Caleb Wagner

During my internship at NASA JPL, I worked on two separate projects. The first was for the NASA PUFFER project, a foldable robot that is capable of exploring constrained spaces. I assisted in developing the autonomy of this robot to work as part of a swarm to map a lunar environment. The second project I worked on was to develop an open-source data tracking system used to track various software projects at JPL and their various levels of maturity.

Description of Skills:

• Contributed to development of multi-agent algorithm used to map the Moon with the PUFFER robots.

• Implemented geospatial database in ROS, Python, PostGIS to support merging/modification of map data.

• Developed open-source data driven software tracking system in React, NodeJS, and Elastic stack.

• Received secret interim clearance, training in handling secret and private documents.

• Used Creo to design fixtures for circuit cards and for test equipment, used Gerbtool for circuit analysis of RF cables on circuit cards

• Worked in team of 4 to design test stand for modules used in DC burn-in oven.

• Employed strong technical writing and language ability to write engineering change orders (ECO).

• TTP Program technical lead for JIRA issue tracking, managed and implemented JIRA tracking software for design engineering and test engineering. 

• Worked with senior engineers at external site to represent company in front of a vendor.

• Presented several times before upper management regarding engineering performance, including presentation on employing conformal coat at circuit card assembly level. 

• Provide assistance to several projects in lab, most notably the robotic quadruped robodog, a gyroscopically actuated advanced shoulder prosthesis, and the use of hydromuscles (synthetic muscles that contract and expand using water).

• Involved with upkeep of the lab, general maintenance of tools, etc.

• For RoboDog, I assisted two senior students with their capstone project at Popovic Labs at WPI, a rare experience for freshman students. The purpose of this project was to design an all-terrain low-cost robotic quadruped. Most of the robotic quadrupeds seen in industry such as those of Boston Dynamics' Big Dog and the MIT Cheetah cost several million dollars. However, this quadruped, affectionately known as RoboDog, was made for under $1000 due to its use of a parallel elastic system that effectively stores energy, reducing strain on the motors and subsequently the need for expensive mechanisms and electronics. RoboDog has many applications, from exploration over rocky terrain to searching for survivors in collapsed buildings and other disasters to serving as a walking table or pack mule. For more on RoboDog, click here: 

For interest in Popovic Labs, click here:

• Developed algorithm in C++ for concrete mapping between human joints and ATLAS robot joints using Microsoft Kinect sensor.

• Employed skeletal tracking and incorporated into ROS and Gazebo for simulation on NASA Valkyrie robot model, assisted in performing additional research for Master’s student’s thesis on skeletal mapping.

As a part time job at school, I assist in teaching a Computer-Aided Manufacturing (ME1800) course at WPI.

Description of Skills:

• Assist in teaching students for class, answering questions, performing demonstrations

• Offer help sessions and perform evaluations during sessions if needed

• Set up machines for student use

Used FileMaker Pro to design a database for clinical breath test trials.

Assisted sales associates in selling suits and renting tuxedoes, in addition to doing fittings for suits and general cleaning and management of the store. 

Provided introduction to engineering through different challenges and engineering puzzles centered around legos for students grades K-6.

Campaigned for Kelly Ayotte for New Hampshire 2016 Senate elections, went door to door to talk with voters, call voters, and persuade undecided voters.