Download Robert A. Darman

Robert A. Darman
Electrical Engineer
61 Grove Street #1 Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 489-0570
[email protected]
http://www.robdarman.com
Skills
Precision Machine / Robotics Design: motion controls, stepper motors, brushless servo motors,
sensors, precision robotics and automation, electrical and mechanical design.
Circuit Design: analog, digital, embedded microprocessors, PC-104, switched mode power supplies,
amplifiers, motors, stepper, servo, control systems, motion controls, PLC, optical and ultrasonic
sensors, battery and other energy storage technologies, networking, A/D & D/A conversion, CPLD,
FPGA.
PCB: Artwork design and layout. SMT reflow, soldering, and rework , Orcad Capture, Easy PC, Eagle,
Protel - I make boards that work on the first spin
Mechanical: CAD, CAM, CNC , AutoCad, Rhino Cad, Visual Mill, mechanical design, machine shop
skills, carpentry skills, manufacturing and fabricating in acrylic and aluminum
Debugging: Very hands on technical ability to quickly debug both mechanical and electrical systems
System Design: Strong ability to see systems as a whole and ways to improve them and make them
operate more effectively. Also see ways to create cohesive product lines where products support and
leverage off of one another rather than compete against each another.
Software: Visual Basic, Access, C
Experience
Dec 2003 – Apr 2005
Electrical Engineer – Formulatrix, Waltham Massachusetts
Helped grow a start up software company into a Biotech/Pharma robotics company. I
planned, designed, built and manufactured their first mechanical product, an automated
imaging system for protein crystallography, and oversaw the growth of the Engineering and
Manufacturing part of the company from just me to 6 people. I set up and managed an inhouse CNC machine shop to build both prototype and production parts. I also managed the
production builds of our products ($1.2 million). This included the machining of most parts in
the system. In addition to designing much of the mechanical systems for the robots, I also did
all of the electrical design including PCB layout and setting up of an in house SMT reflow
process.
Nov 2001 – Feb 2002
Electrical Engineer, Bluefin Robotics, Cambridge Massachusetts
Designed built and installed an interface board for an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle).
This involved determining the requirements of all associated electronics, designing the interface
circuitry, and performing all schematic capture and PCB layout. I also contributed to the design
of a 5KW Lithium Ion Battery monitor and charger.
Aug 2000 – Nov 2001
Electrical Engineer, PRI Automation, Billerica Massachusetts
Designed the electronics for a multi axis robot that traveled on an overhead track. The
electronics package I designed included switching power supplies, programmable logic,
embedded microprocessors, optical and ultrasonic sensors, motors, encoders, motor amplifiers,
motion controllers, and RF and IR Communications. I condensed the circuits, fit them in a very
small package, and integrated them into the robot. I spent much time in the lab debugging both
the mechanical and electrical operation of the robot. I was the lead in making the robot work. I
also conceptualized and implemented several major architectural changes. One of these changes
involved redirecting our project away from an expensive and complicated inductively powered
track to a much simpler more effective design that used Ultra-Capacitors (1200 Farad Capacitors)
that could be charged at certain locations on the track, and used to replace the batteries that
power the robot. This idea halted a proposed 2 million-dollar, 2 year R&D effort, and replaced it
with a 100,000 dollar 6 month effort. In addition the total system cost was greatly reduced,
projecting savings of several million dollars per job.
Dec 1994 - Oct 1999
Hardware Engineer, Notifier/Firelite Alarms, Northford Connecticut
Designed microprocessor-based fire alarm panels and switch mode power supplies for fire alarm
systems. Cooperated with marketing to come up with new products and product specifications.
Engineered panels and power supplies according to design specifications. Created schematic
drawings with Orcad Capture. Coordinated with Production to build both prototypes and
finished product. Tested and proved prototype designs. Worked with listing agencies (UL, ULC,
FM, and FCC) to obtain product listings and approvals. Wrote the company’s first Windowsbased panel-programming utilities, using Visual Basic linked to Microsoft Access databases.
Proposed and set up the engineering departments first LAN.
Sept 1992 - Dec 1994 (Full Time), Dec 1994 - Dec 1997 (Independent Contractor/Consultant)
Systems Application Engineer, Johnson Controls Inc., Hartford Connecticut
Designed large facility management control systems, including the controls for Foxwoods
Casino. Integrated microprocessor based controllers, sensors, and actuators with HVAC
equipment to sequence it according to control specifications. Networked buildings and
complexes’ HVAC equipment to allow for central monitoring and control. Used AutoCAD to
create control drawings for submittals and field use. Wrote software to run individual controllers
and facility wide control algorithms. Designed custom graphical user interfaces for central PC
control. Provided support to the field during installation and check out. Maintained office
computers and Novell network.
Education
University of Vermont, Burlington Vermont
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering - Computer Specialization
Co-Op program
Graduated May 1991
Other Interests
Aerial silk, windsurfing, surfing, kite surfing, high-fidelity audio speaker design/building, world travel,
tennis, mountain biking