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Robotics and Automation

Robotics and automation have been long time passions of mine. I enjoy the challenge of making complex tasks simple through the use of automated systems. My interest in robotics started in high school when I would build robots using VEX hardware. I have since graduated with a robotics specialty and have worked with unmanned systems. When possible, I like to volunteer with a FIRST Robotics high school team to help teach students science, technology, engineering, and math.

I am familiar with sensor aggregation, programming, and simulation of robotic platforms.

 

Here are a few projects that I've worked on:

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Please also visit the Programming Page.

  • End-to-End Robotic Work Cells for Magic Leap

    • I am presently the project owner, designer, and integrator of multiple robotic robotic work cells used for mission-critical testing of the Magic Leap 1 and  2 products. These work cells are used for validation and verification end-to-end testing.  KUKA robotic arms automatically pick up and handle the products and run them through a battery of tests. The work cells include pneumatics, controlled lighting, RFID tracking,  object sensing, pick up and operator stations, PLC and safety systems. 

  • Robotic Eyes for Magic Leap​

    • One complex and rewarding project I worked on was designing a mechatronic eye system that can mimic human eye motion while recording video streams. â€‹â€‹The system has seven degrees of freedom. 

  • Automated Rocket Fuel Delivery System for SpaceX

    • As an intern at SpaceX, I pushed the company to become more efficient by automating the fluid delivery of liquid oxygen and RP1​ to the storage tanks using a PLC, pneumatic valves, and temperature and pressure sensors. Launch Complex 39A and 40 at Cape Canaveral have since moved to my proposed designs.

  • Impact Characterization Test Bench

    • A friend and I were working on a project to characterize the location at which an impact event occurs. To test, I modified and programmed a 3-axis CNC machine with a solenoid that is triggered at desired locations. In each corner of the test substrate, a piezo sensor element is attached to measure the oscillations generated from the impact. The signals are measured using an oscilloscope and imported into Python for analysis. 

  • Robotic Arms

    • One of many favorite classes in college was Robotic Arms. The class taught me about software simulation, reference frames, and kinematics. I am currently in the process of building a robotic arm as a personal project. I intend to use the robotic arm for future automation projects. 

  • Autonomous Vehicles

    • I have worked on several autonomous vehicle projects in college and for work. A few vehicles I helped build were for the AUVSI RoboBoat and RoboSub student competitions. Additionally, My senior design project was working with a team on the NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition Robot. 

    • Please visit the Drone Aviation Corp. and Charles River Analytics pages for my work on drones and submarines, respectively.

  • Electronics and Software Robustness Test Bench

    • I designed and created a robustness test bench for Drone Aviation Corp. that allowed our flight critical hardware to be tested for a long duration of time, without the need of being in flight. The system is tested by simulating it as if it were in operation, such as cycling power, losing communications, monitoring GPS location and varying voltage.  

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DIY Robotic Arm
KR16.jpg
KUKA Robotic Arms
CNC Impact Test Bench
Autonomous Vehicle
Electronics and Software Robustness Test Bench

© 2020 by Michael Silverman.

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