Christopher Kim Email & Phone Number

Philadelphia, Pa

Designed and fabricated a bistable linear solenoid actuator-sensor device with EMG-triggered activation, achieving a snap-through force of 0.325N, peak actuation output over 1.5N with less than 20V input, and 2.8% positional accuracy via custom PET solenoid self-sensing using induced emf measurements.Developed and characterized an i-cord knitted SMA actuator achieving 30% contraction under 1A current, with a 67% improvement in temperature distribution compared to planar knitted SMA… Show more Designed and fabricated a bistable linear solenoid actuator-sensor device with EMG-triggered activation, achieving a snap-through force of 0.325N, peak actuation output over 1.5N with less than 20V input, and 2.8% positional accuracy via custom PET solenoid self-sensing using induced emf measurements.Developed and characterized an i-cord knitted SMA actuator achieving 30% contraction under 1A current, with a 67% improvement in temperature distribution compared to planar knitted SMA, utilizing a novel resistance-based model for precise strain estimation.Created a feedback control loop model of an electrical, mechanical, and thermal system which uses the resistivity of SMA to estimate the strain and temperature of the actuator MATLAB and Arduino.Implemented a computer vision experimental setup which uses MATLAB’s Computer Vision Toolbox to collect timestamped data of the strain achieved by the SMA actuator.Devised the control and actuation scheme for an untethered origami-inspired jumping robot with controllable jump height with an Arduino Mini and a lightweight flexible circuit board cut out of copper foil using a Cameo Silhouette vinyl cutter. Show less

Hawthorne, California, United States

Nondestructive Evaluation Development:Developed a Python and SQL script to import, process, and display the nondestructive inspection data of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicle by automatically publishing messages to kafka during inspection to streamline the manual repetitive process for technicians and specialists to check defects.Enhanced the reliability of existing Python GUI used for inspecting Falcon 9 vehicles by migrating the code from Python 2 to Python 3 and… Show more Nondestructive Evaluation Development:Developed a Python and SQL script to import, process, and display the nondestructive inspection data of the Starship and Super Heavy vehicle by automatically publishing messages to kafka during inspection to streamline the manual repetitive process for technicians and specialists to check defects.Enhanced the reliability of existing Python GUI used for inspecting Falcon 9 vehicles by migrating the code from Python 2 to Python 3 and implementing new features based on feedback from manufacturing engineers and technicians. Implemented a LabVIEW GUI which controls and outputs the real-time position and orientation of the Universal Robot’s UR5e industrial collaborative robot with a .NET Framework and Ethernet connection in order to improve the automation for development of in-house NDE techniques. Show less

Evanston, Il

Selected as the McCormick Summer Research AwardeeNeuroscience x Robotics (NxR) LaboratoryConstructed a VR environment with C# and ROS, which employs ergodic control algorithms to let a swarm of UAV’s increase the situational awareness of a human user as part of a DARPA project in multi-source spectral framework for human-swarm collaboration.

Bryan/College Station, Texas Area

Selected for the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automated Design funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).Designed a Mechanical Testbed for Patterned Tubes, which can test the axial, torsional, and flexural rigidity of laser-printed potential steerable needles in Texas A&M BioRobotics Laboratory.Designed and fabricated a Mechanical Testbed for Patterned NiTi Tubes with a linear stage actuator, force-torque sensor… Show more Selected for the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automated Design funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).Designed a Mechanical Testbed for Patterned Tubes, which can test the axial, torsional, and flexural rigidity of laser-printed potential steerable needles in Texas A&M BioRobotics Laboratory.Designed and fabricated a Mechanical Testbed for Patterned NiTi Tubes with a linear stage actuator, force-torque sensor, stepper motor, and 3D-printed PLA parts to test laser-printed steerable needles for non-invasive surgical robots.Created a GUI using Java and LabView to manipulate and collect data from the mechanical testbed in different settings. Show less

Evanston, Illinois

Selected as the awardee for the Summer Undergraduate Research GrantDepartment of NeurobiologyDeveloped MATLAB machine learning algorithms to more efficiently and accurately analyze the thermosensory responses in Drosophila, as a way to study how sensory processing leads to specific motor responses and directed behavior.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Mechanical Engineering And Applied Mechanics

General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception (GRASP) Laboratory

Master Of Science - Ms, Robotics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Tau Beta Pi (President), Korean Association at Northwestern University (KANU) (President) Harmony in Spirit.