About Me
I’m Tyler - I’m a Master’s Student studying robotics at the University of Michigan. I’m passionate about computer vision, deep learning, and anything robot related. I love learning how things work and working with other engineers to solve interesting problems. I’m currently a graduate researcher for the Field Robotics Group at the U of M, where I’m developing a deep learning pipeline for segmenting shipwrecks from terrain using multibeam sonar bathymetric data.
I also really enjoy mechanical design and building things from scratch. I’ve built Battlebots, walking robots, and lots more.
When I’m not designing or building things, I like to spend time playing soccer, rock climbing, and looking for any excuse to be outdoors.
Work Experience
View a pdf of my resume.
Software Engineering Intern, MathWorks
May 2024 — August 2024
I was part of the software quality team, where I worked on creating robust test suites to ensure the reliability and runtime efficiency of MATLAB functions in the DSP and robotics toolboxes. I improved the performance of many test suites, and was able to achieve as much as 80% reduction in runtime while maintaining full test coverage. I also led an initiative to migrate a Gazebo simulation test suite from a VM-based to a Docker-based workflow, streamlining the testing process and improving overall performance. Other projects include developing MATLAB function prototypes, including one that constructs GPS messages in accordance with industry-standard formatting requirements.
Test Engineering Intern, Tesla
May 2023 — August 2023
I designed and ran experiments to investigate the performance of electrical busbars under changing power and thermal conditions. To optimize the testing process, I built a custom test fixture to increase testing throughput by 200%, and I analyzed data in python to inform future testing and decision making. I also initiated the design and prototyping of a non-destructive crack measurement device that used the AC Potential Difference method to measure the depth of cracks in die-cast tooling. This required designing custom equipment to take precise measurements and conducting sensitivity and power output testing to validate the equipment. Additionally, I created a Python pipeline to digitally filter out signals outside of the desired frequency range and attenuate noise, ensuring more accurate measurements.
Mechatronics Intern, J&J Surgical Robotics
May 2022 — August 2022
I designed custom test fixtures to ensure surgical robot components complied with regulatory standards and internal design constraints. These fixtures required custom mechanical, electrical, and control systems and testing tasks included lifecycle, impact, and deflection testing under applied loads. I programmed extensively in the Arduino IDE to integrate a suite of sensors, actuators, and manual user controls into a reliable test setup.
Sustaining Engineering Intern, Formlabs
May 2021 — August 2021
I was on the Sustaining Engineering Team, where I diagnosed and resolved problems for SLA and SLS printers. Some projects included improving resin tracking accuracy scripts, reducing packaging weight, and investigating the cause of poor LED calibrations and unexpected RTD values.
Manufacturing Engineering Intern, Tesla
January 2021 — May 2021
I was part of the Model 3 General Assembly Equipment Engineering Team, where I designed manufacturing equipment for assembly line improvement projects. I worked with process, safety, and ergonomics teams to develop design constraints for equipment solutions that reduced headcount, cycle times, and factory space. I also worked with other manufacturing engineers to develop and refine my designs and with fabrication shops to make the parts. Some of my projects included designing locking dollies and docking stations to reliably transport vehicle components within the factory, as well as actuating door supports that hold the Model 3 doors in the right place while bolts are installed.
Mechanical Engineering Intern, Dupont
August 2020 — December 2020
I worked with mechanical and industrial engineers to improve the reliability and efficiency of manufacturing processes. Some projects included designing new equipment to reduce cycle times and increase tool longevity, visualizing and analyzing part data from the testing lab, and using VBA to schedule maintenance tasks based on PM schedules and man hours available.