Dr. Todd Anthony Ell
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Control Sciences and Dynamic Systems, 1992, University of Minnesota
M.S. Electrical Engineering, 1983, University of North Dakota
B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1982, Magna Cum Laude, University of North Dakota
EMPLOYMENT
Senior Technical Fellow, Collins Aerospace, (formerly Goodrich Corporation), Burnsville Minnesota. 2012-present.
Geometric Algebra tools, modeling, and analysis techniques for engineering applications. Author of Geometric Algebra MATLAB toolboxes.
Image and Signal Processing algorithm design and development.
Guidance, Navigation, and Control systems design and development.
Dean of Signal & Information Processing Discipline College at Collins Aerospace Technical University (CATU).
Visiting Research Fellow, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester United Kingdom. 2003-present.
Investigation of hyper-complex signal and image processing. Research includes the application of Quaternion Fourier transforms for spectral analysis of two-sided convolution color image filters.
Author of graduate-level textbook Quaternion Fourier Transforms for Signal and Image Processing, ISTE Ltd & Wiley publishing, 2014.
Engineering Fellow, Goodrich Corporation, Burnsville Minnesota. 2002-2012.
Systems engineer involved in the design of Guidance, Control and Navigation Systems.
Navigation systems include Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS); both air-data and GPS aided versions.
Primarily responsible for real-time algorithm definition.
Senior Staff Engineer, United Defense LP, Minneapolis Minnesota. 2001-2002.
Design and implemented control algorithms to meet stability and performance requirements.
Created, with the use of a modeling tool, detailed linear and nonlinear dynamic models of the mechanisms to be controlled, the sensors employed and the servo drives used to move the mechanisms.
Performed simulation and analysis using these models to develop control algorithms, select sensors and size actuators.
Involved in the design reviews of guidance and navigation systems.
Software Development Manager, Ag-Chem Equipment Company, Minnetonka Minnesota. 1995-2001.
Provide leadership and technical direction for the precision farming products of SOILTEQ, Inc., a research and development subsidiary of Ag-Chem Equipment Co.
Provide marketing functional requirements, system specifications and software requirements for a variety of precision farming products ranging from spatial analytical and optimization tools, geographical information systems, spatial and relational database management systems, and multi-loop variable rate control systems. These products range from in-field embedded real-time hardware and software to desktop and Web based software applications.
Provide long and short-range planning, scheduling and technical work direction for six to forty software engineers.
Design Graphical User Interface (GUI) specifications for numerous desktop software applications.
Senior Principal Engineer, Alliant TechSystems, Inc. (formerly Honeywell) , Hopkins Minnesota. 1990-1995.
Design engineer for guidance, navigation and control systems. Knowledgeable in the design of fuzzy logic algorithms.
Designed, developed, analyzed, and implemented digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for state-of-the-art high performance embedded real-time computing systems.
Provided leadership and work direction for system software design team. Worked with internal and external customers in defining functional and requirement specifications.
Software architect of real-time parallel distributed, hardware in the loop, processing systems. Real-time simulation modeling of high fidelity underwater acoustics and hydrodynamics, and aerodynamics.
Successfully implemented embedded real-time software under aggressive schedule requirements using structured design and analysis techniques. Documented and designed software in conformance to military standard DoD-STD-2167A.
Designed developed, inter-processor communication software utilizing socket and TCP/IP network protocols across multiple platforms. Wrote device drivers, Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL), and real-time Windows based applications using Microsoft Visual and Borland C++ compilers.
Senior Development Engineer, Honeywell, Inc., Hopkins, Minnesota. 1985-1990.
Designed embedded inertial navigation algorithms.
Investigated the application of optimal differential game theory to the pursuit strategy for an optimally evading target.
Performed verification and validation testing of embedded real-time parallel-distributed multi-tasking software. Prepared computer program test specifications and software test procedures in conformance to military standard DoD-STD-1679A.
Provided work direction to a team of student aids, which varied in size from 3 to 5, over a two year period, in conjunction with software testing.
Designed, developed, analyzed, and implemented real-time parallel distributed processing systems used as a hardware-in-the-loop environmental simulation test-bed.
Graduate Research Assistant, Computer Science Department, University of Minnesota. 1987.
Investigated a theory for computer vision gestalt grouping based on joint spatial/spatial-frequency representations.
Controls Engineer, Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace, Denver CO. 1983-1985.
Guided software programmers and hardware technicians on the development of the real time, hardware in the loop, environmental simulation for the Transfer Orbit Stage (TOS) launch vehicle. Performed as liaison with TOS program subcontractor laser inertial navigation system modifications for inclusion into simulation test bed.
Developed a multiple frequency plane (s and z-plane) stability analysis algorithm that was integrated into existing linear analog and digital controls analysis program (LADCAP), a proprietary Martin Marietta controls analysis program. This algorithm was used to validate the auto pilot control laws for the Titan 34D Transtage launch vehicle.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Electrical Engineering Department, University of North Dakota. 1982-1983.
Instructed undergraduate electrical engineering electronics laboratory classes.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
Proficient working with Mathworks Matlab, Simulink, Stateflow, Realtime Workshop and Mathematica software. Familiar with Matrix-x and Macsyma analysis systems.
Proficient working in 'C', 'C++', FORTRAN, PASCAL, and OCCAM high level languages under SUN UNIX, DEC VMS, NOS, MacOS, DOS, Windows, and other operating systems.
Familiar with Ada, LISP, CMS-2, Visual BASIC high level languages and 6502, 6809, 8080, 68000, Aptec, and AN/AYK-14 assembly languages.
Proficient with the SUN-Sparc, DEC VAX, Aptec DPS-2400, Numerics MARS-432, Transputer, IBM-PC, and Macintosh computing systems.
Familiar with the IBM 370, CDC Cyber 750 and Prime 750 computing systems.
INVENTIONS
Acoustic air data system with radially paired receivers, US-11467177-B2, 10/11/2022
Acoustic airspeed sensors and processing techniques, US-11397192-B2, 7/26/2022
Air data attitude reference system , US-10955261-B2, 3/23/2021
Taxi strike alert system , US-10922986-B2, 2/16/2021
Acoustic angle-of-attack sensor, US-10884017-B2, 1/5/2021
Imaging seeker for a spin-stabilized projectile, US-10877489-B2, 12/29/2020
Short-exposure imaging-seeker for spin-stabilized projectiles, US-10837745-B2, 11/17/2020
Ranging objects external to an aircraft using multi-camera triangulation, US-10818024-B2, 10/27/2020
Acoustic airspeed sensors, US-10739371-B2, 8/11/2020
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting, US-10720069-B2, 7/21/2020
Terminal-imaging seeker with software defined optics , US-10712129-B2, 7/14/2020
Coordinating multiple missile targeting via optical inter-missile communications, US-10655936-B2, 5/19/2020
Inertially-aided air data computer altitude , US-10634692-B2, 4/28/2020
Real-time compensation of inertial gyroscopes , US-10612901-B2, 4/7/2020
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting, US-10559213-B2, 2/11/2020
Seeker with dynamic resolution imaging, US-10462361-B2, 10/29/2019
Ultra-wideband radar altimeter, US-10371812-B2, 8/6/2019
Phased array LIDAR in ordnance control, US-10281254-B2, 5/7/2019
Method and system for providing docking guidance to a pilot of a taxiing aircraft , US-10249203-B2, 4/2/2019
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting using adaptive field of view, US-10217371-B1, 2/26/2019
Seeker/designator handoff system for use in dual-mode guided missiles, US-10126101-B2, 11/13/2018
IMU-aided image registration, US-10121091-B2, 11/6/2018
Air data aided inertial measurement unit, US-10101174-B2, 10/16/2018
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting, US-10096256-B2, 10/9/2018
Method and system for aircraft taxi strike alerting, US-10043404-B2, 8/7/2018
Coordinating multiple ordnance targeting via optical inter-ordnance communications, US-10012477-B1, 7/3/2018
Systems and methods for landing lights, US-9643736-B1, 5/9/2017
Seeker having scanning-snapshot FPA , US-9494687-B2, 11/15/2016
Laser-aided passive seeker , US-9383170-B2, 7/5/2016
Harmonic shuttered seeker, US-9207053-B2, 12/8/2015
Dual-mode SAL/IR imaging, US-9163905-B2, 10/20/2015
View-point guided weapon system and target designation method, US-8525088-B1, 9/3/2013
Inertial measurement unit and method of constructing the same using two orthogonal surfaces, US-8056412-B2, 11/15/2011
System and method for providing high-range capability with closed-loop inertial sensors, US-8020440-B2, 9/20/2011
High bandwidth inertial measurement unit, US-8020442-B2, 9/20/2011
System and method for creating demo application maps for site-specific farming, US20030208319A1, 11/6/03
System and method for creating input crop requirement maps for site-specific farming, US20030036852A1, 2/20/03
System and method for creating controller application maps for site-specific farming, US20020040300A1, 4/4/02
System and method for analyzing data contained in a computerized database, US20020040273A1, 4/4/02
System and method for creating application maps for site-specific farming, US20020035431A1, 3/21/02
System and method for creating field attribute maps for site-specific farming, US20020022929A1, 2/21/02
System and method for providing profit analysis for site-specific farming, US20020022928A1, 2/21/02
TECHNICAL ARTICLES
ACHIEVEMENTS
Recipient of Goodrich’s Team Technical Achievement Award for technical excellence and teamwork.
Multiple recipient of Alliant Techsystems’s Contribution Award for technical expertise and teamwork.
Twice recipient of Honeywell's Special Achievement Award for excellence in technical work.
Tau Beta Pi, Engineering honorary society member.
Eta Kappa Nu, Electrical engineering honorary society member.
MISCELLANEOUS
Senior member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) since 1981. President of University of North Dakota student chapter of IEEE. 1981-1982.
Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Image Processing.
Member of the Order of the Engineer.
Invited lecturer at control colloquium broadcast live to industry over the University of Minnesota's UNITE television network.
Advanced open water PADI certified SCUBA diver.