Download Terrence J. Mayes - University of Houston

Terrence J. Mayes
(713) 515-9588
2308 Cunningham Dr.
Pearland, Texas 77581
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
Scientist with strong background in computer programming, mathematics, physics, and 16+ years of
experience in the simulation community lay a firm foundation in the field. Strengths include computer
graphics, image processing, GUI programming, physical simulation, systems engineering, requirements
gathering, and proposal writing
SKILLS
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Problem solver/out-of-the-box thinker
Good written/verbal communication skills
Equally suited to working individually, or as part of a team
Can work well under pressure or deadlines
Strong background in an array of natural sciences: physics, kinesiology, biomedicine, etc.
Excellent mathematician with skills in advanced topics: vector calculus, matrix algebra,
parametric curves and surfaces, complex numbers, quaternions, and fractal geometry
Expertise in popular fields of computer visualization: rendering, ray-tracing, radiosity, fractals,
image processing, and web based 3D with VRML
Extensive background working with GIS, mapping data, terrain elevation models, satellite
imagery, etc. including familiarity with several different GPS units on the market
Extensive knowledge of real-time techniques for achieving visual realism with popular
software/hardware: shadows, depth of field, immersive displays, and motion tracking equipment.
Vast knowledge of video equipment, streaming, capture, encoding, and display hardware.
Experience setting up and maintaining windows based TCP-IP networks
Platforms: Intel, Apple, SGI, Sun SPARC, VAX
Environments: DOS/Win9X-NT-XP-Vista/Win7, Mac OS, IRIX/Solaris/BSD/System V, VMS
Languages: C/C++, FORTRAN, Pascal, and a variety of assembly languages
Toolkits: Win32 in Microsoft environments, X11, Motif, X-View
Libraries: OpenGL, Performer, Inventor, and some DirectX/Direct3D
Experience with most popular PC apps: Lightwave, Photoshop, Pro Engineer, MS Office, etc.
EMPLOYMENT
2/08-Present: Co-Owner/Chief Technology officer, Prototype Fusion and Modeling, LLC
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Current projects at: http://pfmtx.dnsalias.com/
2/04 – 2/08: Barrios Technology Inc., Sr. Engineer
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Assigned to the Concept Exploration Lab (CEL) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Promoted to Sr. Engineer 6/08 (highest classification on the contract)
Awarded Special Space Flight Achievement Award for work on Data Fusion Tool (DFT), 8/05
Awarded Special Space Flight Achievement Award for work on ISS Habitability Study, 8/05
Earned merit pay increases on several occasions, 6/04, 6/05, 6/06, 6/07, & 6/08
Contributions included:
Cross-agency Collaboration – Assisted/co-authored a $3 million proposal to fund collaborative efforts
between NASA and the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC/NAVAIR) to mature next-generation
command chair technology for U.S. naval vessels. Worked directly with lobbyists from the state of
Maryland and staffers from the office of Congressman Nick Lamson.
Cross-industry Collaboration – On personal initiative, helped create links between NASA and the
maritime submersible community in support of the NASA Anthro-plus project. Met directly with
CEOs from industry-leading submersible manufacturers and teams from the U.S. Navy producing
military submarines. Personally invited to present material at Underwater Intervention 2007.
Situational Awareness Software - Devised and implemented a highly mobile, low-cost, 3-D immersive
environment for desktop PC computers and used it to build a conceptualized scenario for port security
at the Houston Ship Channel. Demonstrated the tool, and other disaster preparedness software, to the
Adjutant General of Texas military forces, his staff, and other members of the Texas National Guard.
Columbia accident investigation – Devised several novel tools to reconstruct the path of the crew
module during breakup from ground-based camera video. Used that information to perform further
complex analysis of the shuttle, and stresses placed on the crew, in an effort to make future vehicles
safer. The work will be published in a NASA report on the subject, released to the public release in
2008.
Data Fusion Tool – developed software tools to register and fuse: ground based/shuttle-onboard video,
ground based radar, shuttle wing leading edge data, and real-time computer simulation to detect launch
debris impacts. This provides flight controllers with the ability to predict catastrophic events, during
launch, to save crewmembers from possible harm. Deployed and in use since flight STS-114.
Hardware In-The-Loop Visualization – Created a “virtual boresight” for radars tracking the shuttle at
Kennedy Space Center during launch. The software runs directly on the radar control network at KSC
and captures real-time radar telemetry. It then drives a 3-D computer simulation of the launch,
providing (the only) instantaneous visual state information to the radar operator and management.
External Tank Investigation – Designed and implemented a software suite that integrates a variety of
disparate data into an external tank fusion simulation. The work was performed at the direct request of
the shuttle Chief Engineer in an effort to determine the root cause of foam releases plaguing the tank
during launch. In the process, discovered a technique to estimate tank foam loss from photographs.
Lunar Surface Modeling – Developed tools to utilize US Geological Survey radar elevation data of the
moon to construct one of the most accurate lunar "south pole" 3-D geometric models in existence at
NASA. The model has since been used in a variety of simulations demonstrating lunar-lander and
habitat module configurations planned for future lunar surface operations.
Conferences & symposia – presented medical imaging research at the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality
13 (MMVR) conference on behalf of Barrios Technology and NASA/JSC. Also presented NASA
Space-Life Sciences ergonomics research at Underwater Intervention 2007.
1/00 – 2/04: Lockheed Martin Engineering & Science Services, Software Engineer
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Assigned to the Systems Engineering Simulator Lab (SES) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Awarded NASA Superior Assistance Award for innovative work on ascent/entry simulator, 1/02
Given NASA Letter of Appreciation for improving realism of SES ascent/entry simulator, 1/02
Awarded Lockheed Special Recognition Award for improving shuttle forward crew station, 12/01
Awarded NASA Elite Team Award for enhancing Ames landing scenes in forward cockpit, 4/01
Awarded NASA Elite Team Award for work on MEDS flight-deck displays, 4/00
Contributions included:
MEDS displays – modified and extended the Multifunction Electronic Display System (MEDS)
capability of the SES forward cockpit flight-deck software.
Atmosphere model – enhanced the realism of the SES ascent / entry trainer by independently
designing and implementing a fractal cloud model and Rayleigh / Mie scatter based skylight.
Conferences & symposia – published and presented human motion modeling research at the IEA
2000/HFES 2000 congress on behalf of Lockheed Martin and NASA/JSC.
1/96 – 12/99: Lockheed Martin Engineering & Science Services, Software Engineer
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Assigned to the Graphics Research & Analysis Facility (GRAF) at NASA/JSC
Advanced to level of software engineer in ‘98
Prompted from programmer to computer analyst 10/97
Earned merit pay increase 9/97
Contributions included:
NASA/JSC Outreach fly-through software – created a simulation allowing real-time exploration of
the ISS and exhibited it for the NASA Outreach public relations team at high-profile events.
Inverse kinematics engine – created an inverse kinematics engine that models articulated structures
with up to 150 degrees of freedom and used it to simulate the shuttle arm and ISS tether system.
3-d model to 2-d image registration software – devised an algorithm for automatically aligning a
3-d object to a 2-d image and used it to locate possible shuttle problems from launch photos.
EDUCATION
1994 – present: Certified Professional Training
 Development: Advanced OpenGL, VAPS 6.2
 3-D Modeling: Multigen Creator Terrain Studio, ProEngineer Wildfire
 Web: Photoshop 7, Macromedia Flash
1990 – 1994: University of Houston – Clear Lake
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Inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 4/94
Cumulative graduate G.P.A. 4.0
Awarded NASA Fellowship in Graphics Technology, 6/93
Awarded ITA Telecommunications Scholarship, 9/92
B.S. degree in computer science with minor in mathematics, 5/92
U of H – Clear Lake President’s List Award 6/91
Cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. 3.65
Coursework included:
Operating Systems research project – received course credit for independent research that led to a
new method of controlling processes in small multi-processed operating systems.
Neural Net research project – earned graduate course credit implementing high-precision math
routines for neural network research project sponsored by NASA/JSC.
Interactive Computer Graphics – studied 3-d image generation, man-machine interaction, and
graphics standards. Developed an interactive rendering package as a term project.
Image Processing – learned concepts of image storage, quantization, and filtering. Invented fast
color quantization algorithm submitted for publication.
PUBLICATIONS
Contributing Author, “Conducted Energy Device Program Performance Audit,” City of Houston
Report No. 2009-09, 2009
Contributing Author, “Columbia Crew Survival Investigation Report,” NASA Technical Report
NASA/SP-2008-565, 2008
Mayes, T. J., Soltis, M. G., Thaxton, S., and Maida, J. C., “Ergonomics in Human Spaceflight,”
Proceedings of the 2007 Underwater Intervention Conference, January 2007
Mayes, T. J., Foley, T. T., Hamilton, J. A., and Duncavage, T. C., "Real-time Visualization of
Cross-Sectional Data in Three Dimensions," Stud Health Technol Inform. 2005
Mayes, T. J., and Maida, J. C., “Human Modeling: Inverse Kinematics with Maximum Joint
Availability,” Proceedings of the International Ergonomics Association and 44 th Annual Meeting
of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 6, July-August 2000