Experience
Flight Software Systems Co-op
Fall 2024
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3 / EG6
- Integrating computer vision model for visual navigation in Core Flight Software app.
- Developing CFS interface for interaction with cubesat hardware and payloads.
Developing flight software for ML inferencing and Avionics on CubeSat platform.
Computer Vision and Embedded Systems Co-op
Summer 2024
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3
- Established RISC-V cross-compile toolchain for ONNX Runtime on PolarFire SoC platforms.
- Benchmark CPU performance of YOLO models on PolarFire SoC with various optimization techniques.
- Establish initial pipeline for VectorBLOX FPGA CNN Accelerator integration with toolchain-generated Linux images.
Investigated object recognition ML inferencing on RISC-V path-to-flight processors.
Spacesuit Informatics Development Co-op (Navigation and Computer Vision)
Spring/Summer 2023
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3
- Lead navigation integration sub-team - develop interfaces/standards for interfacing with localization solutions.
- Developed localization solution via Differential GPS/IMU and integrated with external waveguide display software.
- Investigated ARuco (CV) marker tracking capability for constrained graphics platform on spacesuit.
Developed Registered AR capabilities targeting Artemis Lunar EVA platform (Joint AR).
Spacesuit Informatics Development Co-op (Computer Vision)
Summer 2022
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3
- Prototyped proof of concept CV pipeline running on FPGA - spacesuit processor (Xilinx MPSoC).
- Authored concept of operations for applications of computer vision on lunar EVAs.
- Developed software for and supported overall integration of Joint AR project hardware and software.
Established Concept of Operations and Prototypes for Lunar CV applications on constrained hardware platforms.
Aircraft Operations Engineering Co-op
Summer 2021
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: CC3
- Improved ARINC 429 to UDP service to allow for multiple endpoints.
- Developed preflight tool to automate performance calculations for T-38.
- Supported mentor with various design challenges for customer payload integration.
Contributed to Gulfstream aircraft payload integration and support hardware development.
Spacesuit Informatics Development Co-op
Summer 2020
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3
- Developed Virtual Reality Lunar Testbed for rapid prototyping of Heads-In Display concepts.
- Developed realtime streaming capability for Unreal Engine to support VR Testbed environment.
- Wrote firmware and device drivers to provide control and telemetry to spacesuit AR informatics systems.
Developed Embedded Software and VR Environments for Spacesuit Heads-In-Display Prototype (Joint AR).
Avionics Integration SEPP Intern
Summer 2019
Collins Aerospace - Cedar Rapids, IA
Division: HBS
- Connected X-Plane 11 datastream to Collins Fusion Display Platform software rehost.
- Integrated Collins software rehosted displays into X-Plane 3D cockpit.
- Platforms: King Air 350, Bombardier Challenger 350.
Integrated commercial avionics software platform with off-the-shelf flight simulator.
Flight Software Development Co-op
Spring 2019
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: ER6
- Created AR Procedures and virtual mirror (suit viewer) prototype for HAL EVA Prep and Post tasks.
- Modified and 3D-Printed UIA Panel for use in SUITS competition and development.
- Updated Lunar Rover Unreal Engine demo for Comicpalooza 2019.
Developed processes/systems for Augmented Reality Electronic Procedures for use in space environments.
Environment Effects Engineering Software Development Intern
Summer/Fall 2018
Rockwell Collins - Cedar Rapids, IA
Division: EEE
- Collaborated with engineers and technicians across multiple disciplines to field requirements.
- Simultaneously maintained functionality of now-deprecated tools while improving new user experience.
- Supported on-site deployment while in school (Fall 2018).
Developed new web-based lab management tool to improve logistical support and streamline lab efficiency.
Flight Operations (CRONUS - Communications and Data Handling) Co-op
Spring 2018
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: CI23
- Developed new tool "BreakTime" to find optimal times to step away for a break.
- Refactored outdated tools to support updated mission operations requirements.
- Provided time-critical updates and telemetry computation scripts for Mission Control Displays.
Developed and refactored new tools for flight controllers in Mission Control.
Human Interfaces Intern
Spring/Fall 2017
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EV3
- Define Web Display Framework to unify common components of spaceflight displays.
- Improved Bespoke Widget Framework by removing external dependencies and streamlining overall lifecycle.
- Created What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get tool (Chisel) to build display interfaces with common widgets.
- Built hardware emulator tool that simulates spaceflight system data (CCSDS) to test displays.
Established Web Display Framework for spaceflight based on HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
Systems Engineering and Integration Intern
Summer 2016
NASA Johnson Space Center - Houston, TX
Division: EA53
- Developed Modular Subsystem Emulation Platform (MSEP): drives power systems via PLBs during testing.
- Developed Configuration System for MSEP, to simplify defining how a system "acts" and its look/feel.
- Improved CCSDS Telemetry Generation Library for LabVIEW (Spacecraft Data Packet).
Built LabVIEW-based utilities to increase fidelity of simulations for hardware testing.
Education
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (Year 3)
The University of Houston, Houston, TX
Est: Spring 2028
- Research Assistant - Machine Learning/Digital Twins applications in spaceflight communication.
B.S. Computer Engineering - Embedded Systems
High Honors
The University of Houston, Houston, TX
May 2022
- Team Lead - Senior Design: NASA BASSS Spacecraft Audio-over-TTE Development.
Technical Skills
Software
Languages: C, Python, ARM/MIPS Assembly, MATLAB,
HTML5, CSS3, Javascript
Machine Learning: ONNX, PyTorch
Web Systems: NodeJS, WebSockets, Socket.IO
Tools: Git, BuildRoot, Linux Toolchains, GitLab CI
Hardware
FPGA: Xilinx MPSoC, Vivado HLS, MicroChip PFSoC, Libero, Verilog
Microcontrollers: TI MSP430, TI RTOS, mBed, Arduino
CAD: AutoDesk Inventor, AutoDesk Fusion, 3D Printing (FDM)
EDA: Fritzing, AutoDesk Eagle, AutoDesk Fusion, KiCad
DAQ: NI LabVIEW / cRIO
Certifications
Commercial Pilot (ASEL/Glider)
2019 - Present
Instrument Rated; Endorsed in Complex, Tailwheel, High Performance
Ham Radio Operator (General Class)
2024 - Present
Callsign: W5FDQ
Remote/sUAS Pilot
2021 - Present
Awards
Software Initial Award
NASA Johnson Space Center
November 4, 2019
For contributing to the development of scientific or technical software, which has been approved for release by NASA: Chisel [MSC-26457-1].
Internship Honorable Mention
NASA Johnson Space Center
Spring 2017
In recognition of outstanding performance and lasting contributions as a Spring 2017 Intern at NASA Johnson Space Center.
Best Final Class Project: 1st Place
Circuit Theory I: University of Houston
Fall 2016
Digital MP3 Player with Analog Equalizer
References
James Berck
NASA Johnson Space Center
james.berck@nasa.gov
Paromita Mitra
NASA Johnson Space Center
paromita.mitra@nasa.gov
Matthew Noyes
NASA Johnson Space Center
matthew.noyes@nasa.gov
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