Matching Items (218)
Description
As pickleball rapidly expands across the United States, many players face challenges with paddle grip maintenance, often relying on inconsistent and manual wrapping methods. AutoWrap, developed by Team 33 in the Founders Lab 2024–2025 program at ASU, is a semi-automatic tabletop device engineered to deliver consistent, professional-quality paddle grip wraps with minimal effort or training. Designed with an enclosed gear system that synchronizes paddle rotation and grip tape movement, the device eliminates common errors in tension and alignment. Throughout the course, our team focused on refining the AutoWrap through iterative prototyping, community engagement, and user testing to validate product-market fit. We collaborated closely with local pickleball facilities to gather hands-on feedback and improve the device’s functionality and durability. The AutoWrap aims to serve as a scalable, low-friction solution for pickleball facilities and players, elevating the user experience while addressing an unmet need in a fast-growing sport.
ContributorsLinde, Maggie (Author) / Bernal, William (Co-author) / Hume, Aidan (Co-author) / Novelo, Alejandra (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Balven, Rachel (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Thunderbird School of Global Management (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
Knee related concerns are prevalent even in healthy individuals. In recent times, solutions to this issue have taken form as wearable robotic devices that provide assistance to the user during activities using the legs. Many different configurations of the devices, also called exoskeletons or orthoses, exist in research and rehabilitation applications. In this thesis, the exoskeletons are categorized by method of actuation and evaluated based on capabilities and drawbacks. Two knee exoskeletons were developed based on the takeaways given by the literature review. One of the exoskeletons incorporates a robust series elastic actuator (SEA) designed to track interaction torque on the wearer. The second exoskeleton integrates a high torque electric motor driven through variable impedance control. Testing of the orthoses yielded promising results in the SEA mechanism and high torque actuator’s accuracy. This outcome demonstrates the need for future work entailing the development of a high level control algorithm designed to apply effective assistance on the knee through all phases of gait motion. The potential impact of this research can go towards a better understanding of how to lower the prominence of wearable robotics on the body.
ContributorsFricke, Colin (Author) / Zhang, Wenlong (Thesis director) / Sugar, Thomas (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
This Thesis introduces a self-sustaining phased array patch antenna system designed for seamless integration onto solar panels, combining autonomous satellite communication with on-site power generation. The antenna includes a microprocessor for automatic satellite tracking and a battery pack to store solar energy to ensure continuous operation in low-light or off-grid conditions. Developed as both an engineering solution and a business model, this product targets underserved markets including rural communities, emergency response operations, and disaster relief efforts. Unlike existing solutions like Starlink that require external power, this device is self-sufficient and can operate off of the power that it generates from the solar panel making it a cost-effective solution. It fills a critical need for reliable, portable, and independent communication in areas where connectivity and power access are limited or nonexistent. The proposed business model positions this system as a value-adding product not only for solar companies and individual consumers, but also as a vital tool for disaster relief organizations and search and rescue teams that require reliable, self-powered communication in critical situations.
ContributorsProch, Jeremy (Author) / Martin, Thomas (Thesis director) / Matalia, Stefan (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Electrical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
The Grill Caddie is a purpose-built product designed to enhance the outdoor grilling experience in communal living spaces. Developed through the Founders Lab Honors Thesis pathway at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, this venture encompassed the creation, development, testing, refinement, and market launch of a unique consumer product. The design integrates a magnetic cutting board with an aluminum foil roller, seasoning trough, and cupholder—components engineered for ease of transport, assembly, and cleaning. Emphasizing user-driven development and functional design, the team conducted iterative prototyping, material testing, and consumer interviews to optimize features such as the juice groove and slicing mechanism. Leveraging grant funding and professional mentorship, the team navigated key business operations including supply chain logistics, website development, and social media marketing. The Grill Caddie achieved initial market traction through direct sales, validating product-market fit and demonstrating the team’s ability to translate technical skills into entrepreneurial impact.
ContributorsBoylan, Gentry (Author) / Walker, Eric (Co-author) / Willett, Luke (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Pierce, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
Medicine can be defined as the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. In certain places, medicine is seen as a collection of various synthetic drugs that can cure numerous diseases and ailments, or it is seen as therapeutic procedures that will improve the body’s ability to prevent and fight certain illnesses. This paper aims to look at the makeup of the American medical industry and the Chinese medical system for cardiovascular disease to see how effective specific treatment methods are and how improvements to the healthcare system in the US can be made. In many Western societies, synthetic drugs are the most commonly prescribed agents. Most of these drugs are fast-acting, with the goal of providing an efficient solution to one or multiple negative symptoms a person is suffering from. However, other places view medicine as less synthetic, taking more of a naturopathic approach that focuses on overall health and wellness without intervention from pharmaceuticals. These types of treatments are often referred to as Complementary and alternative healthcare and medical practices (CAM). These practices can either be done on their own, incorporated into Western “standard” treatments, or used as a complement to these standard treatments. Through the analysis of medical journals and studies, sufficient evidence has been found that supports the use of acupuncture therapy as an effective standalone treatment for cardiovascular diseases like arrhythmias and hypertension, as well as an adjuvant therapy for more severe cardiovascular cases. This therapy has been analyzed from an economic perspective in terms of the financial effect it will have on patients. Significant data has been found supporting the cost efficiency of using acupuncture as adjuvant therapy, which is rooted in the basis that it keeps patients out of hospitals and prevents the need for surgery. Based on this research, it can be concluded that acupuncture should be more integrated into American medicine, with changes to the US healthcare system being made to focus on preventative care. Through changes to the US healthcare system and how care is delivered, acupuncture can smoothly transition into American medicine and become a key player in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. After examining the current limitations of the US healthcare system and analyzing the effectiveness and cost efficiency of acupuncture therapy, several solutions, such as adopting a value-based care system and cardiovascular care teams, have been proposed.
ContributorsAnyaji, Joshua (Author) / Pirie, Isabella (Co-author) / Martin, Thomas (Thesis director) / MacCord, Kate (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
This study investigates how different speaker enclosure designs affect the frequency response of a subwoofer system. Three variations of a sealed enclosure—an unmodified box, a version with internal 45-degree corner wedges, and a version with both wedges and Poly-Fil damping—were constructed and tested. A calibrated UMIK-1 microphone captured output data for tones ranging from 50 Hz to 250 Hz, and frequency response graphs were analyzed for each configuration. Results showed that while all enclosures maintained output frequencies closely aligned with the input tones, modifications notably influenced harmonic content, standing wave behavior, and overall amplitude levels. Enclosures with internal modifications generally exhibited smoother frequency decay and fewer resonance peaks. The findings provide valuable insights into how internal geometry and damping materials can improve the acoustic performance of sealed speaker enclosures, with implications for both audio engineering applications and the design of testing environments for devices like microphones.
ContributorsHayes, Todd (Author, Co-author) / Sugar, Thomas (Thesis director) / Nichols, Kevin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
This book shares the stories of four immigrant women from diverse backgrounds, beginning with their childhoods and the pivotal events that prompted them to leave their home countries. Each narrative delves into the complex motivations behind their migration—some who made the choice to seek a better life, while others were forced to leave due to displacement. Through the retelling of their journeys, we shed light on the struggles and challenges that often remain unseen in the lives of immigrant women.
ContributorsAbdi, Maleka (Author) / Levin, Irina (Thesis director) / Martin, Thomas (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2025-05
Description
The Grill Caddie is a purpose-built product designed to enhance the outdoor grilling experience in communal living spaces. Developed through the Founders Lab Honors Thesis pathway at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, this venture encompassed the creation, development, testing, refinement, and market launch of a unique consumer product. The design integrates a magnetic cutting board with an aluminum foil roller, seasoning trough, and cupholder—components engineered for ease of transport, assembly, and cleaning. Emphasizing user-driven development and functional design, the team conducted iterative prototyping, material testing, and consumer interviews to optimize features such as the juice groove and slicing mechanism. Leveraging grant funding and professional mentorship, the team navigated key business operations including supply chain logistics, website development, and social media marketing. The Grill Caddie achieved initial market traction through direct sales, validating product-market fit and demonstrating the team’s ability to translate technical skills into entrepreneurial impact.
ContributorsWalker, Eric (Author) / Boylan, Gentry (Co-author) / Willett, Luke (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Pierce, John (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Engineering Programs (Contributor)
Created2025-05