StrideSense; A Sociotechnical Analysis of Inverter Shutdowns during the 2016 Blue Cut Fire in California 3 views

The challenge of monitoring human health and managing critical infrastructure is fundamentally sociotechnical, requiring a dual understanding of high-precision hardware and the social frameworks that govern their use. As wearable technology and automated energy systems become more integrated into daily life, the risk of failure often stems not from a single broken component but from a lack of alignment between the technical programming and the human reality. My research explores these tensions through two distinct lenses: the design of a specialized wearable system for medical rehabilitation and an STS analysis of how rigid automation caused a massive grid failure in California. By examining both projects, we can identify how engineering choices regarding data delegation and machine agency impact the safety and resilience of human-centered networks. My technical capstone project, StrideSense, addresses the limitations of current wearable fitness trackers, which often prioritize simple performance metrics like cadence over biomechanical health. Developed by Team S.M.A.R.T., the device utilizes two Bosch BMI323 6-axis IMU sensors – placed on the thigh and shank – to capture high-frequency motion data at up to 400 Hz. By processing this data through an STM32 microcontroller and inverse dynamics models, StrideSense provides joint-level stability insights and impact absorption metrics essential for Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) rehabilitation. This modular, sensor-based approach moves beyond the black box of performance-only tracking offering a transparent tool that empowers runners and patients to correct bad habits before they lead to long-term joint injury. Complementing this technical design, my STS research uses Actor Network Theory(ANT) to analyze the 2016 Blue Cut Fire where over 1200 MW of solar power was lost due to rigid inverter responses. While industry reports blamed the shutdown on firmware glitches, I argue the event was a sociotechnical breakdown of translation and delegation. The inverters functioned as programmed but their delegated role to prioritize equipment safety was misaligned with the human goal of grid stability. By treating the inverter as a punctualized actor rather than part of a dynamic human-machine network, designers created a system that betrayed the grid during a crisis. Together, these projects emphasize successful engineering requires sociotechnical forethought designing systems like StrideSense to be flexible and transparent enough to support human intervention in unpredictable environments.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Energy systems; Infrastructure; Microgrid design

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technical Advisor: Keith Williams STS Advisor: Coleen Carrigan Technical Team Members: Rohina Naqshbandi, Megan Chhu, Talha Bhutta, Anson Lu

English

All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)

2026-05-08