bryan wagenknecht

Experimental testing of Centrifugal Pendulum Vibration Absorbers for automotive crankshafts.

Mechanical design, control for automation, and integration/testing of complex electromechanical systems for diverse R&D projects in areas of Maritime Systems and Nuclear Cleaning.

* Designed, prototyped, and tested new mechanical technology for dishwashers to improve spray coverage and cleaning efficiency. * Redesigned and tested chopper blade for dishwasher pump intake. * Performed DOE to investigate best operating parameters of new bypass filtration system for dishwashers.

* Conducted research on a mobile robot with novel locomotive capabilities. * Developed prototype of a 12-legged spherical robot with pneumatic leg actuation, intended for exploration and surveying in rough and uneven terrains. * Studied the complex control issues presented by spherical symmetry and discrete leg actuation.

* Marine and Stationary Power Division. * Investigated requirements and coordinated resources for acoustic testing of marine diesel engines. * Coordinated with international team to document and implement modifications to fluid connections for resiliently mounted engines. * Researched and established design specifications for new on-engine air filter.

Technical lead on diverse projects ranging from developing control strategies for surgical robots, to designing novel mechanisms for drug delivery devices, to generating innovative solutions for consumer appliances.

* Managed and led R&D projects to develop complex automated systems from proposal concept to detailed design to tested prototype * Performed detailed mechanical design, analysis of structures and mechanism kinematics, dynamic simulation * Developed sensing and control strategies for high-reliability automation * Coordinated the design and integration of control electronics and software

Graduated with 4.00 GPA and was awarded the MSU Board of Trustees Scholarship Award (2008). Recognized with College of Engineering Distinguished Academic Achievement Award (2006, 2007, 2008). Member of team awarded the Thomas Edison Award for best overall Capstone Design Project (2008). Served as Mechanical Systems Team Leader for MSU Solar Racing, managing a team of engineering students to develop new mechanical systems from the frame up (2007-2008). Served as volunteer tutor for calculus-based physics (2005). Activities and Societies: MSU Solar Racing, Tau Beta Pi, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

4.00 GPA Master's thesis: Characterization and Control of a Spherical Multi-Legged Robot Courses: Dynamics and Control, Adaptive Control and Reinforcement Learning, Statistical Techniques for Robotics, Bio-inspired Robotic Design, Sensors and Sensing, Machine Learning. Activities and Societies: RoboOrg (CMU Robotics Graduate Student Organization), CMU Explorers Club