Sky Bjel Email & Phone Number

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Contributing to the development of a reinforcement learning project aimed to optimize multi-agent exploration for a heterogeneous multi-robot system involved in search-and-rescue applications.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Brampton, Ontario, Canada

- Assisted development of an AI-enhanced path planning algorithm for Canadarm3, including developing a neural network from scratch to allow the arm to recognize ideal/safe joint configurations to move into.- Implemented and assisted in integration of a dynamic Canadarm3 model into team control simulation software.- Performed electrical schematic design, conducted data analysis, and helped in writing a novel image processing script for key Canadarm3 test rigs which assessed effects of Lunar Dust transferred from other vehicles on different areas of the system.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

- Co-founded team to provide students with an interest in deep-space planetary exploration research the opportunity to help develop end-to-end projects, to be tested in extreme analogue environments. - Successfully led task-estimation efforts and literature reviews to develop our proposal for the Cave Aerial Navigator And Remotely-operated exploratorY system (CANARY), a small robotic system intended to traverse and collect data on ambient conditions and internal structure deep within a Lunar cave environment, to assess suitability as a potential temporary shelter for future astronauts.- Organized and scheduled planning and crew selection for team's first Lunar analogue expedition to test CANARY, to be performed in Iceland. - Assisted in developing high-level mechanical, electrical, and software architecture for the system alongside the team. - Additional key responsibilities included conducting weekly general meetings, reviewing the work of other members and team leads, creating team milestones, deliverables, and policies.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

- Contributed to and collected data for a research project focused on mitigating dynamic forces generated by propellant slosh between two rendezvousing spacecraft duringsatellite refueling. - Conducted tests aboard a Falcon-20 parabolic flight in partnership with the CanadianSpace Agency and the National Research Council of Canada via helping control a series of sensors andcameras mounted on our team-built machine, which cycled FC-72 fluid (physically analogous to LOX)through a series of tubes containing a uniquely-patterned 3D printed slat screen in each. - Worked alongside team members to troubleshoot malfunctioning of the system on team's first flight of 2021, helping save rapidly-evaporating FC-72 supply and experimental data. Presented incremental findings to Canadian Space Agency representatives throughout the project life cycle. Scheduled team meetings, developed high-level team goals.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

- Conducted research on behalf of the Balloon Astrophysics Research Group (BallAst) for the SuperBIT space telescope collaboration. - Developed, simulated, and crafted power-switching circuit board interfaced with flight computer, to enable efficient data transfer to onboard hard drives storing telescope data, and to control the timing of their release from the craft in flight. - Designed novel, highly modularized and efficiently wired solar array structure to enhance portability, ease of transport, and assembly time by research team during campaign (assembly fully modelled and drawn via SolidWorks). - Created and implemented Python script to optimize power generated by spacecraft solar array for several angles, for any day, time, location on Earth, and altitude (parameters selected by user); findings sent to NASA in preparation for upcoming telescope integration in Texas (Nov. 2021). - Began development of a remotely-controllable GoPro/Raspberry Pi interface designed to take images in space, and to store them for access by ground computers via SSH. - Presented progress and findings to U of T Department of Astronomy colleagues and to the public in a midterm conference, followed by a final end-of-term poster talk. Attended weekly meetings with SuperBIT project collaborators (NASA JPL, Princeton University, Durham University), workshops (e.g. scientific computing with Python), and spacecraft instrumentation talks.

Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Successfully ensured patron safety and well-being through guarding two pools with a team on rotation.Engagingly taught swimming, first aid, and CPR lessons to students of varying age groups and skill levels.