Advisor: Professor Kyujin ChoField of Research: Soft Wearable Rehabilitation RoboticsResearch Description: Development of a soft wearable knee unloading brace system, Exo-Unloader, for individuals that suffer from or are prone to the onset of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Exo-Unloader integrates soft and semi-rigid components together into a low-profile, compact, and comfortable wearable system to unload forces off of the medial and lateral condyles of the knee joint. To achieve this, I have been continually developing two key technologies: Reinforced Flexible Shell (RFS) anchoring, and Tendon-Driven Linear Sliding (TDLS) actuators.RFS anchoring uses a combination of soft and semi-rigid materials to perfectly match to the contours of the body and adhere to the wearers skin. This enables RFS anchoring to be light and compact like soft wearable clothes, but imbued with the compression resistant capabilities of rigid wearable exoskeletons. TDLS actuators are attached to the medial and lateral sides of the thigh and shank (calf) to create unloading forces at the knee joint.

At the Study Abroad Office, I led programs as an outreach officer including: study abroad fairs, presentations, and as a peer contact for abroad applicants. Also I provided support and resources for students aspiring to partake in the California State University International Program, and served as a student adviser and as an interview panelist for the study abroad application process.

At Electroimpact I assisted in the design, fabrication, and assembly on multiple retrofitted Kuka Robotic Arms for Electroimpact Inc. By working with this project team, the biggest goal I accomplished was a heightened knowledge as to how robotics are designed and used in automation and assembly. Also an increased understanding of how we, both, currently and will integrate such technologies more in our world.

I attended Yonsei University as a student of California State University International Program (CSU IP).This was a powerful and life changing experience for me, both as a student and as a person. My experience abroad pushed me to my limits in ways I had not even considered. It challenged me intellectually, culturally, and emotionally.From my experience, I have strengthened my skills in: familiarizing myself with local customs foreign to me, stress management in unfamiliar situations, adaptability and resourcefulness, independence, open-mindedness, patience, and optimism.At Yonsei University I still enrolled in engineering courses including Controls Systems and Heat Transfer. Moving to a university situated in a different cultural and learning environment challenged my learning skills and helped me to approach problems from different angles.This experience also gave me the opportunity to travel between South Korea, Japan, and China providing me with opportunity to further develop cultural sensitivity and inter-cultural competency.Particularly, I had the opportunity to live in and backpack Japan between the end of December and the beginning of March. This improved my time management, financial management, and self-reliance when immersed in a place where I do not understand the language.

Mechanical Engineering Intern for the Summer of 2014.I collaborated on a number of projects including but not limited to: Wing assembly systems, drilling and riveting tooling, and machines for fuselage assembly. As an intern I got hands on experience designing and fabricating prototypes and assisting in the assembly and production of final products.

I was a Mechanical Engineering Intern working in Product Development Department. Working for FMC Technologies Schilling Robotics, I gained insight into concepts such as industry standards, brainstorming, and product development through proof of concept. The main project I worked on over the 2013 summer was a research project which looked into filtration concepts with regard to the Hydraulic systems in place on Schillings ROV's. Through technical analysis and in-depth research into hydraulic oil properties I created with a proof of concept that if implemented would make early water intrusion detection a viable component of our subsea systems. This proof of concept included multiple experiments that resulted in a dielectric sensor that when fully implemented would determine the water content in oil by passing the mixture through a parallel plate capacitor as a dielectric. My work quantified the primary operating parameters for future sensor design including excitation frequency, plate area, and plate spacing. Other projects that I worked on at Schilling Robotics include a torque wrench adapter spanner tool for use in R.O.V. manufacturing to ensure the electrical subsea penetrators were properly installed onto a one atmosphere chamber. I also investigated calibrated leak standards for use in post-assembly leak testing for one of the one atmosphere chambers put at depth.

Mechanical Engineering Intern for the Summer of 2012.I contributed to creating a viable solution to the assembly of carbon fiber aircraft through manufacturing and assisting in machine assembly of their latest Squeeze Riveter. During this project I actively participated in both Mechanical and Electrical aspects of the project