Alan Zhang Email & Phone Number

• Designed spherical tensegrity robot landers for high-altitude aerial deployment in extreme environments to provide sensor data for remote users
• Characterized the robots’ collision and impact behavior through modeling, simulation, and drop test experiments using high-speed camera capture and measurements from integrated sensors
• Analyzed impact statistics to optimize hardware design and guarantee safety of robot and payload across a variety of landing scenarios
• Mentored teams of masters and undergraduate researchers on multiple design projects for different components of the robot hardware

E 29 - Manufacturing and Design Communication [Summer 2022 (Instructor), Spring 2021]E 25 - Visualization for Design [Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017]ME 110 - Introduction to Product Development [Spring 2019]ME 229 - Design of Electromechanical Devices [Spring 2017]E 27 - Introduction to Manufacturing and Tolerancing [Fall 2016.

Applied Manufacturing Division

• Developed in-situ programmable functionalities to augment the capabilities of conventional additive manufacturing platforms
• Evaluated a wide range of advanced manufacturing hardware and software for potential usage in the SpaceShop rapid prototyping facility
• Collaborated with NASA researchers to develop and fabricate design prototypes across a variety of research projects

• Developed the LabVIEW control code for a hybrid electric go-kart with a flywheel energy storage system. Key features include regulating the energy between the battery packs, motors, and flywheel, and controlling the.
• Investigated the data workflow between NI LabVIEW and Autodesk Inventor as part of a joint research project. We aimed to integrate the design, control, and dynamic simulation of mechanical systems such as the.
• Presented the go-kart and initial project results at NI Week 2015 in Austin, TX

Flow Physics And Control Branch

• Tested sweeping jet actuators for an active flow control flight prototype. Characterization of the actuator flow fields focused on measuring mass flow rate, pressure, and velocity with a 5-hole pressure probe
• Validated the performance of the actuators and pressure probe to prepare the prototype for future wind tunnel testing, and presented project results to the branch director

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mechanical Engineering

Design of Impact-Resistant Tensegrity Landers Advisor: Professor Alice Agogino

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honors Society (CA-A Chapter)High Honors || Dean's List