XAVIER A. HINES-COOMBS

Robotics Engineer | Robotics Deployment & Systems Integration | Nueroengineering Research

 Springfield, MA |  xahcoombs@outlook.com | xavierhinescoombs.com

EDUCATION

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

Worcester, MA

Bachelors of Science, Robotic Engineering

May 2020

Masters of Science, Management

May 2022

WORK EXPERIENCE

System Engineer II - General Dynamics Electric Boat

  • Designed and managed complex electro-mechanical systems across their lifecycle including hardware integration, vendor coordination, and system validation.

  • Applied systems engineering methods to integrate electrical and mechanical subsystems, coordinate vendors, and support troubleshooting of complex hardware systems.

  • Created procurement specifications for electrical and mechanical components

Groton, CT

July 2023 - Present


Deployment/ Mechatronic Engineer (Contracted)

Berkshire Grey - Contracted via Aerotek

Edison, NJ

August  2021- July 2022

Robotic Pick Cell w/ Autobagger (Modex)

  • Coordinated Communication between Engineers, Supply Chain, and our partner company

  • Tracked and acquired necessary hardware components to complete the project

  • Wrote PLC code using SQL language to integrate robotic pick cell with Autobagger through Siemens TIA Portal

Atlanta, GA 

Robotic Pick Cell w/ Autobagger: New Jersey Development Cell (YBM)

  • Commissioned Hardware and Software on the robotic system using Siemens PLC and linux terminal

Houston, TX

Robotic Pick Cell

  • Oversee and direct technicians assembling the robotic system

  • Created a solidworks model that would hold a tote, weigh scale, and junction box for the system

  • Consulted with Engineers on how to troubleshoot problems and how to move forward

  • Submitted technical writings on day to day activities

Brooksville, FL

PROJECTS & LABS

Major Qualifying Project (MQP): 3D-Printing Concrete

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Member of a team of four, with three Civil Engineers, that developed a 3D concrete printer for testing concrete mixes.

  • Created an innovative nozzle design for inline mixing and flow rate control.

August 2019- May 2020

Unified Robotics,

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Programmed the TurtleBot3, a ROS based mobile robot, to enable the robot to explore any environment, generate a map, and travel within it, while avoiding obstacles. The environment was mapped using LIDAR sensor data and A* algorithm was used for the path planning. Assisted with the technical report  and debugging

August 2017- May 2020

  • Dynamically controlled a 3 DOF robot in MATLAB and C++ implementing forward and inverse kinematics. Implemented motion planning, trajectory generation, vision-based tracking, error sources, and propagation.

  • Created a fire detecting robot which navigated through a maze and extinguished a candle flame using  a fan. Managed the project by creating milestones, outlining team meetings, and divvying up tasks. Assisted with the robot design and assembly, 3D modeling in SolidWorks, calculations, and sensor testing.

  • Created a nuclear lab simulated robot that picked up rods, placed them in holsters, and distinguished which storage containers were empty using bluetooth. PID line tracking was used to navigate the simulated floor layout. Assisted with design and assembly of the robot, the technical report, calculations, and  testing.

Controls Engineering,

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Worked on a team of six that designed a Robotic Autonomous System (RAS) for the purpose of cleaning windows.

  • Conducted an in-depth analysis into the RAS System, this included the transient response, steady-state response, and frequency response.

January- March 2019

Mechanical Engineering Design,

  • Worked on a team of five that built  a custom R/C car.

  • Assisted with design and assembly of the custom gearbox and steering linkages.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

March - April 2019

Qualifying Project (IQP): African Artist Initiative

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Worked on a team of four, alongside Crocodile River Music, to help create a platform that helps, empowers, and uplifts the immigrant and refugee population, through shared experiences.

  • Reached out to and worked alongside Worcester’s Immigrant and Refugee Organizations.

  • Used interpersonal skills to conduct interviews with immigrants and refugees.

August - December 2018

Great Problems Seminar (GPS): Humanitarian Engineering Past & Present

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • Worked on a team of four to identify a solution for Kiribati’s sanitation issue.

  • Researched the island in order to develop an effective and innovative composting latrine.

  • Presented to all other GPS groups and professors using PowerPoint.

August - December 2016

SKILLS

Robotics & Systems Engineering

  • Systems Integration

  • Robotics Deployment

  • Automation Systems

  • Mechatronics

  • Robotic Pick Cells

  • System Commissioning

  • Technical Documentation

Software & Programming

  • Python

  • C++

  • MATLAB

  • PLC Programming

  • ROS / ROS2

  • Embedded Systems

Engineering Tools & Simulations

  • SolidWorks

  • Cameo Systems Modeler (MBSE)

  • MATLAB / Simulink

  • Gazebo

  • PyBullet

  • Blender

Hardware & Controls

  • Siemens TIA Portal

  • PLC Integration

  • Sensor Integration

  • Motor Control Systems

  • Industrial Automation

  • Electrical System Debugging