About The Team

Nick Bira

I am a first year robotics graduate student at Oregon State University taking coursework and performing research in soft robotics. My current focus is on electrorheological fluids and microfluidic valves for soft robots. I've previously interned at Intel doing work on VR control methods, and I've performed a variety of prior research involving gait and motion reconstruction, soft robotics, and data analysis at the University of Missouri, Oregon State University, and MIT. My personal interests include baking, 3D printing, electronics development, art and design.

My skills I bring to this team are CAD and general design, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, and hardware assembly. I also have extensive experience with soldering and electronics assembly/enclosure design, so I anticipate contributing to the shape and construction of the physical robot.

Project Responsibilities : CAD, 3D Modeling, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, assembly, code review, and system-level mechanical layout and construction.

Alex Jacobson

Originally from San Francisco, CA I am a Junior in Computer Science at Oregon State University. I have interned all across the Bay Area from a drone company called 3DRobotics in Berkeley to several summers at Tesla in Palo Alto. I have a wide array of programming experience from server administration to web development to embedded devices. I also spend a lot of my free time working on electronics projects so I also have plenty of experience with electrical engineering.

Most of my applicable skills are around embedded programming and sensor technologies. I anticipate handling much of the coding work and sensor design and implementation. I also have an extensive background in various types of electric motors and will be helping out with designing and controlling those.

Project Responsibilities : Robot PC setup and configuration, Kinect installation and programming, webcam and video setup, motor control programming and installation, assisting with motor selection and control

Courtney Curtis

I am a Senior in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Oregon State University. I interned at HP Inc. over the summer working on a testing device for one of HP's prototype ink level sensors. I've also spent a summer working on repairing computer monitors for a design company. I have a wide array of experience with electronics from both school and personal projects. My senior project at Oregon State was a window hanging pen plotter that drew pictures on windows.

I am very interested in both electronics and mechanical design and most of my skills involve both things. I can solder, design PCB's, and build motor controllers. I have also done a fair amount of programming work, but my skills set definitely leans towards hardware.

Project Responsibilities : Design and installation of power system, selecting and installation of motors, fan installation and controls, assisting with mechanical layout and construction