Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 40
Description
In recent years, Operations Research (OR) has had a signicant impact on improving the performance of hospital Emergency Departments (EDs). This includes improving a wide range of processes involving patient ow from the initial call to the ED through disposition, discharge home, or admission to the hospital. We mainly seek to illustrate the benet of OR in EDs, and provide an overview of research performed in this vein to assist both researchers and practitioners. We also elaborate on possibilities for future researchers by shedding light on some less studied aspects that can have valuable impacts on practice.
ContributorsAustin, Garrett Alexander (Author) / Saghafian, Soroush (Thesis director) / Gel, Esma (Committee member) / Traub, Stephen (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2013-12
Description
Characterization of particulate process and product design is a difficult field because of the unique bulk properties and behaviors of particles that differ from gasses and liquids. The purpose of this research is to develop an equation to relate the angle of repose and flowability, the ability of the particle to flow as it pertains to particulate processes and product design. This research is important in multiple industries such as pharmaceuticals and food processes.
ContributorsNugent, Emily Rose (Author) / Emady, Heather (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Materials Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The goal of this thesis is designing controllers for swarm robots transport a payload over inclines. Several fields of study are related to this study, including control theory, dynamic modeling and programming. MATLAB, a tool of design controller and simulation, is used in this thesis.
To achieve this goal, a model of swarm robots transportation should be designed, which is cruise control for this scenario. Secondly, based on free body diagram, force equilibrium equation can be deduced. Then, the function of plant can be deduced based on cruise control and force equilibrium equations. Thirdly, list potential controllers, which may implement desired controls of swarm robots, and test their performance. Modify value of gains and do simulations of these controller. After analyzing results of simulation, the best controller can be selected.
In the last section, there is conclusion of entire thesis project and pointing out future work. The section of future work will mention potential difficulties of building entire control system, which allow swarm robots transport over inclines in real environment.
To achieve this goal, a model of swarm robots transportation should be designed, which is cruise control for this scenario. Secondly, based on free body diagram, force equilibrium equation can be deduced. Then, the function of plant can be deduced based on cruise control and force equilibrium equations. Thirdly, list potential controllers, which may implement desired controls of swarm robots, and test their performance. Modify value of gains and do simulations of these controller. After analyzing results of simulation, the best controller can be selected.
In the last section, there is conclusion of entire thesis project and pointing out future work. The section of future work will mention potential difficulties of building entire control system, which allow swarm robots transport over inclines in real environment.
ContributorsShe, Hanyu (Author) / Berman, Spring (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Over the past decade, fall related injuries and death among individuals 65 and older due to osteosarcopenia have increased significantly. To reduce the risk of recurrent falls among the elderly caused by osteosarcopenia, a soft-body pneumatically stabilizing device is designed. A few different actuation methods are considered, both rigid and soft body actuators, before deciding the best fit for the design goals of the wearable assistive device. Much of the design is developed through numerically modeling and analyzing the human upper body as an inverted pendulum. Through this method, common characteristics of falling behavior are identified to develop a control system that counteracts falling motion with pneumatically produced forces. An emphasis on human-oriented design provides much of the framework for translating the numerical model of forces into a device that prioritizes user comfort without sacrificing assistive performance.
ContributorsJohansen, Max (Author) / Grewal, Anoop (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2022-12
Description
In this paper, we discuss the methods and requirements to simulate a soft bodied beam using traditional rigid body kinematics to produce motion inspired by eels. Eels produce a form of undulatory locomotion called anguilliform locomotion that propagates waves throughout the entire body. The system that we are analyzing is a flexible 3D printed beam being actively driven by a servo motor. Using the simulation, we also analyze different parameters for these spines to maximize the linear speed of the system.
ContributorsKwan, Anson (Author) / Aukes, Daniel (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2022-05
Description
The findings of this project show that through the use of principal component analysis and K-Means clustering, NBA players can be algorithmically classified in distinct clusters, representing a player archetype. Individual player data for the 2018-2019 regular season was collected for 150 players, and this included regular per game statistics, such as rebounds, assists, field goals, etc., and advanced statistics, such as usage percentage, win shares, and value over replacement players. The analysis was achieved using the statistical programming language R on the integrated development environment RStudio. The principal component analysis was computed first in order to produce a set of five principal components, which explain roughly 82.20% of the total variance within the player data. These five principal components were then used as the parameters the players were clustered against in the K-Means clustering algorithm implemented in R. It was determined that eight clusters would best represent the groupings of the players, and eight clusters were created with a unique set of players belonging to each one. Each cluster was analyzed based on the players making up the cluster and a player archetype was established to define each of the clusters. The reasoning behind the player archetypes given to each cluster was explained, providing details as to why the players were clustered together and the main data features that influenced the clustering results. Besides two of the clusters, the archetypes were proven to be independent of the player's position. The clustering results can be expanded on in the future to include a larger sample size of players, and it can be used to make inferences regarding NBA roster construction. The clustering can highlight key weaknesses in rosters and show which combinations of player archetypes lead to team success.
ContributorsElam, Mason Matthew (Author) / Armbruster, Dieter (Thesis director) / Gel, Esma (Committee member) / Computer Science and Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
In the past, Industrial Engineering/Engineering Management Capstone groups have not provided adequate documentation of their project data, results, and conclusions to both the course instructor and their project sponsors. The goal of this project is to mitigate these issues by instituting a knowledge management system with one of ASU’s cloud storage tools, OSF, and by updating course rubrics to reflect knowledge sharing best practices. This project used existing research to employ tactics that promote the long-term use of this system. In addition, data specialists from ASU Library’s Research and Data Management department were involved.
ContributorsWade, Alexis Nicole (Author) / Juarez, Joseph (Thesis director) / Gel, Esma (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems & Operations Engineering Prgm (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-12
Description
Chemoreception is an important method for an octopus to sense and react to its surroundings. However, the density of chemoreceptors within different areas of the skin of the octopus arm is poorly documented. In order to assess the relative sensitivity of various regions and the degree to which chemoreception is locally controlled, octopus arms were amputated and exposed to acetic acid, a noxious chemical stimulus that has previously been shown to elicit movement responses in amputated arms (Hague et al., 2013). To test this, 11 wild-caught Octopus bimaculoides (6 females, 5 males) were obtained. Acetic acid vapor was introduced in the distal oral, distal aboral, proximal oral, and proximal aboral regions of amputated arms. The frequency of the occurrence of movement was first analyzed. For those trials in which movement occurred, the latency (delay between the stimulus and the onset of movement) and the duration of movement were analyzed. The distal aboral and distal oral regions were both more likely to move than either the proximal oral or proximal aboral regions (p < 0.0001), and when they did move, were more likely to move for longer periods of time (p < 0.05). In addition, the proximal oral region was more likely to exhibit a delay in the onset of movement compared to the distal oral or distal aboral regions (p < 0.0001). These findings provide evidence that the distal arm is most sensitive to noxious chemical stimuli. However, there were no significant differences between the distal oral and distal aboral regions, or between the proximal oral and proximal aboral regions. This suggests that there may not be a significant difference in the density of chemoreceptors in the aboral versus oral regions of the arm, contrary to claims in the literature. The other independent variables analyzed, including sex, body mass, arm length, anterior versus posterior arm identity, and left versus right arm identity, did not have a significant effect on any of the three dependent variables analyzed. Further analysis of the relative density of chemoreceptors in different regions of the octopus arm is merited.
ContributorsCasleton, Rachel Marie (Author) / Fisher, Rebecca (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Gire, David (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The premise of this thesis developed from my personal interests and undergraduate educational experiences in both industrial engineering and design studies, particularly those related to product design. My education has stressed the differences in the ways that engineers and designers approach problem solving and creating solutions, but I am most interested in marrying the two mindsets of designers and engineers to better solve problems creatively and efficiently.
This thesis focuses on the recent appearance of generative design technology into the world of industrial design and engineering as it relates to product development. An introduction to generative design discusses the uses and benefits of this tool for both designers and engineers and also addresses the challenges of this technology. The relevance of generative design to the world of product development is discussed as well as the implications of how this technology will change the roles of designers and engineers, and especially their traditional design processes. The remainder of this paper is divided into two elements. The first serves as documentation of my own exploration of using generative design software to solve a product design challenge and my reflections on the benefits and challenges of using this tool. The second element addresses the need for employing quantitiative methodologies within the generative design process to aid designers in selecting the most advantageous design option when presented with generative outcomes. Both sections aim to provide more context to this new design process and seek to answer questions about some of the ambiguous processes of generative design.
This thesis focuses on the recent appearance of generative design technology into the world of industrial design and engineering as it relates to product development. An introduction to generative design discusses the uses and benefits of this tool for both designers and engineers and also addresses the challenges of this technology. The relevance of generative design to the world of product development is discussed as well as the implications of how this technology will change the roles of designers and engineers, and especially their traditional design processes. The remainder of this paper is divided into two elements. The first serves as documentation of my own exploration of using generative design software to solve a product design challenge and my reflections on the benefits and challenges of using this tool. The second element addresses the need for employing quantitiative methodologies within the generative design process to aid designers in selecting the most advantageous design option when presented with generative outcomes. Both sections aim to provide more context to this new design process and seek to answer questions about some of the ambiguous processes of generative design.
ContributorsElgin, Mariah Crystal (Author) / Bacalzo, Dean (Thesis director) / Gel, Esma (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems & Operations Engineering Prgm (Contributor) / Dean, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Octopus arms employ a complex three dimensional array of musculature, called a
muscular hydrostat, which allows for nearly infinite degrees of freedom of movement without
the structure of a skeletal system. This study employed Magnetic Resonance Imaging with a
Gadoteridol-based contrast agent to image the octopus arm and view the internal tissues. Muscle
layering was mapped and area was measured using AMIRA image processing and the trends in
these layers at the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the arms were analyzed. A total of 39
arms from 6 specimens were scanned to give 112 total imaged sections (38 proximal, 37 middle,
37 distal), from which to ascertain and study the possible differences in musculature. The
images revealed significant increases in the internal longitudinal muscle layer percentages
between the proximal and middle, proximal and distal, and middle and distal sections of the
arms. These structural differences are hypothesized to be used for rapid retraction of the distal
segment when encountering predators or noxious stimuli. In contrast, a significant decrease in
the transverse muscle layer was found when comparing the same sections. These structural
differences are hypothesized to be a result of bending behaviors during retraction. Additionally,
the internal longitudinal layer was separately studied orally, toward the sucker, and aborally,
away from the sucker. The significant differences in oral and aboral internal longitudinal
musculature in proximal, middle, and distal sections is hypothesized to support the pseudo-joint
functionality displayed in octopus fetching behaviors. The results indicate that individual
octopus arm morphology is more unique than previously thought and supports that internal
structural differences exist to support behavioral functionality.
muscular hydrostat, which allows for nearly infinite degrees of freedom of movement without
the structure of a skeletal system. This study employed Magnetic Resonance Imaging with a
Gadoteridol-based contrast agent to image the octopus arm and view the internal tissues. Muscle
layering was mapped and area was measured using AMIRA image processing and the trends in
these layers at the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the arms were analyzed. A total of 39
arms from 6 specimens were scanned to give 112 total imaged sections (38 proximal, 37 middle,
37 distal), from which to ascertain and study the possible differences in musculature. The
images revealed significant increases in the internal longitudinal muscle layer percentages
between the proximal and middle, proximal and distal, and middle and distal sections of the
arms. These structural differences are hypothesized to be used for rapid retraction of the distal
segment when encountering predators or noxious stimuli. In contrast, a significant decrease in
the transverse muscle layer was found when comparing the same sections. These structural
differences are hypothesized to be a result of bending behaviors during retraction. Additionally,
the internal longitudinal layer was separately studied orally, toward the sucker, and aborally,
away from the sucker. The significant differences in oral and aboral internal longitudinal
musculature in proximal, middle, and distal sections is hypothesized to support the pseudo-joint
functionality displayed in octopus fetching behaviors. The results indicate that individual
octopus arm morphology is more unique than previously thought and supports that internal
structural differences exist to support behavioral functionality.
ContributorsCummings, Sheldon Daniel (Author) / Fisher, Rebecca (Thesis director) / Marvi, Hamidreza (Committee member) / Cherry, Brian (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05