Experience

Senior Autonomous Systems Engineer

Starting August 2017

Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant

Fall 2011 - June 2017: Worked toward my Master's degree and PhD on projects focusing on multiagent learning. Worked with my advisor toward a proposal under NASA that explored the UAV Traffic Management problem, which became the focus of my dissertation. Primarily developed research software and wrote papers, but also worked with undergraduate and graduate students toward a real robot application of the UAV Traffic Management problem on Pioneer 3-DX robots. Additional duties included performing tasks as a Teacher's Assistant for classes including Multiagent Systems, Learning-Based Control, Soft Robotics, and Python for Engineers. Master's work focused on how to apply multiagent learning in an assisted product design problem.

NREIP Fellow, Student Contractor

Summer 2016: Worked with a team on the integration of a sensor system for an outdoor multi-robot swarm demo . For this demo, we worked with a heterogeneous system that included an ATRV-Jr and several Pioneer 3-DX ground robots. This project used an integration of C++ and Python code communicating under a ROS infrastructure.

Summer 2015: Researched improving the scalability of systems that use linear temporal logic (LTL). LTL is a provable control method, and under this project was used for task assignment for a group of robots. However this method cannot scale past about 5 robots and finish in a reasonable amount of time. I introduced a task allocation based on using an evolved V

Research Intern

Summer 2013: Experimented with using information about heterogeneous policies for multi-UAV collision avoidance. Used an expanded state space to accommodate communicated policies between UAVs, and used reinforcement learning to develop redirection strategies for UAVs.

Summer 2012: Developed a trajectory simulation software to test multi-UAV conflicts, and experimented with learning to avoid conflicts.

Summer 2011: Worked toward applying multiagent routing strategies to internet traffic networks. I also worked with a probabilistic verification software called PRISM.

Math and Science Tutor

Fall 2009-2010: Helped students with a wide range of topics, including basic math skills up to second-year calculus, physics, and chemistry classes. Additionally would hold study sessions with groups of students focused on physics topics and test preparation. Also held Engineering Help Desk hours, which focused primarily on solving homework problems involving statics and dynamics courses.

Lead Systems Engineer

Summer 2009: Summer position that targeted including under-privileged teens in research surrounding robotic exploration of a geological formation in Paulina Lake, Oregon. Worked on a team with other students from Linn-Benton community college to put together the underwater exploration vehicle that was deployed in the lake. Worked with under-privileged youth to deploy the robot off of a motor boat into the lake, and recover the robot after the expedition. Engaged with youth in engineering projects, including design of simple underwater robots, as well as repairs to the main research vessel.