In this role, I oversaw experiments using a lab-scale, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), ocean wave energy powered reverse osmosis plant and delivered analysis validating numerical system models. This work supported my prior work with RME for which I had 1) performed design studies of their full-scale system and 2) provided specifications for the lab-scale system.I provided solutions addressing challenges with the implementation of feedback control systems, signal conditioning, and limited available hydraulic power for HIL simulation of the wave energy converter. The solutions I offered were communicated remotely to an onsite technician. With the conclusion of this project we demonstrated 1) a technical readiness level (TRL) of 4, as defined by the United States Department of Energy and 2) validity of numerical design models in capturing system dynamics and behavior of feedback control systems.

-Performed engineering design studies for ocean wave-powered, reverse osmosis desalination system using mathematical system models-Experimental design for characterization of hydraulic machine efficiency-System level design and optimization for multiple objectives and constraints-Feedback control system design for regulating hydraulic system pressure

For this Co-operative internship, I served as mechanical engineering support for paper converting assets that manufactured feminine hygiene and incontinence pads. I was tasked with troubleshot mechanical failures and provided design improvements, easing operator interaction, and solving problems dealing with operator health and safety (esp. noise reduction).An example of my work is a project for which I was tasked with of determining why one of the converting assets was considerably louder than others (about 10 dB louder in an environment that averaged 90-100 dB). I used noise measurements to map out noise levels around the assets (about 5000 sqft. area and two stories). I coupled this with a simple frequency analysis application (FFT) on my smart phone to determine the dominate frequencies of the noise. I correlated the excessive noise to the the frequency of the toothed conveyor belts coming over the edge of vacuum boxes. The root cause for the excessive noise was a mistake in the CAD file for a conveyor belt idle bearing housing. A designer at a contracted design firm had misplaced the axis by about 0.010" compared to similar designs. This caused the teeth of the conveyor belt to have to come up over the edge of the vacuum box and generate sound at the frequency each tooth struck the edge (about 416 Hz). I corrected the CAD file, issued a work order for the corrected part to be manufactured and installed, and made the company's Technical Leader for conveyor belt technology aware of the flaw and what issues it had caused.

This position was is a small design office that hired out to internal customers. I was teamed up with a group of four engineers within an office of 30+ designers. My projects included performing detailed design for internal R&D groups. This included engineering calculations, component and system layout design in CAD, and drawing production with GD&T. My project applications included, designing small-scale 3D-printed metal parts (on scale of 1-10mm), fluid distribution within an environmental testing chamber, and large, load-bearing, injection molded parts.

In this co-operative internship position, I served on an advance process development team working on laser manipulation of sheet metal for hard-disk drive read-write head suspensions. My work included testing process and machine changes, performing statistical analysis, constructing automated scripts for mining process data, and reviewed detailed design and produced drawings for precision machine tooling.An example project was designing tooling for more reliable and accurate part positioning. I using high-speed video, I determined 1) that the current approach was imparting significant energy into the parts during tool engagement that led to variance in part positioning and 2) that prototype tooling for a proposed alternative approach was causing the tooling to stick to parts that led to misalignment and jamming when the machine attempted to advance the parts. I guided the designer to make a geometry change that I later statistically demonstrated to give both improved part positioning and fewer jams. The new tooling design was implemented in the for a new part model.