function [sample] = initializeSample(args)

    arguments
        args.type char {mustBeMember(args.type,{'none', 'cylindrical'})} = 'none'
        args.H (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBePositive} = 250e-3 % Height [m]
        args.R (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBePositive} = 110e-3 % Radius [m]
        args.m (1,1) double {mustBeNumeric, mustBePositive} = 1 % Mass [kg]
    end

    sample = struct();

    switch args.type
      case 'none'
        sample.type = 0;
        sample.m = 0;
      case 'cylindrical'
        sample.type = 1;

        sample.H = args.H;
        sample.R = args.R;
        sample.m = args.m;
    end

    if exist('./mat', 'dir')
        if exist('./mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'file')
            save('mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'sample', '-append');
        else
            save('mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'sample');
        end
    elseif exist('./matlab', 'dir')
        if exist('./matlab/mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'file')
            save('matlab/mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'sample', '-append');
        else
            save('matlab/mat/nass_model_stages.mat', 'sample');
        end
    end

end