Project High School

David H. Ferguson

**** **** **. ***. *** Cell: 917-***-****

Philadelphia, PA 19107 abpqdd@r.postjobfree.com

www.dhferguson.com

Education: Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Class of 2010 Masters of Robotics GPA: 3.95/4.0

Thesis: Path Generation and Control for End of Row Turning in an Orchard Environment

Course work included: Machine Learning, Mobile Robot Design, Kinematics Dynamics and Control, Sensors and

Sensing.

Johns Hopkins University Class of 2009 Major: Engineering Mechanics Minor: Physics GPA: 3.6/4.0

Graduated with honors

Course work included: Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Quantum Mechanics, Technical Communication,

Electronics and Instrumentation, Signals and Systems, Computer System Fundamentals, Computer Aided Design,

Robots Sensors and Actuators, Algorithms for Sensor Based Robotics and a two semester senior project sponsored

by the JHU APL.

Stuyvesant High School, New York, NY Graduated, June 2005. GPA: 93.4

Work

Experience: Comprehensive Automation of Specialty Crops Spring - Summer 2010

Robotics Researcher Pittsburgh, PA

Worked with a group on a portion of a large USDA project. The groups goal was the creation of an autonomous

vehicle to navigate fruit orchards gathering data and accomplishing repetitive common farm tasks such as mowing

and weed spraying. My work focused on the development of the autonomous navigation systems. I developed a

method for generating smooth optimal paths with the primary goal being to make the vehicle turn around and

enter orchard rows with a particular focus on three point turns. Work involved using optimization, vehicle

modeling, and controls techniques. Work culminated in a two week field test at which the vehicle successfully

drove autonomously over 20 km in apple orchards.

Johns Hopkins Senior Design Project 09- 10 School Year

Team Member Baltimore, MD

A two semester senior project sponsored the by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab involving four college

seniors including myself. Project focused on the design and construction of a small powerful actuat or for a

throwable jumping robot. Made extensive use of CAD software, rapid prototyping, and wire EDM to construct a

complex miniature spring loaded linear actuator. Project involved biweekly meetings with sponsors, extensive

reports, and presentations to engineering professionals.

Cox & Co. - Aerospace Engineering Company Summer 04, Summer 08

Engineering Intern New York, NY

First Summer I helped program and upgrade data acquisition and control system. Included programming in Visual

Basic.Net, modifying, upgrading, and repairing electrical systems and interfacing them to a computer via a Data

Acquisition Card.

Second Summer I did reliability analysis of a deicing control unit and helped modify the circui ts to solve existing

problems. I worked on a second project that involved designing a system to test the lifetime reliability of a

helicopter blade heater. Requirements involved developing a system to put a heater under 5000 micro strain at a

rate of 60 Hz. Design involved dynamic analysis of a forced mechanical system and building a test system. An

iteration of the design is currently being used for testing.

Johns Hopkins Haptics Lab Summer 2007

Summer Researcher Baltimore, MD

Through a Research Experience for Undergraduates Grant (REU), I worked on a project under the guidance of Dr.

Kuchenbecker with the goal of determining the importance of the sensation of contact in haptic (touch) feedback.

Tasks included designing a novel end effector for a haptic device to display forces and contact in 3 Dimensions,

creating a 3-D virtual environment with openGL in linux, designing an experiment, and writing a paper. The project

culminated in a paper submitted to the Haptics Symposium Conference that was accepted for both a presentation

and a demo.

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NASA Ames Robotics Academy Summer 2006

Engineering Intern Moffet Field, CA

Worked on a team of 4 students in a robotic Lab focusing on robotics manipulation. I specifically worked with one

other student to repackage and modify the avionics for a robotic arm to be small, lightweight, portable (po wered

by batteries instead of wall sockets), and integrate a computer. Tasks included, CAD, designing and replacing

electrical systems, constructing a custom aluminum box, ordering parts, and working with a budget.

Freelance Web Design and Tech Support Spring 05- Present

Personal Business New York, NY

Ran a freelance business with brother offering web design and computer repair services. Created dynamic

websites using the django framework from top to bottom including artwork and code. Responded to many calls to

set up and repair networks, install virus protection, recover lost data, install hardware, and resolve other computer

related issues. Dealt with customers in person, through e-mail, and over the phone.

Related

Experience: Member of Stuyvesant High School Robotics Team for four years. Head of Strategy and Design. Worked together

with 30-40 teammates to build a 130 lb. robot to compete in FIRST national high school tournaments. (For

Inspiration and Recognition in Science & Technology). Winners of multiple technical awards, a regional event, and

the prestigious chairman s award. (For more info see www.usfirst.org).

Awards and

Honors: AP scholar, NYC Public Schools Fencing Heisman Trophy Winner, NASA Space Grant Consortium Award, Deans List

(5 semesters), Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honors Society, Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honors Society

Skills: Knowledgeable in C, C++, Java, matlab programming languages

Website design including the django python framework

Skilled with Autodesk Inventor, Solidworks CAD, Pro Engineer/Mechanica software

Skilled in the use of most machine tools

Highly skilled at computer repair and maintenance

References: Available upon Requests

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