Robotics and Computer Controlled Machines Expert

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Richard Hooper, Ph.D., P protonix.E aleve.

richard.hooper@safemachines.com

Austin, Texas

(512)699-6487

SUMMARY
  • Expertise in instrumentation, control, mechanisms and software
  • Former Chief Scientist of the Robotics Research Group at the University of Texas
  • Former Principal Engineer at Eaton Corporation
  • Technical architect of multi-million dollar projects with Fortune 500 companies and Federal agencies including: Whirlpool, Michelin, Merck, NASA and the US Department of Energy
  • Over twenty years of industrial and research experience in highly technical environments
  • Author of over twenty technical publications
  • Architect of five copyrighted (one patent-pending) software systems
EDUCATION
PhD - Robotics and Automation, The University of Texas at Austin
MSME - Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
BSEE - Instrumentation and Computer Engineering, Rice University
AWARDS and PROFESSIONAL
NASA Certificate of Merit, Judge R&D Magazine Top 100 Developments, C. Rowe Fellow, Tau Beta Pi, IEEE Division X Professional Activities Chairman, Registered Professional Engineer
COMPUTER
Oracle, SQL Server, SQL, C/C++, C#, Java, ASP, ASP.net, VB, Windows, Unix
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Symtx, Inc: Austin, Texas August 2004 - Present
Program Technical Lead
  • Ultimate responsibility for technical success of projects
  • Responsible for electrical, mechanical and software engineering design
  • Symtx is a leading manufacturer of custom automated test equipment in this country
SafeMachines, PLLC: Austin, Texas October 2003 - Present
Founder and President
  • Company formed to provide engineering consulting and forensic support services
  • Customers include Image Microsystems, Inc.; Prime Designs, Inc. and Linear Technologies
  • SafeMachines specializes in motion control, robotics, automation and machinery
Fusion Technologies, Inc: Austin, Texas October 2003 - August 2004
Senior Architect
  • Technical lead of team starting Austin office for this ten year-old consulting company
  • Set strategies, goals and milestones for office
  • Grew office from zero to six customers in first nine months
Trilogy Software: Austin, Texas November 1998 - October 2003
Technical Delivery Owner
  • Primary owner of technical delivery at all Fortune 500 pricing customers
  • Delivered customer success at Whirlpool, Michelin, Eaton and Merck
  • Optimized query structure for 100X performance improvement at Michelin
  • Lead consultant on team that founded Trilogy's support organization

Senior Developer

  • Inventor and architect of Incentive Program Manager application
    - Led team of developers producing application
    - Created and managed budget and timeline for the application development
  • Invented patent-pending algorithm for transaction and promotion calculations
  • Lead developer for contract and pricing management applications
Eaton Semiconductor Equipment Operations; Austin, Texas April 1997 - November 1998
Principal Engineer
  • Led team of software, mechanical and electrical engineers as manager of major machine productivity project
  • Designed a 3-axis electronic controller with electrical isolation, analog electronics, A/D, D/A and digital electronics
  • Solved a complex resonance problem with that had plagued the primary product line for years
  • Robotics lead on 300mm product development
The Robotics Research Group; Austin, Texas May 1994 - April 1997
Deputy Director
  • Managed multi-million dollar projects with the Department of Energy and NASA
  • Managed 30+ graduate engineers
  • Managed 16,000 sq. ft. laboratory with clean room, metrology and two-story high bay
Chief Scientist
  • Conducted independent research with more than $1.25 million in research funds
  • Developed advanced software algorithms for fault-tolerant control, operation in radiation fields, tool performance relationships, man/machine interfaces, real time optimization, servo motion control and PLC-based systems
  • Developed motion control algorithms for a dual-arm robot with 17 independent axes of motion
  • Developed hardware and software for a 2-axis motion controller
  • Developed 5-axis motion controller for AC motors
  • Taught robotics & automation, instrumentation and technical writing courses
  • Guest lecturer at ITESM University in Mexico City, Mexico and The Institute for Robotics in Dortmund, Germany
Electro Cube Inc.; Los Angeles, California May 1986 - September 1988
Electrical Engineer
  • Designed an instrument that measured current on the order of 10-9 amperes and included an auto-calibration circuit
  • Designed a tuned-oscillating electronic controller for fluorescent tubes on aircraft
  • Supported production machinery
Platt-Hardin Inc.; Houston, Texas May 1985 - May 1986
Electrical Engineer
  • Designed and supervised the manufacture of synchronous motor controllers for the City of Houston
  • Designed and developed a temperature controller for a heat-treating oven
  • Supported production equipment
Methodist Hospital; Houston, Texas May 1984 - August 1984
Instrumentation Engineer
  • Designed instrument for inducing pressure changes during balloon angioplasty
  • Developed instruments for measuring blood flow using ultrasound

 
richard.hooper@safemachines.com (512) 699-6487