Wearable Electromechanical Actuation System
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Summary
Designed and fabricated a compact, motor-driven electromechanical system for a head-mounted wearable device, integrating embedded control and sensing.
Ryan Novoa
Mechanical Design Engineer
Cambridge, US.About
Highly motivated Mechanical Design Engineer with a strong foundation in electromechanical systems, robotics, and advanced engineering analysis from Harvard University. Proven ability to design, prototype, and validate complex mechanisms, leveraging expertise in SolidWorks, Python, and microfabrication processes. Eager to apply quantitative problem-solving and hands-on fabrication skills to drive innovation in challenging engineering environments.
Work
Harvard Biorobotics Laboratory
|Mechanical Design Engineer
Boston, MA, US
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Summary
Designed and developed critical mechanical components for advanced marine robotic systems, focusing on robust functionality under extreme hydrostatic pressure.
Highlights
Spearheaded the design and development of a spring-loaded 4-bar toggle-clamp mechanism, enabling controlled hull flooding and plug retention under significant hydrostatic pressure in marine robotic systems.
Engineered precise over-center locking geometry and optimized mechanical advantage, concurrently designing an anchor bracket to preload the mechanism and define critical load paths for structural integrity.
Validated mechanical performance through rigorous physical load testing, achieving a 2.47x safety factor against maximum design pressure, ensuring reliability and safety in operational environments.
Harvard University | Industry Partner: Eli Lilly
|Mechanical Engineer – Industry-Sponsored Project
Cambridge, MA, US
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Summary
Led the design and prototyping of an innovative passive refrigeration enclosure for temperature-sensitive contents, sponsored by Eli Lilly.
Highlights
Conceptualized and prototyped a passive portable refrigeration enclosure utilizing phase-change cooling, successfully maintaining temperature-sensitive contents within a precise range for pharmaceutical transport.
Optimized thermal design by strategically selecting materials and geometry, integrating a conductive aluminum internal cavity with an insulating polymer shell to precisely control heat flux and extend melt time.
Conducted transient thermal performance estimations using analytical heat-transfer calculations, validating design feasibility by comparing results against detailed simulation outputs.
Education
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA, United States of America
B.S.
Engineering Sciences
Grade: GPA 3.8
Courses
Engineering Design Capstone
Mechanics, Elasticity, and Fluids
Energy and Thermodynamic Systems
Linear Algebra and Differential Equations
Circuits and Electronics
Probability with Engineering Applications
Computational Problem Solving in Python
Microfabrication Laboratory
Skills
Mechanical Design & Fabrication
SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Mechanism Design, Tolerancing, Prototyping, 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC Milling, Precision Measurement, Polymer Handling, Microfabrication Processes.
Electromechanical & Embedded Systems
Arduino, Embedded Control, Circuit Assembly, Breadboarding, Soldering, MOSFET Power Switching, Oscilloscopes, Signal Generators, Multimeters, PCB Design (Altium).
Computation & Engineering Analysis
Python, MATLAB, Numerical Modeling, Regression, Time-Series Analysis.
Projects
Magnetically Actuated Door-Locking Mechanism
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Summary
Developed a power-dependent magnetically actuated door-locking mechanism for secure enclosure operation, engineered with microcontroller-controlled logic.
Polymer Microparticle Fabrication and Degradation
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Summary
Conducted an independent research project on fabricating and characterizing the time-dependent degradation of polymer microparticles.
Damped Mechanical Dynamics in Fluids
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Summary
Investigated and quantified damped mechanical motion under fluid drag using analytical decay models and experimental time-series data.