and once they are worn it is difficult for the user to get a perfect surface on the ski. An Electric Ski Scraper Sharpener, (eSSS), can be used to sharpen the scrapers quickly and efficiently. By addressing several issues found with one particular eSSS brand, we have re-designed an electric ski scraper sharpener which can give a clean bottom surface and two 90 degree edges to each scraper that passes through the sharpener. The eSSS we have designed has a more durable casing and uses power efficiently with a micro switch that will only provide power when needed and reduces the amount of heat generated from the motor. The limited use of power also allows for a rechargeable battery which will make it more capable of use while traveling and will increase its competitiveness in the eSSS market.
Boise State University College of Engineering
#43 – AUTOMATED SEALANT APPLICATOR DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Jake David Matt Houston James Reimers Sahil Verma CLIENT: Woodgrain Doors, Inc. PROJECT ADVISOR: Lynn Catlin
Our design team has been tasked to create a fully automated process to apply sealant onto the ends of wooden doors moving alone an assembly line for Woodgrain Doors. The current practice involves a manual application using a paint roller, allowing room for error and inaccurate placement of the sealant. We have developed a fully automated system that will be integrated into Woodgrain’s internal system to run when it detects an exterior door is moving through the equalizer machine. Our design includes the use of a PLC that reads the input of a photoelectric sensor and controls the outputs of a pump, motor, and pneumatic cylinder. The system is designed to apply the sealant onto the top and bottom faces of the exterior doors moving through the area, then disengage and pull the roller away from any non-applicable doors as they pass through. Our design will decrease error, save money, and drastically increase operator safety.
MENTORS: Sam Barker Mike VanKirk Jim Ritter
#44 – DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM DEPARTMENT: Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering TEAM MEMBERS: Sean Kelly Alondra Berenice Perez Zachary Weyn CLIENT: Dr. Harold Ackler PROJECT ADVISORS: Dr. Harold Ackler Lynn Catlin MENTOR: Dick Sevier
A Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) System is used to determine different material properties, which include phase transformation temperatures,heat of fusion, and additional thermal properties. The DTAS team has collaborated with the Materials Science Undergraduate Laboratory and the CAESTechnical Assistance Program to create a low-cost DTA instrument to teach different DTA techniques to students. The instrument is designed to increase and decrease the temperature of two different materials at a controlled rate in a well-insulated furnace using a stand-alone temperature controller. One material sample is the control, which will behave expectedly through the temperature ranges of the device. The other sample is the test material, whose behavior will be compared to the control sample. Thermocouples are used to measure the temperature of the samples. The data will be recorded into a text file. The expectation is that the control sample’s temperature will increase steadily with the furnace, whereas the unknown sample temperature will not be consistent with the furnace. The difference in temperature between the unknown sample and the controlled samples will reveal the thermal properties of the unknown sample.
#45 – EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IN THE ENGINEERING/GAMING FIELDS DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Sydney Adair (MBE) Alex Chaney (GIMM) Paris Colton (CE)
In an effort to better understand the job market of their fields of interest, these three students have pursued research in their select areas of interest. To provide a culminating report and share their findings with their peers and fellow students, posters were created describing the findings of their research pursuits. With an interesting and unique perspective from each of these diverse students, their findings should be an enlightening look into the possibilities of these burgeoning fields of engineering and gaming.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#46 – ACCESSIBILITY SWING CONSTRUCTION An all-female team of future engineers has set out to fulfill a need that the Boise community has yet to address: the accessibility of playground equipment for students with different physical ability levels. In an effort to make a quintessential element of the playground fun and easy to use for all members of the Boise community, this team has spent their semester developing an Accessibility Swing. Designed for users who depend on wheelchairs for mobility, the Accessibility Swing was modeled and analyzed using computer aided design (CAD) software. Their final product includes a physical model of their proposed design.
DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Jessica Carlson (MBE) Sammie Fullmer (CS) Piper Kilgore (CE) Ashley Rivera (MBE) CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#47 – SHELF LIFE DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Amber Barnes (CS) Austen Hale (CS) Kyle Kramer (ECE) Riley Purvis (ECE) Bobby Sieker (CE) Felicity Thurber (CS) Aleyna Turgut (ECE)
A group of freshman students have collaborated to create a dorm-friendly terrarium, dubbed “Project Shelf Life”. This product aspires to provide people with the ability to grow small-sized plants in a compact, dormitorystyle living area. Primary features of the design include customizable size and shape of the terrarium body to fit into unorthodox living spaces and special considerations for appropriate plant-friendly climate conditions. Much of the project effort was focused on becoming familiar with the necessities of healthy terrarium ecosystems and developing a prototype that may be easily reproducible for future consumers.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#48 – EASY-CHANGE TRASH CAN DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Brandon Basa (MSE) Lindsey Caffroy (MBE) Walker Combs (CS) Brian Cummings (ECE) Patrick Delaney (GIMM) Liz Gaffrey (MBE) Marcel Thielbar (MBE)
Nicknamed the “Easy-Change Trash Can”, this design sought to provide users with a garbage bin that circumvented the need for lifting the heavy bag above the rim of the can for disposal. With a target audience of individuals with mobility or dexterity limitations, this product aspired to minimize the physical demands of replacing the liner. The intention of the team was to create a working small-scale prototype of the design.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
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Boise State University College of Engineering
#49 – ROTATING USB CHARGE PORT To address the problem of bending USB cords and hazardous exposed wires, this design team aspired to create a rotational USB port so that a user may access the port at all angles. Obstructions such as couches and other heavy furniture items commonly require users to bend cords at angles that lead to damage. The block is able to fit into harsh angles saving charging cords by allowing them to lay flat against tight surfaces. This simplistic design seeks to address a common problem in an intuitive way. It has 4 points of rotation and utilizes the ball and stick rotation method.
DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Zach Cuffel (ECE) Colton Hix (ECE) James Jones (MBE) Kamryn Parker (CS) Halle Robertson (MBE) Parker Smith (CS) Makayla Turner (MSE) CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#50 – EXPANDABLE LAPTOP MOUSE PAD DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Kolby Alloway (GIMM) Garrett Coslett (CS) Hector Garcia (ECE) Steven Kim (CS) Amanda Mullins (CE) Annalies Tipton (MBE) Hunter White (ECE)
The Expandable Laptop Mouse Pad targets users seeking to utilize a mouse for a laptop device when there is no sufficient surface or platform available. This product allows users to have a stable pad for mouse use while working, regardless of the work space. Intended as a platform attachment designed to fit on most laptop devices, this surface will provide adequate space for the operation of a mouse. With a work-in-progress prototype prepared, the concept and preliminary work for this project are intended to eventually serve as the framework for a universally attachable mouse pad platform.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#51 – WRITING MACHINE DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Jill Alexander (MBE) Nick Hudson (GIMM) Brittany Isom (BIOL) Nicholas Lee (ECE) Hannah Lopke (CS) Aidan Nelson (CS)
The Writing Machine is an Arduino-controlled robot that translates text from a computer into written words on a white board using a mechanical arm. Potential future applications of this machine may benefit individuals who lack dexterity but depend on hand-written forms of communication.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
Boise State University College of Engineering
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#52 – BACK TECH The Back Tech is a backpack that seeks to limit the potential for devices to have a depleted battery throughout a day of use. This backpack has the power to charge multiple devices necessary for a working individual or student, such as a phone or calculator, through a USB hub. With special consideration for the user, the backpack will not require recharging, as the power cell is fueled with solar energy.
DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Devan Chaney (GIMM) Jared Dilley (ECE) Kincaid Graff (MSE) Marcus Hubner (ECE) Haley Hunt (MATH) CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#53 – SOLDER REFLOW OVEN DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Isaiah Christy (MBE) Alex Collette (CS) Mason Hix (ECE) Jake McKeown (MBE) Clint Shelley (CS)
The Solder Reflow Oven is a modified toaster oven re-purposed for other applications. The design includes adjustable temperature controls through the use of an Arduino. Additionally, the temperature is monitored for ease-of-use and safety with an LCD display.
CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
#54 – HEADPHONE MANAGEMENT DEVICE DEPARTMENT: Engineering and Innovation Residential College TEAM MEMBERS: Andrei Calugaru (ECE) Kyle Dewick (MBE) Preston Ellis (CS) Graydon Fuller (ECE) Lucas Hitterdal (ECE) Cameron Yund (ENGR) CLIENT: College of Engineering PROJECT ADVISOR: Dr. Krishna Pakala
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Boise State University College of Engineering
The Headphone Management Device is a small, 3D printed mount for the average phone case that keeps the average set of wired headphones untangled. The purpose is to reduce the loss and damage of headphones due to entanglement in pocket usage, water exposure, or misplacement.
SPECIAL THANKS
Dr. JoAnn S. Lighty Leandra Aburusa The Peer Advisors Michele Armstrong
Diana Garza Joan Hartz Paul Robertson Dr. Krishna Pakala
Senior Design Coordinators
Boise State University College of Engineering
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