About

Brief Overview

I was born and raised in South Africa. I lived in Cape Town until September 2015 when I moved to Chicago. Coming from a place like Cape Town, I like to spend my free time outdoors. When I get the chance I enjoy surfing, hiking, mountain biking, and a new found fondness of snow boarding. I have a skippers license as well a scuba diving license. Other sports I enjoy playing and watching include: Football, Cricket, Rugby, and Cycling. I have participated and completed the Cape Town Cycle Race on seven occasions as well as numerous other races. I have also summited Mount Kilimanjaro.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechatronics - University of Cape Town
Enrolled Feb 2011 – Graduated Dec 2014.

Master of Science in Robotics - Northwestern University
Enrolled Sep 2015 - (Expected) Graduated Dec 2016

Experience

Robotic Manipulation Software Development - (May 2016 - Sep 2016)
I developed the software to accompany Professor Kevin Lynch’s text book entitled, Introduction to Robotics: Mechanics, Planning, and Control. This consisted of a library of functions designed to aid robotic manipulation. I wrote a version of the library in Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, and C. This library can be found here.

Internship - (Nov 2013 - Jan 2014)
In November 2013, I did a two month internship in the Bioelectronics and Neuroscience (BENS) Research Program at the University of Western Sydney. The projects that I was involved in were:

  • Design and construction of a robotic system for stimulation and feedback control of the human peripheral sensory system (tactile sensing)
  • Design and construction of hardware for a ping-pong playing robot

While I was there I also attended a seminar on the use of an Arduino for network communications.

Practical Training - (Nov 2011)
During my Bachelors degree, I attended a practical training course at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. There I learnt a few practical engineering trades including: arc welding; lathe machining; design automation with pneumatics; applied metrology; CNC machining; heat tempering and hardening; and Computer Aided Drafting.

What I am up to at the moment

I am currently still finishing my Masters degree. The courses I have taken include:

  • Embedded Systems
  • Robotic Manipulation
  • Machine Dynamics
  • Computational Geometry
  • Digital Image Analysis
  • Feedback Systems
  • Intro into Machine Learning
  • Advanced Mechatronics
  • Digital Control

The project I am currently working on is designing and building a robotic rat’s head. More about this can be seen here

Additional Skills and Experience

Programming Languages

  • C
  • C++
  • Java
  • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Mathematica

Software Experience

  • Linux and Windows Operating systems.
  • Simulink, OpenCV, Solid Works, Eagle, LabView, Visual Studio, Arduino IDE.
  • ROS (Robot Operating System).

Practical Engineering

  • PCB Design
  • Soldering
  • 3D Printing
  • Laser Cutting
  • CAD Design
  • Rethink Robotics’ Baxter Robot

Languages

  • English (Native language)
  • Afrikaans
  • Hebrew