My Work.
I have a wide array of experience to back a strong education. Listed below are those experiences which relate to the engineering field.
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2018 |
Summer Research Assistant - Offroad Robotics
Working under Dr. Joshua Marshall as a summer research student at Offroad Robotics was one of the best work experiences I have ever had. Not only was the lab full of friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful students; but so too was the work equally exciting and challenging.
One of the projects I worked on was to assist in a gas sensing robot for use in underground mines for Barrick Gold Corporation. The project goal was to develop a robot which was capable of autonomously driving to an area of the mine which had been freshly blasted to measure the levels of toxic gasses in the air and relay the information to a ground station. This system would be used to replace the current method of sending specialized teams of miners to collect the samples by hand, potentially saving lives by removing them from the dangerous environment. My role with this project was to modify the robot physically such that it fit the needs of the client. Specifically, I made modifications to extend the battery life such that it can operate for three times longer than the original which was necessary for mining operations, to add a compartment that could protect the on-board computer from the harsh environment while also allowing access to the software while underground, and designing and manufacturing the fixtures which attached the sensors to the robot.
One project which I spear-headed while in this position was to modify an over 20 year old industrial cargo carrier such that it may be "drive-by-wire" for use as a research platform to test new sensing equipment, new control algorithms, or anything else related to autonomous vehicle research. The project involved a complete overhaul of the vehicle's wiring as it was necessary to replace the old analog system with modern digital technology. As well, several mechanical modifications and custom components were required, including machining the previous throttle pedal to retrofit a rotary encoder.
This position has taught me many skills, both technical and professional. The technical skills included programming in C++ and robot operating system (ROS), as well as utilizing electronic components and developing wiring schematics. Professionally, I gained experience with independently managing a project, making project critical decisions, and organization particularly for project legacy.
Working under Dr. Joshua Marshall as a summer research student at Offroad Robotics was one of the best work experiences I have ever had. Not only was the lab full of friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful students; but so too was the work equally exciting and challenging.
One of the projects I worked on was to assist in a gas sensing robot for use in underground mines for Barrick Gold Corporation. The project goal was to develop a robot which was capable of autonomously driving to an area of the mine which had been freshly blasted to measure the levels of toxic gasses in the air and relay the information to a ground station. This system would be used to replace the current method of sending specialized teams of miners to collect the samples by hand, potentially saving lives by removing them from the dangerous environment. My role with this project was to modify the robot physically such that it fit the needs of the client. Specifically, I made modifications to extend the battery life such that it can operate for three times longer than the original which was necessary for mining operations, to add a compartment that could protect the on-board computer from the harsh environment while also allowing access to the software while underground, and designing and manufacturing the fixtures which attached the sensors to the robot.
One project which I spear-headed while in this position was to modify an over 20 year old industrial cargo carrier such that it may be "drive-by-wire" for use as a research platform to test new sensing equipment, new control algorithms, or anything else related to autonomous vehicle research. The project involved a complete overhaul of the vehicle's wiring as it was necessary to replace the old analog system with modern digital technology. As well, several mechanical modifications and custom components were required, including machining the previous throttle pedal to retrofit a rotary encoder.
This position has taught me many skills, both technical and professional. The technical skills included programming in C++ and robot operating system (ROS), as well as utilizing electronic components and developing wiring schematics. Professionally, I gained experience with independently managing a project, making project critical decisions, and organization particularly for project legacy.
2017
Summer Research Assistant - Reactor Material Testing Lab
During the summer between my second and third year as an undergraduate student, I worked as a research assistant in the Reactor Material Testing Lab under Dr. Mark Daymond within Queen's University. The facility included high-end equipment for nuclear research, including an up to 12MeV particle accelerator, scanning electron microscope, and a neutron spectrometer.
In this position, I was tasked with developing a new device which held small metal samples inside an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The device also regulated the size of the oncoming irradiation beam from the accelerator to a desired size, maintained the temperature of the sample between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius, and allowed for long-term irradiation tests up to one month. Other tasks which I completed include producing a multi-channel temperature and volumetric airflow sensor system for feedback control of the thermal management system.
Due to the very unique environment found within this research field, I learned a great deal during my time with the lab. Material selection proved to be the most difficult aspect of the project as very special considerations must be made. Any material placed inside the chamber could not contain carbon due to off-gassing at such high vacuum levels and any component which had the potential to be in line with the accelerator beam needed a short half-life to increase the cycle time for completing experiments. As well, safety procedures as it relates to working with radioactive materials was also learned.
During the summer between my second and third year as an undergraduate student, I worked as a research assistant in the Reactor Material Testing Lab under Dr. Mark Daymond within Queen's University. The facility included high-end equipment for nuclear research, including an up to 12MeV particle accelerator, scanning electron microscope, and a neutron spectrometer.
In this position, I was tasked with developing a new device which held small metal samples inside an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The device also regulated the size of the oncoming irradiation beam from the accelerator to a desired size, maintained the temperature of the sample between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius, and allowed for long-term irradiation tests up to one month. Other tasks which I completed include producing a multi-channel temperature and volumetric airflow sensor system for feedback control of the thermal management system.
Due to the very unique environment found within this research field, I learned a great deal during my time with the lab. Material selection proved to be the most difficult aspect of the project as very special considerations must be made. Any material placed inside the chamber could not contain carbon due to off-gassing at such high vacuum levels and any component which had the potential to be in line with the accelerator beam needed a short half-life to increase the cycle time for completing experiments. As well, safety procedures as it relates to working with radioactive materials was also learned.