Sam Prudden Email & Phone Number

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

My primary roles involved system design, testing and evaluation for Hovermap product hardware and accessories as well as development of process improvements. Examples include:- Implementation of CAD design management strategies using Solidworks PDM to improve design workflows.- Design of Hovermap mounting solutions for ground robots.- Shock and vibration theoretical analysis and experimental testing.- Product ownership and requirements management and elicitation.- Payload mechanical integration into multirotor platforms.- Implementation of continuous improvements to Hovermap products- Prototyping and investigating solutions for next-generation Hovermap products.I also performed the role of Interim Product Owner for two multirotor integration products. My responsibilities included:- Investigating and defining product scope in collaboration with Product Management.- Planning and managing team activities in BigPicture, and reporting milestone progress.- Collaborating with our external development partner to define solutions.- Technical requirements management and elicitation.- Generating verification plans and executing verification activities.

Melbourne

Managing RPAS-based VLOS and N-VLOS airborne testing and development of AVT's gimbal systems onboard <25kg multirotor aircraft, including the CM62 Micro Gimbal for the LAND 129 Phase 4b project.Performing the roles of:- Chief Remote Pilot- Chief Maintenance Officer- RPAS safety representativePrimary responsibilities included:- Scoping and assessing flight test locations with respect to aviation regulations and mission requirements.- Piloting multirotor RPAS to fulfill flight mission criteria.- Managing VLOS and N-VLOS operations, including flight plans, safety documentation, transportation logistics and staff.- Maintaining a fleet of multirotor RPAS and manufacturing an array of sensor mounts.- Writing flight testing safety policies and staff induction processes for ISO9001 QMS.- Training and assessing AVT Remote Pilots for flight competency and N-VLOS knowledge.

Melbourne, Australia

Technical design and testing of high-performance, multi sensor imaging systems for AVT Australia's R&D team.Primary roles and responsibilities include:- Component and assembly design and development for two- and four-axis gimbals including drive systems, sensor integration and environmental protection (Solidworks). - Lab-based analysis and verification processes for design concepts and pre-production designs. Factors included ingress protection, thermal management, pressure-induced structural deformation, aerodynamic and inertial loading, gearbox backlash mitigation and sensor boresight deflection and drift.- Experimental vibration testing and analysis of optical systems and development of vibration isolation systems for a range of platforms.- Elicitation and refinement of subsystem requirements combined with developing verification strategies.- Refining structure and gear designs for shock and bending loads using analytical and Finite Element methodologies.- Acted as the lathe and mill super-user and workshop safety representative, which involved inducting other staff to safely use the equipment.- Machining prototype components, jigs and fixtures in-house using the lathe, mill and 3D printer.- Supporting manned airborne-based and ground-based field testing and demonstrations of AVT's CM234 gimbal for the LAND 129 Phase 3 project. This included conducting analytical and experimental safety factor analyses and written reports for Engineering Order certification of the payloads for airborne testing.- Collaborating with manufacturing facilities for product development.

Melbourne, Australia

Thesis title: "Rotor aerodynamic interaction effects for Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aircraft Systems in forward flight".The primary focus of this research was experimentally and analytically studying an array of quadrotor configurations in a range of trimmed forward flight conditions to determine changes to individual rotor performance metrics caused by rotor-rotor wake interference. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted using custom-developed quadrotor apparatuses with two-axis adjustable geometry and both sting-mounted and free flight analysis modes. Measurements of total airframe loads as well as individual rotor loads (6-axis) were conducted at a range of longitudinal and lateral rotor tip separation distances, airframe pitch angles and rotor advance ratios in trimmed forward flight conditions. Isolated rotor measurements coupled with analytical predictions, free-flight measurements and flow visualisation were used to determine rotor interference factors and provide insight into flow mechanisms. The characterised wake interference effects were used to provide guidance for multirotor airframe design and operation.

Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

Lecturer and tutor for Engineering Unmanned Aircraft Systems undergraduate course, as well as an industry-based guest lecturer teaching rotorcraft aerodynamics for the Advanced Aerodynamics course. Awarded the Sessional Staff Award in 2019 for achieving the highest teaching performance with a Good Teaching Score (GTS) of 94.7% from 61 students.Responsible for developing lectures and coursework for 5/12 topics including:- Introduction to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems- Airframe configurations- Propulsion systems- Control systems- Communications systemsAlso responsible for guiding student teams through their development of a Quadrotor RPA including tutorials, one-one technical assistance and flight testing.

Bundoora, Australia

RMIT-based project manager for a R&D project partnered with Freespace Racing (formerly Freedom Class Racing) to develop giant racing drone composite airframes. Tasks included:- Managing a team of undergraduate engineering students conducting FE analyses on composite structures- Organising and coordinating material procurement and manufacturing resources- Participating in airframe design and tooling development processes with Freespace Racing

Melbourne, Australia

Freelance consultant, remote pilot and technician for multi-rotor unmanned aircraft systems providing:- remote pilot services for <25kg multirotor aircraft- expert technical advice on aircraft and ground station equipment, setup and operations- custom airframe component design, manufacturing and modifications- repairs and maintenance- sub-system installation and testingSpecialising in heavy-lift multi-rotors (7-25kg) and a proven track record with several Melbourne-based UAS operators.

Melbourne, Australia

Flight Instructor for the UAS Operations Course being offered in collaboration between FDS and RMIT University, which allowed students to obtain their RePL. Involved training students how to safely operate a multirotor RPAS as well as assessing their ability to perform maneuvers as part of the RePL syllabus.

Development, testing and demonstration of the Black Kite RPAS for the Waterside Rapid Deployment Security System (WRDSS) R&D project in collaboration with DSTG Maritime.Main Roles:• Generation and refinement of design- and operational-requirements• UAS airframe conceptual design and structural design using CAD modelling (CATIA V5)• Integration and layout of avionics and electronics within airframe structure• Composite component manufacturing and integration• Integration of EO/IR sensor payloads and gimbals• Management of manufacturing processes• Preparation of technical and operational documentation• Chief Pilot for UAS flight testing and demonstrations Achievements:- One of two RMIT members to demonstrate the system to military VIPs at the US Naval Undersea Warfare Centre in Newport, RI, in September 2015- RMIT project manager for the development of the Black Kite V3 prototype and hand-over to DSTG.

Dahlewitz, Germany

A one-year internship project as part of the RMIT International Industry Experience and Research Program (RIIERP)Main roles:• Requirements Management for two engine development projects and one engine technology project• Facilitation of Systems Engineering tool workshops with design teams• Development of graphical models such as Functional Flow Models to elicit requirements and analyse design concepts• Management of the Dynamic Object-Orientated Requirements System (DOORS) database and users -> Creating and modifying requirement document database structures -> Providing training, document access and support for DOORS users• Analysis of requirements maturity and traceability -> Providing statistics and presentations to project leaders -> Providing guidance and support to requirement authors to meet Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Achievements:• Developed and implemented a Systems Engineering Management Plan for an engine project, which was signed and accepted by the Chief Engineer -> Defined responsibilities for team members, appropriate systems engineering tools and a requirements maturity monitoring and improvement strategy -> Communicated methods with Rolls-Royce Derby-based design teams• Trained 106 employees in DOORS training sessions

A DSI-funded project to develop a wind tunnel quadrotor apparatus to test the feasibility of measuring atmospheric wind vectors using differential rotor power measurements.Main roles:• UAS structural design and manufacture• Composite component manufacturing • UAS avionics testing • Analysis of Multi-rotor propulsion system in wind tunnel• Electronics assembly and soldering• Planning and coordination of technical staff and resourcesAchievements: Published paper “An Evaluation of Multi-Rotor Unmanned Aircraft as Flying Wind Sensors” in International Journal of Micro Aerial Vehicles

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Aerospace Engineering

Multi-rotor Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MUAS) aerodynamics research

Bachelor Of Aerospace Engineering (Honours), Gpa: 4.0/4.0

Activities and Societies: RMIT Unmanned Aerial Systems Team

6 Month Exchange, Aerospace Engineering

Activities and Societies: Team Leader for EP-UAV design project

Vce, Atar: 96.55

Cert. Iii, Engineering