The electrical output of solar panels is reduced when dust covers the panels, but the air movement produced by a flying drone can be used to remove this debris. This research project will study the effectiveness of a quadcopter drone in dusting a solar panel. A solar panel was covered...
A DC distribution system targeted for residential settings has been designed and
simulated. The system features the ability to draw power from both the utility and
photovoltaic arrays. In times of surplus solar energy, the system is able to supply power
back to the utility to facilitate net metering. The...
Electricity is at the center of attention as today many essential systems (water, gas, communications, and the internet for example) and infrastructures depend on its continuity for their smooth functioning. On the other hand, electricity power networks have developed and became large, and highly complex technical systems, geographically extended, requiring...
This design of a Grid Friendly Electric Hot Water Heater Thermostat was built for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Design course, ECE44x. The design enables hot water heaters to respond to imbalances in the grid seen through deviations from standard grid frequency by varying the power output to the...
Mercury (Hg) is a bioaccumulative metal that can threaten the health of wild birds. Feathers are commonly used biomonitoring tools for non-lethally estimating Hg exposure in birds because they contain stable Hg concentrations upon completion of feather growth, when blood flow to the feather has stopped. Despite the common use...
This thesis aims to address barriers that K-5 educators face when implementing environmental education in classrooms. An in-depth study of the history of environmental education in the United States identifies primary barriers and issues. Focusing specifically on garden education programs, six lesson plans for K-5 were created to address the...
The Sweet Roll is a podcast centered around discussion of the latest video and tabletop games. It includes news briefs, game reviews, and interviews with industry professionals and gaming celebrities. The target audience is men and women aged 14-35 who play virtual and tabletop games as a hobby. This audience...