Michael Downing Email & Phone Number

Mountain View, California, Us

Autonomy & Airspace Integration Group

Mountain View, California, Us

Performed systems and safety analyses for the AV stack and supporting ecosystem, including vehicle platform controls interfaces, ADAS system integration, and teleoperations. Particular focus on CAN network architecture and propulsion control interfaces for a driverless-ready platform.Managed the integration of the Aurora autonomous vehicle stack with the flagship vehicle for a startup EV OEM.

San Jose, California, Us

Managed system design and analysis for wireless charging systems. Performed analysis ofregulatory constraints and system performance requirements. Directed research and development effort on sensor systems, including sonar, radar, infrared,and optical time-of- flight sensors. Directed hardware, software and algorithm development for proof-of-concept designs.

Westminster, Co, Us

Project Management:• A CAN-based platform for Precision Agriculture, including RTOS, proprietary CAN protocols, reprogramming protocols and device drivers. Used in 15 separate ECUs, including electric and hydraulic motor controllers, IMUs, sensors (ultrasonic, optical and infrared) and HIDs.• A Precision Agriculture flow and section control system including ECUs, tablet display software, and back office analysis tools. Provided integration support to OEM partners using this system.• An after-market yield monitoring system for grain harvesters, including ECUs tablet display software, and back office analysis tools.• Integration with competitors' and partners' yield monitoring systems to harvest mass flow and moisture data from CAN and serial data streams for in-cab and off-line mapping.• Two new chlorophyll sensing systems for use in both off-line and real-time fertilizer prescription map generation.• An ultrasonic ranging sensor for use in machine control.• The addition of ISO-11783 (ISOBUS) CAN Virtual Terminal and Task Controller functionality to in-cab displays. • A ground-up refactoring of the common CAN stack to allow compliance to the ISOBUS standard, and allowing multiple virtual ECUs on a single platform.• An aftermarket pivot-irrigation controller designed to allow remote monitoring and control of irrigation systems.Systems Engineering:• OEM-partnered development of an android-based display.• Due diligence investigation on the acquisition of a company in the automated irrigation space.• Requirements definition of a next–generation embedded Linux central control module including high precision GNSS, IMUs, Wifi and Cellular capabilities.• Specification of a new hydraulic steering controller designed to encapsulate the safety-related functions of the Trimble auto-guidance system.• Architecture definition for implement ECUs compatible with the ISO-11783 standard.

Westminster, Co, Us

Led the hardware and firmware development of advanced GPS receivers for use in military and civilian aircraft as well as timing systems. Projects included:• Design, development and verification of a new 24-channel GPS ASIC• Development of a new SAASM GPS security module using this ASIC• Development of a suite of 24-channel GPS receivers using this security module and ASIC.• Integration of the GPS receiver into a variety of systems, including a beam-steering antenna system, and a ring laser gyro INS.• FAA-certification of SAASM-based GPS receivers.Represented the company and its products to various organizations, including the DOD, FAA, and multiple OEM partners

Bethesda, Md, Us

Principal architect for a standardized simulation platform used in guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) system development, and hardware-in-the-loop testing.Used SystemBuild to develop models of GN&C components, as well as attitude and orbital dynamics models for a satellite ground control training simulation.

Falls Church, Va, Us

Developed flight control algorithms for the B-2 flying wing. Activities included:• Modeling of rigid body aircraft dynamics and validation against wind tunnel and flight test data.• Modeling of flexible body in-flight dynamics, and validation against resonance test and flight test data. • Development of control architectures, digital filters, gains and moding logic for flight stabilization.• Development of control architectures for active stabilization of structural resonance modes.• Validation of flight control performance using flight test and pilot-in-the-loop simulation data.Developed flight control and guidance algorithms for an autonomous air vehicle. Activities included:• Modeling of vehicle aerodynamics under normal, and rocket, propulsion.• Development of control architectures, digital filters, gains and moding logic.• Development of monte carlo simulations of test flight plans.• Validation of vehicle aerodynamics against flight data.

Charlotte, North Carolina, Us

Masters, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics And Controls

Bsme, Mechanical Engineering, Control Systems