ENGINEERINGAdvantage College of Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California, Spring 2011

Learn by innovating: Q&A with President Jeffrey D. Armstrong Turning engineers “Learn by Doing is into entrepreneurs al Poly has quite an IQ. Not only does not negotiable — Cthe university have bright students, but it has Innovation Quest (IQ) (http:// www.iq.innovationq.org/), a program that it’s who we are” gets students, faculty and the university The new president shares first impressions to think like entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurialism is a natural ex- about Cal Poly and the College of Engineering tension of the real-world orientation for Engineering Advantage: What have you learned about Cal Poly which Cal Poly is known,” said Susan since coming to campus? Opava, dean of research and graduate Jeffrey Armstrong: Cal Poly’s level of excellence – the programs, “and IQ has been a catalyst for caliber of its students, faculty and programs – is higher than the creation of an entrepreneurial culture I had imagined. What I’ve found is a model comprehensive on campus.” polytechnic university. Can a university turn innovating engi- Another standout characteristic neers into entrepreneurs? IQ thinks so. is the warmth of the Cal Poly and “IQ’s focus is on ‘engineers with San Luis Obispo communities – ev- ideas,’” said Jessie Becker, a business eryone has been extremely welcom- major and IQ’s entrepreneur in residence. ing of both Sharon and me. “The whole inspiration for IQ came from Finally, the pride that alumni, the idea that over 4,000 senior projects Innovation Quest leader Carson Chen (EE ’73), right, talks with SanTasti Palate-Cleansing students, faculty and staff have in Beverage CEO Andrew Macaluso during an IQ meeting on campus in February. get filed away each year. Why don’t we this institution is remarkable. And do something with this work? And, when IQ prizes launch nine commercial projects it’s inspiring to me that at the same there’s a viable product, why not start a time, everyone also wants Cal Poly business? It dovetails perfectly with Cal al Poly’s focus on problem competition has awarded $500,000 to continually improve, to raise and Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy. Entre- Csolving, interdisciplinary in prizes, which has helped launch exceed expectations. preneurialism is just one step further!” teamwork and creativity has much nine commercial enterprises. A Dr. Jeffrey Armstrong To help students take their Learn by in common with the culture found sampling of recent winners: What distinguishes us? Doing orientation right into the market- in young, fast-growing companies. n Flip Brake — A bicycle brake First and foremost is our com- place, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Car- And nowhere is that more apparent that virtually eliminates head-over- mitment to Learn by Doing. The way it’s done at Cal Poly is son Chen (EE ’73) and Rich Boberg (EE than in the annual IQ competition handlebar crashes. Recipient: truly distinctive – and it exponentially accelerates students’ ‘70) along with electrical engineering pro- that now attracts over 100 ideas Andrew Ouellet, mechanical engi- learning. Second, as a comprehensive polytechnic univer- fessor Mike Cirovic founded and funded from students and faculty through- neering. Advisor: Michael Cirovic, sity, we offer a combination of distinguished colleges and Please see Innovation Quest, Page 6 out the campus each year. The Please see IQ Projects, Page 6 Please see Armstrong, Page 7

Features College News Department Student News Faculty News Alumni News

• Interview with new Cal Poly • Cal Poly Society of Women News • MATE student Patrick McBride • ME’s Tom Mackin develops • Stephanie Brown Trafton President Jeffrey Armstrong Engineers chapter honors • Chris Clark opens LAIR for receives Bonderson Fellowship composite Corn Board named to Hall of Fame • Innovation Quest creates five outstanding members advanced robotics research • Society of Women Engineers • MATE professor Trevor Harding • Douglas A. Williams named entrepreneurial culture • Construction begins for • WISH meets Google VP leaders win national awards studies engineering ethics state Fire Chief of the Year • Mechanical engineering lab the Cal Poly Center for • Cal Poly Wind Power raises • Cal Poly seismic design team • Glen Thorncroft seeks details • EE graduate Douglas Baney receives $250,000 grant Science and Math tower for turbine project second in national competition of Amelia Earhart’s visit to Poly honored by the IEEE

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Mechanical Engineering lab receives $250,000 gift Critchfield Mechanical, Inc. donation kept it growing,” Critchfield said. “The answer is: We hired a lot of great engineers from colleges — predominately to fund HVAC&R lab renovation Cal Poly — whom we could teach to design and build air conditioning. It just seems that students who come out of al Poly mechanical engineering students focusing Cal Poly are ready to work as soon as they graduate.” Con heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrig- Critchfield, who has sponsored the annual Cal Poly eration (HVAC&R) will receive real-world experience in HVAC&R golf tournaments for the past seven years, es- a newly renovated lab, thanks to a $250,000 gift from timates that three-quarters of the 50 to 60 engineers at Critchfield Mechanical, Inc. (CMI). his firm are Cal Poly graduates. “The company made the “The new lab will give HVAC&R students exposure gift because we want more Cal Poly students to come to and practical experience with commercial equipment work for us,” he said. “The lab is one more way to give similar to what they will see in the field,” said mechani- students a practical, working knowledge of HVAC&R cal engineering professor Jesse Maddren. “Until now, systems.” we have had to structure our lab courses around Work on the Critchfield Mechanical HVAC&R Labora- computer labs, design activities and field trips, primarily tory started in October and the lab dedication is planned because we didn’t have a hardware lab for the students. for the spring. Maddren said the current phase of the The new hardware sharpens the focus of the lab, which project incorporates a number of standard energy-sav- is to teach students the basics that will allow them to ing features, such as a condensing boiler and variable innovate for the future.” speed drives on the new pumps and fans. Joe Critchfield, who started San Jose-based CMI in “Future plans for the lab include more ‘non-standard’ 1977, is a long-time supporter of the HVAC&R program. systems and components, such as a chilled beam, an He made the lab donation to recognize the contributions under-floor air system and a ground source heat pump,” of Cal Poly engineers to his company. said Maddren, adding that the renovation should spur Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration student Jeff Wong “I’m frequently asked how we started CMI and how we continued Cal Poly success in student competitions. n works with some of the new equipment in the refurbished Critchfield Lab.

Funding Opportunities: All the funding one-time lab “refresh”). for this $20-million facility must come from Enhancing non-State sources; a gift of $10 million 4. Named Student Project would include a naming opportunity and Endowments Learn by Doing launch of the building. Student project endowments enable the creation and realization of students’ 2. Named Endowed Staff entrepreneurial ideas and humanitarian- excellence Technicians based engineering projects. These ideas earn by Doing is the bedrock experi- Highly skilled technicians are as vital to and projects foster innovation, and allow Lence for all Cal Poly engineers. Learn by Doing as faculty members. Their students and faculty to step outside the Our core values include faculty When Eric Pulse was a student in mechanical expertise, guidance and knowledge en- bounds of industry-sponsored projects. whose primary focus is teaching; early engineering, he spent hours working as a shop sures the highest quality lab experiences Funding Opportunity: $50,000 endow- technician in the WWII-era Aero Hangar shop. To- exposure to hands-on engineering day, as manager of the Mustang ’60 Project Shop, for our students. ment. projects; laboratory-based instruction; he directs 27 student technicians and oversees Funding Opportunity: $1 million en- partnerships with industry; and senior more than 100 students per quarter. dowment. 5. Named Endowed Student projects with capstone courses. Technicians With the resources in place to Cal Poly Engineering 3. Named Project-Learning Labs Cal Poly’s fabrication labs and ma- enhance Learn by Doing, Cal Poly Learn by Doing Priorities A world-class, Learn by Doing, engi- chine shops set the university apart. Engineering will provide whole-system neering education requires state-of-the-art Management of these facilities also thinkers, resourceful professionals and 1. New Student Projects Lab laboratories to ensure that every student incorporates Learn by Doing by providing innovative leaders who can change the A new state-of the-art Student Projects has access to the technology and equip- opportunities for student technicians, who world. Lab will provide the space and technol- ment needed to perform hands-on design, oversee safe, effective, and efficient use of The Cal Poly Engineering Advance- ogy needed for the next generation of build, and test sequences. equipment and the facilities. ment team is working to secure those engineering students, and also enable Funding Opportunities: $50,000 Funding Opportunity: Multiple $25,000 resources, with the following fund rais- students to discover how to innovate and ($10,000 per year); $250,000 ($200,000 endowments to provide payout of $1,125 ing priorites: bring their designs to life. operating endowment plus $50,000 per student. n

Title: Engineering Advantage Publisher: Cal Poly College of Engineering ENGINEERINGAdvantage Frequency: Published biannually 1 Grand Avenue Spring 2011 Issue No.: Vol. 8, Issue 2 San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 Invest in the Best Cal Poly announces $1 million gift for waste research

he Global Waste Research Institute is the Tfirst institute of its kind established to ad- About GWRI dress the global challenges created by waste “Transform waste into opportunities” and industrial byproduct. Cal Poly recently confirmed a multi-year The Global Waste Research Institute $700,000 commitment to the Global Waste Re- (GWRI), located in San Luis Obispo, Califor- search Institute from Waste Connections, Inc., nia, is a collaborative effort between Cal Poly bringing the company’s total gift to $1 million. and industry to promote the development The Global Waste Research Institute (GWRI) of sustainable waste and byproduct man- represents the first collaborative effort between agement technologies and advance current a public university and industry to promote the practices in resource management. development of sustainable waste and byprod- Headed by Director Dr. Nazli Yesiller, the uct management technologies and advance institute now engages faculty and students in current global practices in resource manage- projects that investigate all aspects of wastes ment. and byproducts from initial generation to final The formation of the Institute was first an- disposal. The Institute provides training for nounced in late 2009, funded with a $300,000 students, professional community, regulators, start-up grant from Waste Connections. Under and the general public in sustainable waste the stewardship of GWRI’s Director Dr. Nazli and byproduct management and contributes Yesiller, the Institute has since been expanding to the overall educational focus and ‘learn- its service and educational offerings in prepara- by-doing’ mission of Cal Poly. To learn more tion for its launch. about GWRI, please visit www.gwri.calpoly. “This generous gift to Cal Poly’s Global Waste edu or call (805) 756-2932. Research Institute secures a visionary effort to build on the University’s Learn by Doing mis- sion,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Arm- educate and engage faculty, students and strong. “Waste management is an increasingly interested parties to address the risk to human complex challenge, and these are precisely the life and the environment posed by the world’s kinds of 21st century problems that Cal Poly ever increasing amounts of wastes and indus- wants to help solve.” trial byproducts,” noted Yesiller. Additionally, the “The Institute will provide an educational and Institute actively promotes international partner- practicing platform not only for students and ships that help mature and developing countries faculty, but also for the professional community, ‘transform waste into opportunities’. regulators and the general public to discover “With the funding provided by Waste Con- new technologies and sustainable practices for nections, GWRI can advance its goal to develop waste management. Solutions to these chal- new strategies and methodologies of existing lenges will benefit the environment not only in methods for improved management of wastes California, but around the globe,” Armstrong and byproducts.” n added. Recycling practices are a big part of Cal Poly’s GWRI, “GWRI’s goal is to act as the central hub to which is led by Dr. Nazli Yesiller, right, and Dr. Jim Hanson.

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Engineering advancement welcomes new staff eth Brenner and Megan Sinton Bbelieve in the Cal Poly advan- tage—and they’re taking that belief on the road to advance Cal Poly Engi- neering. Beth Brenner Megan Sinton Brenner and Sinton are new members of the engineering fundrais- tion and Entrepreneurship. ing team. Brenner serves as director Sinton, the college’s new assistant of major gifts for the college. A native director of Advancement, received her of San Luis Obispo, she earned her undergraduate degree from Orfalea bachelor’s degree at Sonoma State College of Business and later earned and master’s at the University of San an M.B.A. in non-profit management Francisco. She began her career as from the University of San Diego. She director of development at Sacramento brings a valuable mix of experience, Region Community Foundation before having worked with annual fund pro- joining Allstate Insurance, where she grams, corporate donors, and cam- directed the company’s community re- paign supporters. lations programs throughout California. As a development officer, Sin- Previously, Brenner had major ton’s previous posts include Stanford Raytheon’s Professor of Practice John Jacobs, center, is advising a group of ME responsibility for directing fundraising University’s annual fund program, students on a project to design a launcher for unmanned aerial vehicles. programs for Cal Poly’s Orfalea Col- the Ronald McDonald Charities, and lege of Business, including the newly Scripps Medical Center, where she created University Center for Innova- served as a campaign coordinator. n Raytheon’s Professor of Practice enjoys collaborating with students and faculty LOOP welcomes its first scholar ohn Jacobs and his “boss,” Raytheon to support Learn By Doing in the Cyber- JCompany, believe strongly in higher security curriculum. education. He and the company are also Jacobs is the first Raytheon Profes- concerned about the projected future sor of Practice at Cal Poly. The program shortage of engineers. lends a seasoned Raytheon professional These are some of the reasons he to the university, who brings an industry spends three days a week perspective and experi- as Raytheon’s Profes- “The Professor ence to the classroom. sor of Practice teaching, of Practice is our For Raytheon, the collaborating, coaching, (Raytheon’s) response professorship is a way to mentoring and advising strengthen the pipeline of Cal Poly students and to all the budget cuts, engineers. collaborating with faculty. and we also want to “Raytheon highly priz- Jacobs also volunteered help promote es Cal Poly engineers,” to serve because it’s fun. Cal Poly’s Learn Jacobs notes. “The “I thoroughly enjoy Professor of Practice is working with the stu- by Doing education.” our response to all the dents,” he says. “They John Jacobs budget cuts, and we also are so creative and enthu- want to help promote Cal siastic. We are really having fun on these Poly’s Learn by Doing education. My divi- projects.” sion of Raytheon, for instance, is currently A software process engineer with participating in senior/capstone projects In 2008, seven generous College of Engineering supporters spearheaded a unique Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems, in four diverse Cal Poly departments.” scholarship aimed at recruiting the top incoming engineering students. The group Jacobs’ assignment at Cal Poly is to de- The on-campus Raytheon projects dubbed themselves the “Loyal Order of Propellerheads.” While the scholarship velop lab programs, assist the computer include a forest fire early warning system provides financial assistance, the goal of the Propellerheads is to provide guid- science faculty, work with faculty and (electrical engineering), a sleep apnea ance, counsel, and mentoring to the recipients during their tenure at Cal Poly. students to develop new and innovative detector (biomedical engineering), a cyber With full funding of the scholarship, LOOP was able to award its first scholarship technologies for Raytheon, organize a “capture the flag” system (computer sci- this year to mechanical engineering freshman Kelsey Engel, pictured above with seminar series on computer/Cybersecu- ence), and a launcher for unmanned aerial LOOP donors Dick Hartung, Chuck Terhune, Paul Bonderson, and Paul Martin. rity, and help develop a Cybersecurity lab vehicles (mechanical engineering). n 4 College News

The 2011 Outstanding Women in Engineering and Technology include (left to right) Jennifer Hughes (CSC), Annie Beug (CSC), Sarah Chang (BME), Anna Hopper (IME), and Laura Dearborn (IME). Cal Poly Society of Women Engineers honors five outstanding members

he Cal Poly Society of Women Engineers (SWE) a B.S. degree in 2000, Beug worked as a project Dearborn, a College of Engineering Ambassador, com- Tannounced the recipients of the 2011 Outstanding manager for AirTreks, Inc., in San Francisco for nine pleted internships with both Northrop Grumman in Wood- Women in Engineering and Technology Award. years. Beug , who maintains an overall GPA of 3.671, land Hills, CA, and Duncan Enterprises in Fresno, CA. The awards were announced at this year’s Evening is active in three clubs: the Association for Computer With Industry event in late January at the San Luis Machinery (ACM), the Computer Science Graduate Ana Hopper Obispo Embassy Suites. In addition, SWE named Dr. Student Association (GSA) and Ignite Cal Poly, which An industrial engineering graduate student from Jane Lehr from Ethnic Studies as “Most Supportive sponsors events for Computer Science students during Laguna Beach, CA, Hopper has served as president Professor,” and presented $30,000 in scholarships at Week of Welcome. Beug also spearheaded the devel- of the College of Engineering Ambassadors and is a the gala. opment of a mentoring program for first-year female member of the Institute of Industrial Engineering and At the dinner banquet, those students highlighted students in computer science and software engineering. Alpha Pi Mu, the IE honors society. Hopper also com- for their outstanding accomplishments were joined by pleted three internships: Cisco Systems in San Jose, 70 industry representatives from 32 companies, includ- Sarah R. Chang CA; Boeing in Everett, WA; and REC Solar in San Luis ing Amazon, Northrop Grumman, Chevron, Cisco, A biomedical engineering senior from Riverside, CA, Obispo, CA. At Cal Poly, Hopper has maintained an Yahoo, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Yahoo and the Chang served as the liaison between Cal Poly students overall GPA of 3.4. Central Intelligence Agency. and the QL+ organization for projects in the QL+ Lab The Outstanding Women in Engineering and Tech- to assist disabled veterans. She has also served as an Jennifer Hughes nology winners were chosen using four criteria: faculty outreach assistant and group leader for SWE’s Build- A Computer Science graduate student from Cama- recommendations, demonstrated leadership, related ing an Engineer Day and served in student government rillo, CA, Hughes is the founder and current president work experience and grade point average. Each of the as Vice President of the Inter-Housing Council (IHC). of Women Involved in Software and Hardware (WISH), winners is actively engaged in several extracurricular Chang maintains a GPA of 3.577. a group that supports and mentors women engineering activities. students. Hughes has interned at LucasFilm as part of The five honorees each received a $50 gift certifi- Laura Dearborn a production systems team and at Amgen, Inc., in the cate to El Corral from Skyworks. The winners include: A senior industrial engineering student from Visalia, storage and backup department. A member of Uni- CA, Dearborn has served as the treasurer of the Insti- versity Singers Choir for four years, Hughes has also Annie Beug tute of Industrial Engineers for two years. With a GPA volunteered for Cal Poly Rose Float and her interdis- A computer science master’s student from San of 3.807, she has been a named to the President’s List ciplinary team was a semifinalist in Disney’s ImagiNa- Luis Obispo, CA who graduated from Cal Poly with for two years and the Dean’s List for eight quarters. tions design competition in 2009. n 5 College News

around for networking and bandwidth costs, abundant open source mentoring from industry software and on-demand cloud comput- Innovation leaders. That’s what IQ is ing make it much cheaper to get a com- Quest about—it excites. It’s an en- pany off the ground. An entrepreneur can vironment that inspires ‘hot create a website, host conference calls, market’ ideas, and you learn produce slide shows and conduct live how to market and sell them. meetings and webinars—all online and funded IQ in 2003. Shortly “It’s easy to have an idea on a shoestring. after, they were joined by hi- and lose the fire if there’s Wiens envisions 100 successful com- tech veteran Laura Pickering no encouragement. IQ has panies like iFixit coming out of Cal Poly (EE ’84). The nonprofit philan- fueled my fire and made me over the next five years. thropic enterprise they lead is want to ‘go for it.’” “There are huge opportunities right best known for its annual in- Kyle Wiens (CSC ‘05) now for web software and service start- novation contest, which offers shares that learn-by-innovat- ups, robotic applications, among many no-strings-attached funding ing enthusiasm. The 2008 IQ others,” Wiens says. “If I’m straight out and assistance for the best High-tech pioneers Laura Pickering (EE ’84) and Carson Chen (EE ’73) winner is co-founder of iFixit, of college, I don’t need $100,000 to work ideas presented by students are seeking good student ideas to fund through Innovation Quest. which posts free, user-friendly at Google or elsewhere. What I need is and faculty on campus. repair manuals to its website a plan for the future that is going to be “I came out of Silicon Val- concept and lab bench to market. Those (http://www.ifixit.com/). fulfilling and allow me to leave my mark ley, where there’s a flourishing culture finalists and winners that exhibit a drive, “I like doing my own thing,” ex- on the world. of harnessing ideas that make sense,” fortitude and belief in themselves are in- plains Wiens. “That’s why I started iFixit “If we can convince students to take Chen said. “Through IQ, we’re helping vited to IQueue, the summer boot camp. between my freshman and sophomore a risk—take a risk on themselves—it will students see the full value of their ideas. “We give participants a framework for year. Web startups like ours work espe- be the best risk they ever take,” he says. They can see that, rather than just work how to present their ideas to business cially well because they’re the kind of Finally, Chen summarizes, “What drives for a business, they can be the business. and then we stand back,” Pickering said. thing you can create in your bedroom us is social responsibility. We tell the stu- It’s our hope to plant the seed that says, “It’s their passion, drive and commitment and have a product launched in six 6 dents that the greatest gift they can give ‘You can.’” that make it happen. They discover they to12 weeks—iFixit was built in a week. to others is to provide opportunities for To recognize outstanding innova- don’t have to take the usual path.” Going from an idea to revenue in a week doing and creating—what I call the ‘living tive projects, IQ presents three awards, Becker agrees: `“One of the most is the sort of thing you can do in the web journey’ to success. Even greater is the gift for $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000. First, valuable experiences I’ve had with IQ world that’s much harder and longer in of giving back through philanthropy. The participants go through a series of is seeing the thought processes behind the traditional world.” IQ founders and participants want to help workshops and a concentrated whirl these companies and seeing what really In many ways that’s because the catalyze innovation and entrepreneurship of networking and mentoring designed does work and what probably won’t. It tools to launch a new business have at Cal Poly in perpetuity.” n to inspire them to take their vision from creates one of the best opportunities never been more accessible. Falling — Galen Ricard

IQ Projects enhances your savoring other tastes as well, including beer, coffee and spicy From Page 1 foods. Recipients: Nicole Chamber- lain, agriculture, wine and viticulture; electrical engineering. http://www.slide- Nick Marcotte, aerospace engineering; padbrake.com/ Andrew Macaluso, agriculture, wine and n Gamers Portal — The first social viticulture; and Preston Parrett. Advi- networking site for video game players– sor: Joe Montecalvo, food science and all 300 million of them. Recipient: Miguel nutrition. http://www.santasti.com/ Gaeta, computer science. Advisor: ily adjusted to negotiate the landscape engineering. Clark Turner, computer science. http:// at hand–from street and indoor set- n PolyGrasp Prosthetic Hand — n StartupDigest — (http://startup- gamersportal.com/ tings to off-road excursions. Recipient: First in the market to combine all three digest.com/): This members-only guide n Grinds Coffee — Chewing or Kimberly Todd, business. Advisor: Tom key features of an ideal prosthetic: low to the startup world’s events, job op- smokeless tobacco is still one of base- Mase, mechanical engineering. http:// cost, high functionality and lifelike ap- portunities and education content will ball’s (and minor league baseball’s) “dirty www.qlplus.org/page.aspx?pid=350 pearance. Recipient: Max Maloney, receive $200,000 from the Ewing Marion habits.” This “coffee in your pocket” pro- n Negative Conductance RF Power mechanical engineering. Advisor: Tom Kauffman Foundation. In announcing vides an energy boost that’s a healthier Amplifier — Cellphone amplifiers are Mase, mechanical engineering. http:// its sponsorship, the Kauffman Founda- alternative. Recipients: Patrick Pezet, notoriously inefficient—which is why www.qlplus.org/page.aspx?pid=350 tion said its research shows that high- business; Matt Canepa, finance. Advi- talk time is so much less than standby n SanTasti—the Palate-Cleansing growth, young companies are key to sor: Mitch Wolf, management. http:// time. Enjoy significantly more talk time Beverage — An alternative to sparkling growing the economy. StartupDigest co- www.getgrinds.com/product.html with this amplifier design. Recipient: or still water, San Tasti is specifically founder Chris McCann helped launch n Mobility Powered Wheelchair — Cody Neslen, electrical engineering. formulated to cleanse the palate. It’s Innovation Quest’s summer incubation An all-terrain wheelchair that can be eas- Advisor: Vladimir Prodanov, electrical not only for winetasting occasions, it program. n 6 College News

The Cal Poly Center for Science and Mathematics construction project is now underway. The $130 million, 197,000-square-foot building was made possible UNDER CONSTRUCTION by $110 million from voter-approved state education bonds and $20 million in private donations to Cal Poly. The new center is set to open in the fall of 2013.

“true North” of my compass. Students Armstrong need to experience a diversity of ideas From Page 1 to learn how to become good citizens, critical thinkers, difference makers and leaders. Exposure to different perspec- programs that work together – and, no- tives, to different cultures and to people tably, everyone acknowledges that there from diverse walks of life prepares stu- needs to be even more collaboration. dents for life-long learning. This collaborative environment provides rich opportunities to address our grand Cal Poly Engineering is searching for a per- challenges, what scholars have termed manent dean. What qualities will you look “wicked problems” because of their for in the candidates for the position? complexity and interdependencies. Cal Engineering is a core competency of Poly’s blend of Learn by Doing with a Cal Poly, and we need to recruit a vision- focus on solving real-world problems is ary leader for the College, someone with what enables our graduates to deliver a distinguished record in academia and tremendous service to California’s key who also understands the real world. I’m industries. looking forward to working with this in- dividual to increase resources and build In what ways does Cal Poly address the endowments. As the largest college at needs of California, its students, industry Cal Poly, Engineering has tremendous and economy? What is our mission? potential for development. I see the new As a distinctive, Learn by Doing, dean as being able to create a vision academic community, Cal Poly has that will rally the alumni and stakehold- a mission to enhance the California ers in order to achieve full funding for economy and quality of life by generat- this exceptional institution. ing whole-system thinkers, resourceful professionals who are life-long learners How do you see the College of Engineering and innovators. Our graduates want to serving society now and in the foreseeable be more than workforce participants – future? they strive to be leaders in their profes- From the Cal Poly Engineering sions and in their communities. perspective, the Engineering Grand To fully realize our mission, we need Challenges represent opportunities for to unleash more research that is con- innovation and problem-solving. Our stu- nected to student learning and participa- dents and faculty are intimately involved tion. In other words, we need to push and engaged in issues and research that Learn by Doing forward. We must ensure can improve life on the planet. that all Cal Poly graduates are adept at More simply put, I love the descrip- working on cross-disciplinary teams. We tion of Cal Poly engineers as having “two have to prepare students for jobs in the hands on the problem and two feet on future that do not yet exist. the ground!” This is just one reason that To serve our mission fully, we must Cal Poly Engineering continues to be enhance diversity on campus. I’ve said one of the country’s top-ranked pro- many times that student success is the grams. n 7 Student News Cal Poly SWE leaders receive national awards Gage, Telford honored for service atherine Gage and Lesley Telford have Khad long records of leadership in Cal Poly SWE. In recognition of their years of service, they received two of the coveted Outstanding Collegiate Member Awards from the National Society of Women Engineers. The Collegiate Member Awards are be- stowed upon SWE collegiate members with at least two years of SWE membership, who have made an outstanding contribution to SWE the engineering community, and their campus. Cal Poly team finishes 2nd Among her SWE roles, Gage served as director of internal marketing, and she in seismic design contest had a particular impact on hen their five-foot-high balsa wood model building Team Tech. In her sopho- more year, she served as a partially collapsed during the final seconds of the criti- Katherine Gage W project subgroup leader; the cal third test at the 2011 Earthquake Engineering Research Clockwise from top left: Garrett Hagen, Yoni Sadka, Stefan (ME) Institute (EERI) Seismic Design Competition in mid-Febru- Chiose and Jennifer Roth work on the bracing system of the team won first in the nation building. Above left: The Cal Poly Seismic Design Team finished ary, the Cal Poly team was more than a little shaken. for designing a weld point inspection device second in the 2011 EERI international design competition. “After the accelerometer on top of the building went down for Walt Disney Imagineering. The follow- and we incurred a huge penalty, the entire team was devas- Tran also credited the interdisciplinary nature of the ing year, she co-directed Team Tech, and the tated,” said Kevin Chen, a fourth-year architectural engineer- 18-member team that included 10 civil engineers and eight group placed second for its ing student who worked on the building as his senior project. architectural engineers. prototype of an endoscopic “We went through the stages of grief and I personally spent “The key challenge was bringing together students from surgery tool. four hours walking around San Diego by myself.” two different majors and getting everyone on the same Gage graduated from Cal It wasn’t until later that page,” she said. “I personally learned a lot Poly in 2010 with a degree Chen, who left before the about seismic design, analytical methods in mechanical engineering competition’s awards cere- and the amount of collaboration needed and currently works as an mony, learned all was not lost. for a project this size — it takes a lot of engineer for the U.S. Navy. “Driving home I get a text and dedication to make it all come together.” Telford, a senior biomedi- then a call,” he said. “Despite Blending form and function in an ef- cal engineering student, was inspired to do outreach Lesley Telford the penalty and the fact that ficient design was the goal of the competi- (BME) we were not eligible for any tion, Tran said, adding: “Cal Poly has one work with SWE as a result bonus points, we came in sec- of the top architectural programs in the of her own participation in ond overall. It was a tremen- nation, which you don’t usually find at the high school in the group’s Shadow An Engi- dous victory.” undergraduate level. The civil engineers neer program-she became the youngest SWE Team leader Jeannie learned a lot from the ARCEs technically, outreach director in her sophomore year. As Tran, a third-year civil engi- and they learned a lot from us practically. a junior, Telford served as vice president of neering student, said the sec- We (the engineers) had to tone down their community outreach. In this position she not James Myers tests the width of the weight connec- ond-place award — Oregon great ideas to show them what was practi- only secured a record $9,000 to fund four tions where the simulated live load will be placed events, but her efforts enabled Cal Poly SWE to State finished first and the for competition. cal and possible.” University of Illinois was third Chen agreed the collaboration was key reach 1,300 middle and high school students. in the 28-team competition — came about because the Cal to the team’s success. ”It was completely different working Elected president for 2009-2010, Telford was Poly team’s 30-story model building called “Diadem” had with engineers — there’s a lot less fluff and very down to responsible for all Cal Poly SWE operations, stood tall through the opening two seismic tests on a shake earth,” he said. “All their proposals were grounded in logic including meeting with companies and manag- table that duplicates historic earthquakes and had received and very practical. Our entire design was based on per- ing leadership training for 48 officers. nothing but glowing comments from the judges after their formance. From this experience I learned that you need to Current Cal Poly SWE president, Stepha- oral presentation. look at the bigger picture, not just design details. Cal Poly nie Smith, commented, “I am very proud of “We stood out in our mastery of the details,” she said. finished high because our curriculum prepared us to match our section for winning so many outstanding “Time and time again, we were complimented on how well our design to the analysis.” awards-Cal Poly SWE has built up a great reputation, attracting hundreds of students we knew our stuff. Plus, our building was beautiful.” For more information, see http://slc.eeri.org/seismic.html n each year.” n 8 Student News

Cal Poly Engineering students help Nipomo homes go solar

Cal Poly Engineering students helped a Nipomo neighborhood go solar in January.

wenty members of Cal Poly’s between classroom theory and prac- TPower and Energy Society (PES) tical application of current technol- club put “Learn by Doing” into ogy,” Zepeda said. “I think all the practice in late January when they members of the club enjoyed getting helped place seven solar panels on out in the sun and learned a lot.” the home of a low-income Nipomo Electrical engineering students family. Ruth Leung and James Thornton Working with the Atascadero helped with four parts of the process: branch office of GRID Alternatives installing metal rails that hold the solar and People’s Self Help Housing panels in place, sealing holes in the (PSHH), the PES members installed roof tiles to prevent water damage, and wired a solar panel system lifting the panels into place and linking that will supply about 90 percent of them together with electrical cables the power needs for the family of and a copper ground wire. Both en- Eduardo Ramirez, who helped build joyed their time up on the roof. the home with the help of PSHH and “I’m studying power systems but Habitat for Humanity. haven’t worked directly on anything PES Club President Danny like this,” Leung said. “I liked the Zepeda, who first worked with Grid hands-on experience and I hope to Alternatives volunteer projects last volunteer again.” summer when he was an intern with Thornton, an EE graduate stu- dent, added: “A project like this exposes me to things I didn’t get to see in class. We get a lot of experience in labs, but it doesn’t get more real than Working with GRID this.” Alternatives and PES members figure to People’s Self-Help Housing, 20 Cal Poly have more opportunities on Engineering stu- the Central Coast working with dents helped install Grid Alternatives, which helps seven solar panels low-income families access on a tile roof in sustainable energy through Nipomo. The panels its Solar Affordable Housing are expected to sup- Program. Steven Fernandez, ply about 80 percent of the family’s elec- regional director for GRID Alter- San Diego Gas & Electric, said the trical needs. two-day installation of the 1.5-kilo- natives, said the group, working with watt system was perfect for Cal Poly PSHH and Habitat for Humanity has engineering students interested in installed more than 700 solar systems renewable energy. nationwide and that at least two other “This opportunity to work on a homes in Nipomo were scheduled to solar panel project bridges the gap receive systems. n 9 Student News

Dots come together for Patrick McBride atrick McBride has a Ph.D. in his future. The materi- goal of understanding how every- Pals engineering graduate student and budding expert thing works, from the vast continuum in quantum dots, has been awarded a Bonderson Fellow- of space all the way to the discrete ship, which will fund completion of his master’s degree at microscopic world of atomic and sub- Cal Poly and his continuing studies at UC Santa Barbara atomic particles,” says McBride. “This for a Ph.D. goal is obviously impractical because McBride is the second scholar to receive this distin- it calls for infinite knowledge—but, guished award, established through a $500,000 gift from still, it drives me to understand all that Paul and Sandra Bonderson. “The Fellowship enables I can and to never take any piece of Cal Poly to build collaborative research opportunities information for granted.” with UCSB and tap into their state-of-the-art facilities By understanding material prop- and world renowned research faculty,” says materials erties at a fundamental level and engineering professor Richard Savage. “Through Patrick, using this knowledge to manipulate we’ll have the opportunity at Cal Poly to work with UCSB’s their properties on the atomic scale, Transmission Electron Microscopy instrumentation.” McBride hopes to “make new discov- Savage directs McBride’s graduate work at Cal Poly, eries and bring about new insights which focuses on on nanocrystalilne quantum dots and into future technological devices.” exploring the application of these tiny clusters of atoms In addition to the Bonderson Fel- as bio-tags for cancer research. At UCSB, McBride lowship award, McBride has partici- Materials engineering student Patrick McBride has been awarded the Bonderson Fellowship will partner with Dr. Chris Van de Walle in the Materials pated in two honors research projects which fill fund the completion of his master’s degree and Ph.D. at UC Santa Barbara. Department and Craig Hawker, director of the UCSB at Cal Poly and also completed a Sci- Materials Research Lab. ence Undergraduate Internship at Lawrence Berkeley Na- National Laboratory 2010 US DOE Science & Energy “Throughout my life I have always had the overlying tional Laboratory. He recently placed 2nd in the Argonne Research Challenge. n

Return on investment: Cal Poly grads, alumni earn top starting career salaries al Poly graduates and Calumni top all other UC SALARY SCALE and CSU campuses and plenty Median Graduate Salaries, Bachelor’s Degree Grads Data gathered from a nationwide survey of private universities when it of 1.4 million people, compiled by College Portrait comes to their median starting and PayScale.com career salaries. At mid-career, University Starting Salary Mid-Career Salaries their median salaries top all UC Cal Poly $55,000 $99,200 and CSU grads except Berke- UC Berkeley $53,100 $109,000 ley’s and UC San Diego’s, and are still ahead of many private UCLA $50,700 $91,600 university grads. But Cal Poly UC Davis $49,000 $90,700 offers alumni — and parents UC San Diego $48,700 $99,700 — a greater “return on invest- UC Santa Barbara $47,600 $96,400 ment” than private universities and UCs by delivering that earn- ing power at much less cost. fornia, at less than half the diploma cost. Those are among the latest findings in The data, which includes only gradu- a growing evaluation of university costs ates with bachelor’s degrees, shows and benefits compiled by two indepen- that students with the greatest “return dent groups: PayScale.com and Colleg- on investment” are those who do well in ePortraits.org. technical majors at a top public school. As an example, according to the The return-on-investment rankings evaluation, Cal Poly alumni earn just as were featured in a Nov. 14 story in the much as graduates of the private Pomona San Jose Mercury News. (http://www. College or the University of Southern Cali- mercurynews.com/) n 10 The College of Engineering’s class of 2014 gathered in Engineering Plaza for a group photo. Department News

WISH members can see themselves in Google VP

ISH (Women Involved in Software and WHardware) is a student group dedicated to promoting women and rectifying the gender gap in computing fields; so they were especially pleased to co-sponsor a visit to campus by Ma- rissa Mayer, Google vice president for consumer products. Now a highly-placed corporate officer, Mayer was Google’s first female engineer when she started in 1999. In her 11 years at the company, her management and engineering efforts have included oversight of products such as Google Maps, Street View and Local Search functions. In her public address, Mayer talked about product innovation and career success. After- wards, WISH members got an “up close and personal” opportunity to ask about women in computing at a WISH reception in her honor. n

Members of Women Involved in Software and Hard- ware (WISH) probably Googled cupcakes before they met with Google vice president Marissa Mayer, bot- tom row center, during a reception in February.

Cal Poly CubeSat team disappointed but undaunted after rocket fails to reach orbit he Cal Poly students who gathered at 2:00 a.m. The launch followed initiation of a $5 million, Toutside Vandenberg Air Force Base on March five-year contract between Cal Poly and NASA to 4 to watch the launch of a Taurus XL Rocket were provide P-POD services for NASA missions. The giddy with excitement. Affixed to the rocket was a rocket was also carrying an earth observation satel- Cal Poly-built P-Pod, a deployer that would eject lite for the space agency. Moreover, while Cal Poly three picosatellites or CubeSats students have traveled to Russia into orbit. The tiny research satel- “Even though the and to Wallops Flight Facility off the lites were built by students from launch vehicle didn’t coast of Virginia to participate in University of Kentucky, University launches, this was their first “neigh- of Colorado and Montana State make orbit, we still borhood” launch at Vandenberg. University. cleared huge hurdles.” They don’t have long to wait for Minutes after the launch, how- the next CubeSat mission, how- Ryan Nugent ever, elation turned to frustration, AERO student ever. Undaunted by the March when the students learned that the launch failure, the students are rocket fairing failed to separate, busy preparing for an October sending the Taurus XL and its CubeSat payload into launch with the space agency, when three P-PODs the Pacific. are scheduled for launch aboard a Delta Two rocket “We were fairly disappointed, but we still had a from Vandenberg. n great sense of accomplishment of what we had An Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus XL rocket done,” said aerospace graduate student Ryan Nu- carrying NASA’s Glory spacecraft launched from gent. “Even though the launch vehicle didn’t make Vandenberg Air Force Base at 2:09 a.m. (PST) March 4, it to orbit, we still cleared huge hurdles.” 2011. (Photo: U.S. Air Force photo/Lael Huss) 11 Department News

Multi-robot systems research taking place in new lab called the LAIR Computer science and software engineering “hub” draws support from industry,

NSF and generous family LAIR Director Christopher Clark displays the OceanServer Iver2 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and, below, the Inuktun VersaTrax Crawler.

hen Cal Poly students hole up in the LAIR, they’re bottom crawler. to track sharks. Wnot chewing the fat around a campfire— they’re This equipment supports LAIR’s international “These expeditions and the LAIR facility itself are engaged in highly sophisticated multi-robot systems research partnerships and expeditions. For instance, incredibly unique in the undergraduate experience,” research. Clark and Professors Jane Lehr (ethnic studies/ comments Clark; “in fact, because of LAIR and the The Lab for Autonomous and Intelligent Robotics women’s & gender studies) and Zoë Wood (computer great work that students are doing here, Cal Poly (LAIR) is a research facility founded and directed by science), along with eight Cal Poly students, recently is creating a niche, especially in underwater robot- computer science and software engineering profes- returned from Malta, where they collaborated with ics. We’re becoming known worldwide as a center of sor Christopher Clark. Funding for the facility and the marine archeologists from the Aurora Special Pur- robotics research.” n projects it supports has come from the National Sci- pose Trust and the University of Malta to investigate ence Foundation, Lockheed Martin, the Office of Naval underwater archaeological sites. See http://users.csc. Research, C3RP, Norwegian Partnerships with North calpoly.edu/~cmclark/MaltaMapping/index.html for America (NORUS), Agilent Technologies, and Cal Poly information about the ongoing research. parent Ronda Hruby. LAIR has also enabled partnerships with NORUS “LAIR is the hub of all robotics research and pedago- (http://www.norus-science.com/), a research-based gy at Cal Poly,” says Clark. “This facility makes it pos- higher education program that focuses on climate- sible to integrate research work with the curriculum.” induced changes on Arctic ecosystems. The cutting-edge technology and platforms used by Closer to home, LAIR collaborates with the Cal LAIR student and faculty researchers include ground Poly Center for Coastal Marine Sciences (http://www. robots and underwater robots, such as the small scale marine.calpoly.edu/). Clark, center director Mark VideoRay Pro III Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), the Moline (biological sciences) and investigator Chris- OceanServer Iver2 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle topher Lowe (CSU Long Beach) have just (AUV), and the Inuktun VersaTrax Crawler, a tethered initiated a project to equip AUVs with the ability 12 Department News

Sponsored Professor turbine project Patrick gets off the Lemieux is leading ground with more than a dozen ME completion of students in building a 70-foot tower wind turbine in a project sponsored by the Cal CAL Poly Wind Research POLY Center, WIND POWER

A 3-kilowatt wind turbine project sponsored by the Cal Poly Wind Research Center was getting close to completion during winter quarter with the erection of a 70-foot, custom-designed tower, at left, and the assembly of the three-bladed composite propeller to the nacelle, above. Located on Cal Poly’s Escuela Ranch northwest of the main campus, the wind turbine is scheduled to be com- pleted in early summer. Designed primarily for research, the turbine may eventually power a water pump on the ranch. Students participating in the project are learning real-world skills which will prepare them for utility-scale wind energy jobs according to faculty leader Patrick Lemieux. 13 Project Based Learning CPE’s Capstone Projects Exhibition n autonomous golf cart. Radar Afor the blind. A shark tracking system for an underwater robot. You might expect to see these examples of sophisticated technol- Navy Seal article ogy at an industry exposition—or you could have viewed them at the Com- puter Engineering Capstone Projects Exhibition. The team-based, two-quarter, computer engineering capstone course is the culminating design experience for seniors directed by Professors Lynne Slivovsky and Chris Lupo. The senior projects developed this year included:

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Among the team projects displayed at the Computer F D Engineering Capstone Exhibition were: A. “Live Free, Run Blind” Detecter for Blind Runners; B. Search and Rescue for Autonomous Helicopters; C. Wii-B-Fit Adaptive Wii Remote; D. “Engineering 4 Eyes” Detector for the Blind; E. “Worm E Whisperers” Soil Warmer; F. Adaptive Paddling System. 14 Project Based Learning n Autonomous Golf Cart Navigation Using ROS by David Al- lender, Justin Kuehn, Adam Miller, Brett Wellman, and Jason Young: By implementing the Robotic Operating System on a standard golf cart, the team created an autonomous vehicle while Human-powered helicopter team making progress becoming fully conversant with the powerful feature set of the ROS. “Implementation and subsequent usage [of ROS] allows for usefulness far beyond home-brew solutions,” the students wrote in their project conclusion. n Ultrasonic Range-Finding Assistive Device for Persons with Low Vision by Aaron Morelli, Eric Osgood, Francis San Luis, Joseph San Diego, Michael Boyd, and Nathan Helenihi: With the support of the QL+ Foundation, the “Engineering 4 Eyes” team set out to help people with low vision navigate haz- ards and obstacles, such as traffic lights, construction zones, and bicyclists. They came up with a functional prototype that costs less and works better than any currently existing product on the market. They concluded that the “next steps for this project are to create a beta prototype that is significantly smaller and lighter and to continue optimizing the code.” n Radar for the Blind by Kenneth Chee, Xyrus Ferriol, Ed- mund Ing, Jeffrey Leung, and William Yiu: This team sought to develop a “white-cane” for the blind that detects obstacles above the waist and is less expensive and more comfortable than exist- ing electronic travel aids. Their Radar for the Blind consists of a hat and white-cane attachment that serve as sensing modules, and a glove that provides haptic feedback to the user. n Search and Rescue Autonomous Helicopter (S.A.R.A.H.) by Felix Chung, Philip Kaye, Justin Smith, Chris Vochoska, and

Hanson Yu: Cal Poly’s RMAX helicopter donated by Northrop Now in its second year, Cal Poly’s multidisciplinary Human Powered Helicopter team is starting to achieve lift-off. The team, Grumman is being developed into an autonomous vehicle to aid which includes Rebecca Hennings (AERO); James Koch (AERO); Josiah Mayfield (AERO); Sean Miller (GENE); Dave Berry search and rescue efforts. Currently equipped with an autopi- (ME); Josiah Auer (ME); Eric Behne (ME); and Ian Marguardt (ME), is attempting to win a $250,000 prize by designing, build- lot system, it can fly a designated path, but it can’t avoid trees, ing and flying a human powered helicopter. In order to win the prize, the flight must be for one minute, reach a height of mountains or buildings. The S.A.R.A.H. team sought to develop three meters and stay within a 10-meter box by controlled flight. “It’s a very challenging engineering problem,” said faculty an obstacle detection system for the RMAX using a micro- advisor Kurt Colvin. “We are focusing on testing very low ground effects of multiple rotors and we are learning how to build controller, but, as in “real world” R&D work, they encountered very light, very strong structures using modern composite materials. What we’re learning now will drive our decision-mak- ing in the future and we’re very encouraged about our progress. We believe we’re on the path to a successful design.” obstructions: the helicopter is currently non-functional and the micro-controller they purchased was defective. But the team set the stage for completion of the project by other Cal Poly student researchers. Cal Poly’s EWB chapter receives two awards n Wii-B-Fit Adaptive Wii Remote by Seth Black, Craig ive years of working with the residents of a the Cal Poly EWB chapter. “In particular, the team Leitterman, Jamie Nease, Canh Sy, and Mike Tran: This team Fremote village in Thailand on a water filtration showed exceptional work in creating a scalable designed a Wii Sports product to provide exercise and social in- system has earned Cal Poly’s student chapter of technology sand filter that fits the surrounding teraction for persons with quadriplegia. “Our product did not end Engineers Without Borders (EWB) two awards total- communities and region. In addition, the system up the way we had originally intended,” they conclude; “but it still ing $5,000. was designed with a user interface that makes meets the specifications and goals we set out at the beginning.” Cal Poly received both the EWB-USA West Coast maintenance and repairs possible from the local The team’s work provided the utilities for a universal design that Region Outstanding Chapter Award and the first- community.” future groups can build upon. place award in the inaugural Tyler Palmer Design Competition at the organization’s regional confer- About Engineers Without Borders n The Shark Trackers by Jason Banich, Ryan DeHaven, ence in October. The Palmer award, which includes Engineers Without Borders is a nonprofit humani- Austin Diec, Greg Eddington, and Tim Soppet: This group is a $3,000 prize, seeks to inspire innovative and tarian organization established to support com- one of several teams to work with Dr. Chris Clark (CSC/CPE) on sustainable engineering designs. Cal Poly’s winning munity-driven development programs worldwide a project funded by the National Science Foundation to develop entry was a gravity-fed sand filter developed to through partnerships that design and implement a solution for actively tracking a mobile acoustic beacon, which provide clean drinking water to the 3,000 residents sustainable engineering projects. EWB-USA main- is needed so that marine researchers can monitor sharks and of the Thai mountain village Huai Nam Khun. tains 225 dedicated chapters including university other target species without noise and without area restrictions. “The Thailand project was selected for the award chapters on 180 campuses in the United States. This team successfully designed and implemented a prototype because it’s unique and because of our commit- For more information about EWB-USA, visit www. platform and identified needed refinements and adjustments.n ment to the community of Huai Nam Khun over the ewb-usa.org. n past five years,” saidAaron Opdyke, director of 15 Project Based Learning

Cal Poly’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers wins national contest

al Poly SHPE earned first and third Cplace in the design competition and second in the technical poster competi- tion at this year’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Conference held at the Duke Energy Cen- ter in Cincinnati, Ohio. A SHPE team from Stanford University took second place in the design contest. The design competition challenged participants to design and build robots that would encourage children to be more active. The first place design team Members of Cal Poly’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers chapter gather around the Dual Sport Bot, which won a national design competition. presented a Dual Sport Bot, a basketball hoop that uses sonar sensors and infra- Mishal Shah, and civil engineering junior final version of the design concept paper tain of the third place team, the Jamm red technology to detect players within a Saul Fierro. Their first place win earned and create a 20-minute presentation.” Jumper uses “the power of music to get three-foot radius and then moves away the group $3,000 in prize money and up Chris Clark, faculty advisor to the kids jumping.” In addition to Ureno, team from them. To shoot, children have to run to $5,000 in additional funds for pursuit of team, emphasized that the students “ded- members included computer engineer- after the hoop. a patent. icated a lot of effort in a short time.” “I am ing junior Adam Rizkalla, mechanical The team consisted of mechanical Muir noted that the team had to put not surprised they won given they had a engineering senior Manuel Carrasco, engineering senior Arturo Ayal-Navarro, their winning product together quickly: fully operational demo of a mobile robot mechanical engineering junior Jeremy computer science junior Jake Muir, “We had about seven weeks total — two reacting to people and the baskets they Ramos, civil engineering senior Christina mechanical engineering senior Jorge weeks for the proposal and then five scored,” he said. Ruiz, and civil engineering junior Stepha- Hernandez, computer engineering senior weeks to build a prototype, turn in the According to Manuel Ureno, cap- nie Reveles. n

Cal Poly Society of Civil Engineers chapter dominates regional competition

al Poly’s Society of Civil Engineers According to SCE faculty advisor Gregg C(SCE) brought home the gold — lots Fiegel, scoring for the conference cham- of it — from the American Society of Civil pionship award “wasn’t even close.” Engineers (ASCE) Pacific Southwest Re- Because of their first-place finishes, the gional Conference held March 23-26. Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge teams The group earned six first place awards have qualified for the SCE nationals which and was named the overall conference will be held at the University of Evansville champion for the 15th time since 1995. and Texas A&M later this spring. Led by club president Spencer Reed, Chad Inlow and Lucas Hoffman Cal Poly brought 90 members to the served as project leaders for these two conference hosted by CSU Los Angeles. teams, respectively. “These two gentle- Cal Poly’s concrete canoe team finished first at the ASCE Pacific Southwest Regional Conference. Nearly 1,000 students from 18 universities men and their teams worked long hours competed in 22 events at the four-day event. Paper and Presentation, Geotechnical scored third place in Surveying, Environ- on these projects over the past year, and The group won first place in the Con- Competition, Impromptu Design, and mental Competition, Dog House Design I’m very happy that their hard work was crete, Steel Bridge, MSE Wall, Technical Balsa Wood Bridge Design. Cal Poly also and Construction, and Can-struction. rewarded,” said Fiegel. n 16 Project Based Learning

Formula Hybrid car is where technology meets the road lectrical engineering major Gregg Schultz considers his experi- Eence with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula Hybrid race car the “crowning jewel” of his Cal Poly experience. “I have learned how to engage in a multi-disciplinary project with students of a variety of technical backgrounds and experience,” Schultz said. “I’ve gained a lot of insights from my mechanical engi- neering teammates, and I have learned a lot about communication in my efforts to teach them as much about electrical engineering as I can.” Schultz and his teammates have worked for two quarters to fine-tune Cal Poly’s car in preparation for a cross-country trip to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, N.H.) for the SAE Formula Hybrid competition. Scheduled for May 1-4, the SAE event is an inter-collegiate and International competition that tests student teams in speed and endurance races. Cal Poly’s car, which is powered by two advanced lithium batter- ies donated by AERO alum Neal Saiki’s company Zero Motorcycles and a small gasoline electrical generator, has a unique appearance. “It’s the negative camber suspension system that really looks dif- ferent,” Schultz said. “We actually tilt the wheels towards the vehicle at an angle of 22.5 degrees, which enhances cornering perfor- mance with lighter, more economical scooter tires. This has allowed us to enter the lightest vehicle at competition for the last two years.” The out-of-the box thinking was attractive to Schultz. “Working on the Formula Hybrid was one of the main reason that I and many of my teammates were able to get internships and will help me in my Formula Hybrid Car team members Gregg Schultz, top, Rachel Brooks search for a permanent job once I graduate.” n and Ricky Lee work on their car near the Cal Poly AERO Hanger.

Urban Concept vehicle aims to get 500 miles per gallon hen the Cal Poly Supermilage Urban Concept Car competes in the Shell WEcomarathon on June 15-16 at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., the goal is 500 miles per gallon and loads of electronic data. “We will have a pretty sophisticated on-board computer with a 7-inch touch screen and a GPS system that will be able to give us real-time statistics on just about every aspect of the car’s performance,” said ME student Johnathon Gorski. “A new, highly- modified fuel-injected engine, CNC aluminum uprights and new carbon fiber material throughout also distinguish our car this year.” For more on the Shell David Williams (ME) and Jose Garcia Computer Science grad student Bob Somers works on Ecomarathon, see: http:// (ME) carry the body of the Cal Poly electronics in the cab of the Cal Poly Urban Concept www.shell.com/home/con- Urban Concept Supermileage Car. Supermileage Car. tent/ecomarathon/ n 17 Faculty News Mechanical engineering Faculty professor helps develop composite Corn Board™ hile on faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Notes WChampaign (Illinois), mechanical engineering profes- sor Tom Mackin helped develop a sustainable, structural n Dean’s Office composite technology that can remove CO2 from the environment, reduce CO2 emissions, and save millions of George Bekey, Research Scholar and trees. Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Engi- “Corn Board™” is the discovery of Mackin and fellow neering, delivered a keynote address on Univ. of Illinois inventors Dr. Nancy Sottos and Dr. Scott the problems and challenges of STEM White. The product was recently licensed by Corn Board education in colleges and universities at Manufacturing Inc. the annual “Ethics and Education” con- Unlike wood composite board, Corn Board™ uses ference in Sacramento, co-sponsored the husks and stalks (corn stover) remain in the field after by Sacramento State University and corn is harvested. After this material is mixed with a poly- Cosumnes College. He also presented mer matrix, laminated, heated and pressed, the result is a “Military Robots: Recent Develop- product that can be used for building homes and making ments, Risks and Ethical Implications furniture, cabinets, and even longboard skate boards. of Autonomous Systems” as part of the With over 86 million acres of corn grown annually in Disitnguished Lecture Series at the Navy the U.S., and over 4,000 pounds of corn stover per acre Postgraduate School in Monterey. left in the field, Corn Board™ offers a sustainable and en- Bekey has also joined other robotics vironmentally-friendly new technology that helps decrease scientists on the Board of Advisors for the release of CO2 into the atmosphere while decreasing RoboDynamics Corporation. In this ca- the demand for precious timber resources. pacity he will work closely with the R&D For more information see http://innovations.uillinois. team at the company while representing edu/features/2010-09-30/illinois-technology-basis- RoboDynamics at international confer- unique-and-versatile-cor n ences. n n n Mechanical engineering professor Tom Mackin holds samples of Matthew Cottle, assistant dean for Corn Board™, a composite plywood-like material made from corn Advancement, presented “Nonprofit husks and stalks (stover). Boards, Corporate Boards: Making the Most of Your Best Connections” at the Council for the Advancement and Sup- port of Education District VII Conference n Biomedical & ENVE ’08), and others co-authored a ted With FRP Laminates in Steel and in Los Angeles. widely-discussed report from the Energy Timber Structures,” Proceedings, UACG, General Engineering Biosciences Institute (EBI) in Berkeley Sofia, Bulgaria; n titled, “Algae: Around the corner, or 10 • “Composite Reinforced Con- Aerospace Scott Hazelwood co-authored “The Years Away?” The report posits that crete-Timber Floor System Externally Engineering Effect of Cox-2 Specific Inhibition on Di- development of cost-competitive algae Strengthened With CFRP Composites in rect Fracture Healing in the Rabbit Tibia” biofuel production will require much Structural Faults and Repair,” Proceed- Rob McDonald, on sabbatical at NASA in the Journal of Orthopaedic Science more longterm research, development ings (ISBN 0-947644-67-9, Edinburgh, Langley in Virginia, is working in the (Vol. 16, pages 93-98, 2011) and “The and demonstration. The report can be UK); Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch Biomechanics of Varied Proximal Lock- accessed from the Cal Poly Digital Com- • “Offering A Smart Learning Envi- researching aircraft design and advanced ing Screw Configurations in a Synthetic mons at works.bepress.com/tlundqui/. ronment: Personalized Distance Educa- aircraft concepts. He presented two Model of Proximal Third Tibial Fracture n n n tion Based On Integration With A Holistic papers at the 49th AIAA Aerospace Sci- Fixation” in the Journal of Orthopaedic Damian Kachlakev co-authored the fol- Feedback Evaluation And Continuous ences Meeting and Exhibit co-authored Trauma (Vol. 25, No. 3, pages 175-179, lowing papers: Progress Assessment” at IADIS IInterna- by student Alejandro Ramos: “Hermite 2011). • “Adaptive Distance Learning tional Conference On Mobile Learning, TLS for Unstructured and Mesh-Free Programs Based On Feedback Evalua- Porto, Portugal. Derivative Estimation Near and on n tion And Continuous Progress Assess- Kachlakev co-authored the Fi- Boundaries” and “A Meshless Finite Civil & Environmental ments,” in the International Journal of nal Report on “Durability of Plastered Difference Scheme for Compressible Engineering Management and Information Systems Swimming Pool, Phase VII: “Cyanuric Potential Flows.” McDonald was invited (Volume 14, Number 2, Second Quarter Acid Concentrations- Long Term Stud- to speak at the conference on “Design Tryg Lundquist, an affiliate with the 2010, pp.27-30); ies; Evaluation of “Super-Mixes”- Long Oriented Aero Analysis Using VSP, Mod- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, • “Analytical Model of Reinforced Term Studies; Calcium Nodule Growth elcenter and PMARC.” Cal Poly lecturer Ian Woertz (B.S./M.S. Concrete-Timber Floor System Retrofit- Effects-Long Term Studies” submitted 18 Faculty News to the National Plasters Council, and materials for App Inventor in Android, 198, 2011). He also published numer- undertook research with Dr. Corinne and a Google Faculty Research Award, ous papers in conference proceedings, Lehr on “IPSSA Protocol- Phase One” which includes funding and 45 Android including: leaving Buck Converter With Bypass sponsored by the Independent Pool and Phones, for a project on “App Inventor • “Comparative Study of 4-Switch LC,” “A New AC-DC Converter Using Spa Association. He consulted on the to Android with WebIDE.” Janzen also Buck-Boost Controller and Regular Bridgeless SEPIC” and “Application seismic retrofit of a railroad bridge in received two years of cloud computing Buck-Boost” and “A Bidirectional Fly- of Differential Evolution to Determine the Euro Corridor E79. services as an Amazon Web Services back Topology for an Off-Line Battery the HEPWM Angles of a Three Phase n n n in Education Research Grant for the Charger/Discharger” at the International Voltage Source Inverter” at the 36th Robb Moss published “Reduced Sigma WebIDE project. Conference on Advanced Science, Engi- Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial of Ground Motion Prediction Equations Intuit provided prizes for Janzen’s neering and Information Technology held Electronics Society in Phoenix; through Uncertainty Propagation” in Android App Contest in CPE/CSC409, in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia; • “Optimization Techniques of the Bulletin of Seismological Society of Janzen’s course in “Special Topics in • “Comparative Analysis of Two- Hybrid Renewable Energy System: A America (Vol. 101, no. 1). He also co- Software Engineering: Android Ap- Switch and Four-Switch Buck-Boost Review” and “Product Quality Inspection authored two papers published by the plication Development.” His students Controllers” and “Pembangkit Pulsa Based on Machine Vision System” at the ASCE Geofrontiers Conference in Dallas, produced 17 Android apps. The winners Tegangan Tinggi Untuk Pasteurisasi PEF 2nd Makassar International Conference TX, including: “Shake Table Testing of included the following: Dengan Pengaturan Waktu Dan Tegan- on Electrical Engineering & Informatics; Seismic Soil-Foundation-Structure- • Adriel Fuad and Henrietta gan” at the 5th Electrical Power, Elec- • and “Analysis and Simulations Interaction”; and “Seismic Response of Wong won 1st Place for Where’s My tronics, Communication, Control and of Z-Source Inverter Control Methods” Peaty Organic Soils as a Levee Founda- Book (https://market.android.com/ Informatics Seminar in Kuwait; at the 9th International Conference on tion Material.” details?id=wheres.my.book); each re- • “A New Multiphase Multi-Inter- Power and Energy in Singapore. n n n ceived a Motorola Xoom Android Tablet; Ashraf Rahim and Dan Jansen pub- • Jeffrey Brown and Zach Negrey lished “Overview of High-Molecular- won 2nd Place for SLO Bus Mapper Weight Methacrylate for Sealing Cracks (https://market.android.com/ in Concrete Bridge Decks” in the Trans- details?id=edu.calpoly.android.SloBus- Materials engineering chair portation Research Record Journal (No. Mapper); each received a Kindle 3G; 2202, Dec. 2010). Rahim collaborated • Brian Norman and Russell Mez- researches engineering ethics with researchers from UC Davis and zetta won 3rd Plac for Roomie Tab (http:// CSU Long Beach on a Caltrans project www.roomietab.com/android/); and each ATE chair Trevor Harding to develop guidelines on soil stabiliza- received a $25 Best Buy Gift Card. Mhas undertaken a project tion. He also secured a $48,000 grant to better prepare students to be ethical professionals. The from Leonard Transportation Center (LTC) to investigate moisture sensitivity n Electrical Engineering National Science Foundation of Asphalt Mixes. is sponsoring the collaboration Dennis Derickson, chair, received between Harding and research- a $21,400 grant from ViaSat Inc. for ers from University of Michigan, n Computer Science & 140 educational robots. Electrical and Lawrence Technological Univer- computer engineering freshmen will use sity, and Carnegie Mellon. Software Engineering the equipment to learn basic computer “As educators, we have a programming skills and to prepare for an duty to make sure our graduates Franz Kurfess, John Seng and others Open House robotics competition. will become ethical profession- co-authored “Semantically-Enhanced n n n als when they enter the workforce,” said Harding. “It is particularly critical for Information Extraction” published at the Xiaomin Jin and graduate student Sim- engineering programs to produce ethical engineers 2011 IEEE Aerospace Conference in Big eon Trieu published “Study of Top and because they protect the health, safety, and welfare Sky, MT. Kurfess, Seng and others also Bottom Photonic Gratings on GaN LED of the public.” published “Partnering Enhanced-NLP with Error Grating Models” in the IEEE To determine how universities can improve their with Semantic Analysis In Support of Journal Quantum Electronics (Vol.46, no. students’ ethical decision-making capabilities, the Information Extraction” at the 2nd Inter- 10, pp.1456-1469, 2010). Jin presented researchers conducted the Survey of Engineering national Workshop on Ontology-Driven “Top Transmission Grating GaN LED Ethical Development (SEED). The project is the first Software Engineering (ODiSE 2010) at Simulations for Light Extraction Im- nationwide assessment of engineering ethical devel- the ACM SPLASH 2010 Conference in provement” at the SPIE International opment and included focus groups and interviews Reno, NV. Symposium on Integrated Optoelec- with hundreds of administrators, faculty and students At a Stanford symposium, Kurfess tronic Devices 2009 and at SPIE Pho- from 18 diverse partner institutions. In addition, nearly presented “Spatial Interactions between tonic West 2011 in San Francisco. The 4000 engineering undergraduates completed the Humans and Assistive Agents” (pub- paper was co-authored by Trieu and Bei online SEED instrument. lished in Help Me Help You: Bridging Zhang, Xiang-Ning Kang, Guo-Yi Zhang, Trevor Harding “Our findings suggest that the number and type the Gaps in Human-Agent Collabora- Xiong Chang , Wei Wei , Sun Yong Jian, (MATE) of curricular and co-curricular (i.e. out of class) expe- tion, edited by Maheswaran R, Schurr and Fu Xing Xing. riences influence a student’s ethical development,” N, Szekely P, AAAI Press, Stanford/Palo n n n reported Harding. “By providing students with the right opportunities, institu- Alto, CA. Taufik co-authored “A Review of Sens- tions can produce more ethical graduates. We’re also conducting a series of n n n ing Techniques for Real-time Traffic national workshops to increase awareness and hopefully influence institutional David Janzen received a $10,000 grant Surveilance” published in the Journal of policy.” n from Google to develop educational Applied Science (Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 192- 19 Faculty News

n Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering

Jianbiao (John) Pan directed graduate stu- dents Ron Sloat and Doug Smith on a project sponsored by Western Digital to develop a non- contact angular system to measure Pitch Static Attitude (PSA) and Roll Static Attitude (RSA) of hard drive slides. Pan and materials engineer- ing graduate student Patrick Hyland gave a presentation on “Effect of Gold Content on the Microstructural Evolution of Lead-free Solder Joints under Isothermal Aging and Vibration/ drop Conditions” to the Surface Mount Technol- ogy Association (SMTA) Silicon Valley Chapter.

n Materials Engineering

Kathy Chen was invited to attend the Nanoscale Informal Science Education network (NISEnet) meeting. Chen, Roberta Herta (School of Educa- tion), and colleagues from Olin College were awarded an NSF Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (TUES) grant for a three-year investigation on “Understanding Students’ De- velopment and Deployment of Lifelong Learning Skills.” This project seeks to improve the STEM educational community’s understanding of how students develop the skills and attitudes neces- sary for self-directed and lifelong learning. Chen accompanied 20 MATE students to the TMS Annual Meeting in San Diego, where the group took a tour of Solar Turbines and par- ticipated in a MATE alumni gathering. Amelia Earhart touring the Aeronautical Lab in the summer of 1936. From left to right: M.C. “Marty” Martinsen, Head of Aeronautical n Mechanical Engineering; Paul Mantz, Famed Hollywood stunt pilot, Earhart friend, Engineering and technical advisor for Earhart’s around-the-world flight; Phillip Jensen (AERO ‘36); Earhart; and Harley Smith (AERO ‘36). Russ Westphal and Rob McDonald (AERO) received a $30,000 extension to the grant they have from Edwards Air Force Base for research on a flight test platform project. Anniversary of a historic visit to Cal Poly n n n th Xi Wu, Jim Meagher, and graduate student Andrew Sommer published two papers at the prestigious IMAC XXIX, a Conference and Expo- 75eventy-five years ago this June famed aviator Amelia Earhart visited Cal Poly on an “unofficial inspection sition on Structural Dynamics sponsored by the Stour” of the Cal Poly Aviation Department. Although it was not known publicly at the time, Earhart was Society for Experimental Mechanics and held in already planning what would be her last flight, an attempt to be the first pilot to circumnavigate the globe. Jacksonville, FL: “A Differential Planetary Gear To commemorate her visit, faculty from the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering departments are Model with Backlash and Teeth Damage”; and writing a history of the event and compiling an archive of memorabilia from that day. And we need your help. “An Advanced Numerical Model of Gear Tooth If you have any information or know of any items related to the event, contact Prof. Glen Thorncroft at the Loading from Backlash and Profile Errors.” More Department of Mechanical Engineering, [email protected] or 805.756.1334. n information can be found at http://www.sem.org/ CONF-IMAC-TOP.asp. n 20 FacultyAlumni News IME’s Olympic gold medalist Alumni named to Cal Poly Hall of Fame in the news tephanie Brown Trafton has At Cal Poly, Brown Trafton set and Shurled her way into the Cal Poly still holds school records of 57-0 in Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2004 the shot put and 189-7 in the discus. Industrial and Manufacturing Engi- She was a seven-time Big West 1960s neering grad who became the first champion — four in the shot put and Olympic gold medalist in Cal Poly three in the discus — and three times Thomas Moran (ME 1965) history when she won the women’s earned NCAA All-America honors in discus at the 2008 Summer Games outdoor track and field, placing sev- ME alum publishes book on in Beijing, was named to the Hall of enth in the shot put in 2001, fourth in engineering and writing Fame in October. the discus in 2002 and fourth in the Thomas Moran, a professor at the It was the latest in a long list of shot put in 2003. She was named Cal Rochester Institute of Technology, pub- honors for Brown Trafton, a three- Poly’s Female Athlete of the Year in lished Engineers Can Write! — Thoughts time state discus champion at Arroyo 2003. on Writing from Contemporary Liter- Grande High School who also played Brown Trafton, currently the ary Engineers. This IEEE-USA E-Book basketball at Cal Poly before an in- director of operations for the Sacra- explores differences and similarities jury ended her hoops career. She re- mento State track and field teams, between writing and engineering, and ceived the 2008 Jesse Owens Award also competed in the 2004 Summer offers tips for conceptualizing writing to as female track and field athlete of Olympics in Athens, Greece, placing improve reports, articles, proposals and the year in the United States after 11th in the first of two groups in the Stephanie Brown Trafton (IME ’04), who won other documents. The book examines winning the Olympic title with a mark prelims and 22nd overall with a mark the Olympic gold medal in the discus in 2008, engineers who became well known writ- of 212 feet, 5 inches. of 192-1. n was named to the Cal Poly Hall of Fame. ers, such as Henry David Thoreau, Eric Ambler, Nevil Shute, Fydor Dostoevsky and Norman Mailer. These “literary engi- neers” have won critical acclaim n n n and include Cal Poly ME graduate ALSO, EAA.org named DisplayLink’s vice president of Brad Henderson. The book is available http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010- worldwide sales. Jim Hillmann (CSC 1979) through the IEEE at http://www.ieeeusa. 11-04_rutan.asp http://www.businesswire.com/news/ org/communications/ebooks/ home/20101004006554/en/DisplayLink- He walks and walks and Names-John-Cummins-Vice-President- A short article on Henderson, who walks to beat breast cancer now teaches at UC Davis, is available at Worldwide — Porterville Recorder http://writing.ucdavis.edu/news-1/brad- 1970s n n n henderson-in-new-ebook-about-writing- Walking for a cure. That’s what former and-engineers William Gaines (ME 1972) Porterville and Terra Bella resident Farzad Nazem (CSC 1981) New life for old engines Jim Hillmann has been doing in a big n n n way to benefit the Susan G. Komen or- Apixio, Inc. appoints new — Chico News Review ganization’s effort to cure breast cancer. Burt Rutan (AERO 1965) Two years ago, in October 2008, Bill http://www.recorderonline.com/articles/ board member — Biloxi Sun Herald Poly grad who designed Gaines, the chairman of TransferFlow, a walks-2120-pvillevarsity-cure-walking.html Chico manufacturing facility, and some Apixio Inc., the leading provider of 1st private manned of his engineers began thinking about search solutions for standards based spacecraft is retiring diesel engines—specifically, stationary clinical information, announced the ap- — The Tribune and portable engines, the kinds on agri- 1980s pointment of Farzad (Zod) Nazem to Aerospace maverick and Cal Poly cultural pumps and farm equipment. . . . the company’s Board of Directors and graduate Burt Rutan, who designed the Because of new California Air Resources John Cummins (EL 1984) to the newly created position of Platform Board (CARB) regulations, most of these Thought Leader. … historic globe-circling Voyager aircraft DisplayLink names and the first private manned rocket to engines are out of compliance. They http://www.sunherald. reach space, will retire next year. Rutan, emit too many particulates, or soot— John Cummins V.P. of com/2011/02/17/2871019/apixio-inc- 67, announced his plans recently on the that lung-damaging, carcinogenic black Worldwide Sales appoints-new-board.html# website of Mojave-based Scaled Com- stuff diesel engines give off. . . . Diesel — BusinessWire.com ALSO, Business Wire, Feb. 17, 2011 posites LLC, which he founded in 1982. engines last a long time. Older engines http://www.businesswire.com/news/ With third-generation virtual graphics http://www.scaled.com/images/up- are well worth saving. Gaines and his home/20110217005217/en/Apixio-Ap- processors on the horizon and mas- loads/news/Burt_Rutan_Announces_Re- crew saw an opportunity. points-Board-Member sive existing momentum, DisplayLink tirement_Plans_03Nov10.pdf http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ Corp. has expanded its leadership ALSO, KCOY, Nov. 3, 2010 content?oid=1865869 team to further accelerate and support http://www.kcoy.com/Global/story. global growth. John Cummins has been asp?S=13439173 21 Alumni News Cal Poly Engineering alumnus named EE grad named fellow of California’s Fire Chief of the Year Institute of Electrical and ouglas A. Williams began his ca- Dreer in fire protection as an Explor- er Scout in high school and worked as Electronic Engineers a firefighter while earning his degree in industrial engineering at Cal Poly. ouglas Baney (B.S., Electronic Engineering, After 25 years in the field, his 1981) was named a Fellow of the Institute of D contributions have earned him the title Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Baney is of Fire Chief of the Year. The award manager of Agilent Technologies’ measurement and was presented by the California Fire sensors department. He is recognized for technical Douglas Baney Chief’s Association on September 20 and leadership contributions in a variety of areas, (EE ’81) at the annual association conference in including inventing and developing the world’s first Riverside, Calif. laser mouse - a now-common computer accessory. Williams, a 1979 Cal Poly industrial Read more about Baney in Trading Markets n engineering graduate, serves as chief of the Rincon Valley Fire Protection District (RVFPD). In presenting the award, Darrel Mead, chair of the RVF- CE alum Josue Vaglienty named PD Board of Directors, called Williams a “true leader” and “change-agent in ASCE’s Young Engineer of the Year the fire service.” Douglas A. Williams (IE ’79) was named A past president of the Sonoma Fire Chief of the Year by the California osue Vaglienty was was named Young Engineer of the Year by the County Fire Prevention Officer’s As- Fire Chief’s Association. He currently JAmerican Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Orange County Branch at sociation, Williams served as Fire serves with the Rincon Valley Fire Pro- their annual awards dinner. The ASCE OC award ceremony honored out- Marshal for 11 years, before becoming tection District. standing engineers and civil engineering projects and befittingly kicked off fire chief in 1996. In those capacities, ment helped support my progress.” National Engineers Week, February 20 - 26. he helped institute a countywide fire In addition to the mentorship Vaglienty, a 2003 Cal Poly civil engineering graduate, is an Associate in code and lead the effort to require fire Williams received while at Cal Poly, RBF´s Transportation Engineering service group and devotes many hours of sprinkler systems. he also explains that his engineer- volunteer service. He has served the Orange County ASCE Younger Mem- Throughout his career, Williams ing education also provided excellent ber Forum (YMF) and is currently the Chair of the K - 12 Outreach Program has sought to improve public safety preparation: for the Orange County Branch of ASCE. He is also an active member of by creating partnerships with other “The industrial engineering degree Engineers Without Borders, Orange County Chapter and ACE (Architecture, organizations, such as the Redwood helped prepare me to solve problems Construction, & Engineering) Mentoring Program, Los Angeles Chapter. Empire Association of Code Officials, analytically. Some of the core func- See http://www.live-pr.com/en/rbf-consulting-s-cindy-miller-and-josue- and he has been an active member tions of industrial engineering deal with r1048760146.htm n and volunteer leader in a wide variety of community and service groups as the expected probabilities of various well as local, state and national fire functions that can be used to deter- service organizations. mine the more efficient outcomes. In n n n Although Williams worked as an the case of fire protection, the events industrial engineer for several years are more or less random, but tend to Dan Riordan (EL 1985) after receiving his Cal Poly degree with follow certain patterns. When deter- 1990s A. O. Smith Corporation and Hewlett mining the best methods for deploy- ThinkHR Corporation Packard, his senior project reflected ing resources it is helpful to be able John Cole (ENVE 1992) appoints Dan Riordan as his ongoing interest in fire protection. to use the more scientific processes Chief Operating Officer Alum receives promotion “My senior project was focused on the in doing the analysis. Several years ago, an article in one of the fire service — 24-7 in national CPA and consolidation of fire protection agen- cies,” says Williams, who credits the magazines included an analysis of the ThinkHR Corporation, the largest na- consulting Firm support of Professor Don Kahn, who European fire service and noted that tional HR firm specializing in wholesale — San Francisco Chronicle helped put “the theoretical applica- every fire chief surveyed had a degree insurance broker distribution, today an- tions into a practical form.” in industrial engineering.” nounced the appointed of Dan Riordan John Cole is one of five new princi- “The late Dr. Don Morgan, depart- Asked to identify his career high- as Chief Operating Officer. pals for Novogradac & Company LLP, ment head, was also extremely sup- light, Williams said, “In many ways the http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/ a national CPA and consulting firm portive and helped provide the inspira- highlight has been the ability to partici- press-release/thinkhr-corporation-ap- headquartered in San Francisco with 12 tion needed to progress,” Williams pate in productive change at the state points-dan-riordan-as-chief-operating- offices nationwide. Cole was promoted notes. “Indeed, every faculty member and national level and the influence it officer-196774.php to the company’s office in Austin, Texas. in the industrial engineering depart- has in delivering emergency service.” n 22 Alumni News Read more about Cole and company in the San Francisco Chronicle. http:// EE alum Einar Larsen selected to www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/ g/a/2010/12/16/prweb8027907.DTL the National Academy of Engineering

n n n inar Larsen has had a career of distinction contributions to “engineering research, practice, Ewith with GE Power System Engineering in or education,” or who have “pioneered new and Schenectaty, NY, where he has worked since developing fields of technology, made major ad- graduating from Cal Poly in 1974. His work has vancements in traditional fields of engineering, 2000s included the invention and application of flexible or developed innovative approaches to engi- AC transmission systems devices, which have neering education.” To date, NAE membership Thomas Akers (AERO 2001) lead to the enhanced performance of the elec- totals 2,267 U.S. individuals and 196 foreign tric power grid. associates. Unmanned aircraft This achievement has earned him member- In addition to his Cal Poly undergraduate ship in an exclusive club: the National Academy degree, Larsen holds a master’s degree from Einar Larsen manufacturer expands (EE ’74) in San Luis Obispo of Engineering. Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. Currently a — KCOY/KKFX Election to the NAE is perhaps the highest director for systems engineering at GE, his work honor that can be accorded to an engineer. In- has focused on applying new equipment to One of the world’s leading producers ductees are those who have made outstanding power grids. Larsen is also a Fellow of IEEE. n of unmanned aircraft is based in San Luis Obispo and Tuesday marked a new beginning for the thriving company. It was the grand opening of its new head- Neal Saiki (B.S. AERO 1990, M.S. AERO 1993) quarters. Two Cal Poly students founded AERO alum jumps Aeromech Engineering in 1999. Founder Neal Saiki leaves Zero Motorcycles http://www.sanluisobispo. into human-powered MotorcycleUSA.com com/2011/03/01/1503488/biz-buzz- aeromech-engineering.html# helicopter competition The founder of Zero Motorcycles, Neal Saiki (B.S. AERO 1990, M.S. AERO 199), is leaving his electric motorcycle startup to ven- n n n ture into an even more innovative project – human-powered flight. The former NASA engineer started Zero in his Scotts Valley, Cali- Vanessa Apodaca (CE 2006) fornia garage back in 2006, with the company blossoming into one of the industry leaders in the nascent electric motorcycle industry. Engineering grad hired as Saiki’s previous accomplishments included successful designs engineer for Angels Camp in the mountain bike industry, but before all the bike projects he — Calaveras Enterprise helped develop the self-propelled Da Vinci III helicopter as a Cal Vanessa Apodaca (B.S., Civil Engineer- Poly engineering student. ing, 2006) has replaced Gary Ghio as http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/750/9399/Motorcycle-Article/ the engineer for Angels Camp, Calif. Founder-Neal-Saiki-Leaves-Zero-Motorcycles.aspx n Apodaca was unanimously hired by the City Council and plans to dive right into Neal Saiki founded Zero Motorcycles with his wife in their California garage Angels Camp projects. in 2006. The company produces the largest lineup of electric motorcycles including the new Zero XU. Photo courtesy of Zero Motorcycles. Read more at http://www.calaverasenter- prise.com/articles/2010/12/20/news/ news02_engineer.txt Michael Brim (EE 2010) tracks-black-friday-hits-and-kmart-lay- according to a Website that specializes n n n away-part-2-of-3 in dissecting popular electronic devices. Black Friday is now n n n To counter this “diabolical plan to screw Angelica Boggs (CSC 2000) brimming with possibilities your iPhone,” iFixit.com is offering a The founder of math — Detroit Examiner Kyle Wiens (CSC 2005) $10 kit with a matching screwdriver for the new screws, and standard Philips Michael Brim created the Black and Luke Soules (IE 2006) learning center is “making screws, so end users can remove the Friday-focused site bfads.net in his dorm math make sense” Is Apple expanding use of tamper-resistant hardware and install room at Cal Poly. He credits the start of tamper-encouraging hardware. … The www.mathnasium.com. his business to his landing a free $50 new tamper-resistant screw Website (iFixit) was launched in 2003 — Santa Clarita Signal Phillips CD burner. While a freshman at for its iPhone? by Kyle Wiens and Luke Soules, then Cal Poly, Brim was sought out by televi- — Network World Angelica Boggs explains that she engineering students at Cal Poly, San sion outlets far and wide who wanted opened her company “to help kids get Apple is switching to an unusual and Luis Obispo, Calif. to tell the story of a young entrepreneur the most of their math education, so rare type of exterior screw for its iPhone http://www.networkworld.com/ who was cashing in on Black Friday they can feel confident enough to pursue and other mobile products, making it news/2011/012011-apple-screws-ifixit- careers in engineering.” Deals. much harder for users to take them iphone4-macair.html n http://www.examiner.com/city-buzz- Read more at http://www.the-signal. apart and fool around with the internals, com/section/45/article/39733/ in-detroit/google-s-new-hot-trends- 23 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 7 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

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Our Friend Clint Schwieker College of Engineering http://ceng.calpoly.edu Dean’s Office (805) 756-2131 Passed Away in 1995 Erling Smith, Acting Dean [email protected] Fred DePiero, Associate Dean [email protected] Stacey Breitenbach, Assistant Dean [email protected] Matthew Cottle, Assistant Dean [email protected] College Advancement Matthew Cottle, Assistant Dean (805) 756-6870 [email protected] Beth Brenner, Major Gifts (805) 756-66601 [email protected] Megan Sinton, Asst. Director (805) 756-5638 [email protected] Jeanne Schrader, Administrative Support (805) 756-5374 [email protected] Engineering Advisement Center (805) 756-1461 Stacey Breitenbach, Assistant Dean [email protected]

l Poly College Publications & Communications (805) 756-6402 cA Amy Hewes, Director [email protected] Dennis Steers, Writer & Photographer (805) 756-7167 [email protected] Miles Clark, Web Administrator (805) 756-6582 [email protected]

University Archives, Departments Aerospace Engineering (805) 756-2562 This year he’s helping students conduct Eric Mehiel, Chair [email protected] hands-on experiments in the Thermal Science Lab Biomedical & General Engineering (805) 756-6400 Lanny Griffin, Chair [email protected] Robert Crockett, GENE Director [email protected] In appreciation of the Learn by Doing education he received at Cal Poly, Civil/Environmental Engineering (805) 756-2947 Clint Schwieker (B.S., ME, ’69; M.S., Eng, ’86) included the College Rakesh Goel, Chair [email protected] of Engineering in his will. His gift funded a vapor-compression Computer Engineering (805) 756-1229 refrigeration system that students use today. The system is equipped Hugh Smith, Director [email protected] with venturi flow meters designed and built by mechanical engineering students, testament to the hands-on culture Clint Computer Science/Software Engineering (805) 756-2824 believed in. Remembering Cal Poly in your estate planning is an Ignatios Vakalis, Chair [email protected] effective way to support Learn by Doing, the cornerstone of a Cal Poly Electrical Engineering (805) 756-2781 education. Our planned giving experts can help friends and alumni like Dennis Derickson, Chair [email protected] you leave a lasting legacy that will support the next generation of innovative Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering: (805) 756-2341 leaders and resourceful professionals. Jose Macedo, Chair [email protected] #!,)&/2.)!0/,94%#(.)#34!4%5.)6%23)49 '2!0()#)$%.4)490/,)#9For sample bequest language you can share with your estate planning advisor, Materials Engineering (805) 756-2568 visit www.plannedgiving.calpoly.edu or contact Cal Poly’s Planned Giving Office. Trevor Harding, Chair [email protected] Phone: 805-756-7125 | Toll-free: 800-549-2666 | email: [email protected] Mechanical Engineering (805) 756-1334 Andrew Davol, Chair [email protected] Multicultural Engineering Program (805) 756-1433 Maria Manzano [email protected] ENGINEERINGAdvantage Women’s Engineering Program (805) 756-2350 Helene Finger, Director [email protected]

Engineering Advantage is a biannual publication of the College of Engineering, Cal Poly San COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DIRECTORY Luis Obispo. Editorial Staff: Amy Hewes, publications director Photography & Design: Dennis Steers