Eric Damm Email & Phone Number

I'm a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Rochester (UR), working in the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (RAIL) led by Dr. Thomas Howard. My research focuses on high-speed, off-road, autonomy for ground robots through harsh environments. My work involves extensive field testing, hardware and software systems architecture design, and the development of efficient mathematical models of robot kinematics for effective on-board performance.Prior to UR, I earned my Master's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where I worked in the Bioinspired Systems Engineering Laboratory (BioSEL) led by Dr. Kathleen Lamkin-Kennard. My research involved developing a novel soft robotics actuation device, which became the topic of my master's thesis. This experience provided valuable insights into academic research and its impact on myself and the lab.I also spent a year at Magna Powertrain in the Base Controls group as a mechatronics systems engineer. My role focused on designing and conducting experiments in the field, analyzing the data, and making necessary developments to the control system software in four-wheel-drive vehicles for "The Big Three" automakers.Before that, I earned my Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where I gained proficiency in MATLAB, CAD, and fundamental engineering and research skills. At RPI, I also worked in the New York State Center for Future Energy Systems laboratory, developing methods of laser sintering copper nanoparticles to glass.With a diverse background spanning business development, innovation, physical modeling, hardware development, mechatronics, control systems engineering, electrical engineering, and robotics, I continually seek learning opportunities and engage in personal projects to further enhance my skills.I look forward to collaborations with all of you, and to always learning something new!