JAMES MATHIESON Engineering Design Portfolio

75 Gough St, Apt 21

San Francisco, CA 94102

James.L.Mathieson@gmail.com

(843)247-0344

INTRODUCTION

THIS PORTFOLIO

This portfolio serves to supplement my resume with a collection of examples of my work. With this collection, I hope to showcase the breath and depth of my engineering design experience. It should be noted that several past projects are omitted which are not available for public release. Projects are presented in reverse chronological order.

ABOUT ME

I am a multi-disciplinary design engineer with training and experience in systematic design processes including: • Ideation methods • Design for X (DFX) • Decision methods

I am passionate about applying data, machine learning, and optimization to design. My research in these areas has modelled the effects of early-stage design, using graph data to predict outcomes such as: • Assembly time using the part connection graph • Retail price distribution using the function flow graph • Divergent and convergent thinking cycles using email data

In my personal life, my passions include many outdoor activities, including: • Skiing • Kayaking • Horseback riding • Hiking / Camping • Climbing

In addition to these, I enjoy travel and have lived abroad in both Europe and Asia with language training in French and Mandarin Chinese.

SPACE ENVIRONMENT SIMULATION CHAMBERS

Project Conducted For:

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA.

Objective:

Develop a new generation of chambers for simulating the vacuum, radiation, plasma, UV, and thermal environments experienced in space.

Tools Used:

3D CAD: SolidWorks, NX, PTC Creo FEA: ANSYS Coding: NI LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python

Description:

I was responsible for the complete system design, including mechanical, electrical, and software for the two chambers shown. The chamber to the top left is a vacuum ultraviolet and general purpose vacuum chamber. The chamber in the bottom images is an atomic oxygen, solar simulation, and thermal cycling vacuum chamber.

Images © 2014 Lockheed Martin Corporation

WHEEL ENDURANCE SAND TRACTION

MERRY-GO-ROUND SYSTEM Project Conducted For:

Clemson University in partnership with NASA and Michelin

Objective:

Develop a system capable of endurance testing prototype wheels for extraterrestrial rovers in soft soil as well as evaluating efficiency in traction.

Tools Used:

3D CAD: SolidWorks Coding: NI LabVIEW, MATLAB

Description:

I led the team to completion and active use within three months after becoming the lead engineer for this project, which had previously been partially designed and constructed. I completed design of the drive and suspension elements and implemented data acquisition and control. Following completion of the design and build project, I continued to oversee the operation of the system by teams of up to 15 undergraduate researchers for the duration of my graduate tenure at Clemson University.

See a detailed video demo of the system at:

http://youtu.be/vDHr97yTysA

CRYOGENIC WHEEL TESTING SYSTEM

Project Conducted For:

NASA – Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA

Objective:

Develop a system to validate the performance of prototype wheels for planetary rovers at cryogenic temperatures.

Tools Used: Coding: NI LabVIEW, MATLAB

Description:

I adapted and installed the system into a liquid nitrogen cryogenic chamber, interfaced to robotic hardware and developed data acquisition and control software.

This project resulted in the first test suite validating a deformable wheel at cryogenic temperatures since the Apollo-era lunar rover. This is a key step towards the creation of larger planetary rovers necessary for human exploration.

LAWN SHARK ROBOTIC SPRINKLER

Project Conducted For:

Course on Engineering Design Process at Clemson University.

Objective:

Develop a sprinkler head that will uniformly water specific lawn shapes, using the water as efficiently as possible.

Tools Used: 3D CAD: Solidworks

Description:

The solution developed is an in-ground, retractable watering system which can control the direction and range of six streams of water to achieve precise and uniform coverage of any shape lawn in a process similar to a single layer in 3D printing.

CHIMERA CONCEPT CAR

Project Conducted For:

Course on 3D Design at Clemson University.

Objective:

Design and 3D Print in miniature a concept car.

Tools Used:

3D CAD: Solidedge Creative: Adobe Photoshop

Description:

The upper panels show the concept development process as design elements from three different exotic cars are blended into a single image. The lower panels show the resulting model 3D printed in ABS plastic. The finished model has ben post-processed for an automotive appearance.