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Summer Interns - 2016

Row 1 (bottom row, left to right): Jiljo Moncy, Kayla B. Andersen, Filippo Galli, Ethan Schaler, Michael Goulet, Sean Wenzel, Kristopher Wehage, Amanda Moffitt, Samantha Samuelson

Row 2 (second row from bottom, left to right): Robert Salazar, Steven Hewitt, Kristina Andreyeva, Mimi Jiao, Beau Marth, Lou Cubrich, Mattia Landolfi, Sophia Liu, Suzie Kellogg, Alexandra Bacula, Ben Barnett, Julia Troxell

Row 3 (third row from botton, left to right): Alex Austin, James Roggeveen, Kyle M. Petersen, Caleb Christianson, Luca Lanzoni, Dario Lusso, Jeffrey Orenstein, Samantha Tran, Jane Miller, Ryan D’Ambrosia, Eric Cheng, William Seto

Row 4 (fourth row from bottom, left to right): Leon Cheung, Elijah Pivo, Emily Newman, Clark Zhang, William Ganucheau, Matt Tucker, Sherman Lam, Matt Martone, Alec Schalo, Alexander Holden, Raymundo Gonzalez, Armine Boubezari

Row 5 (top row, left to right): Sebastian Quilter, Christian Stewart, John Wang, Brennen Irey, Devin Anderson, Matt Epperson

Name Home Institution Program Point of Contact Task Name
Akifumi, Wachi The University of Tokyo JVSRP Masahiro Ono Machine learning-based risk-aware planning
Activity: Perform research on innovative machine learning-based planning algorithm for operating mobile systems in a highly uncertain environment.
Au, Vicki UC Irvine Maximizing Student Potential in STEM Eric Kulczycki Mechanical Design and Concept Development for Europa Lander
Activity: Assist in the design, development, and testing of Sample Dock sample transfer system for the Europa lander.
Batzorig, Amarnold Caltech SURF Matthew Gildner Mechanical Design and Testing for Underwater Force-Sensing Gripper
Activity: Assist in the design, development and testing of an underwater gripper which incorporates a 6-axis force torque sensor.
Boubezari, Amine Caltech JVSRP Dan Levine Contact Detection and Analysis (CDAS)
Activity: Use machine learning techniques to detect, classify and track boats and other hazards on the water.
Bowket, Joseph Caltech JVSRP Rudranarayan Mukherjee Robotics Modeling, Analyses, Manipulation and Mobility for In Space Assembly
Activity: Multi-Sensor data registration for continuous science data gathering with UAVs.
Buoniconti, Nicholas Caltech JVSRP Adrian Stoica Multi-robot control
Activity: Determine efficient means to control teams of multiple robots. This includes improving human-oriented interfaces, coordinated behaviors, group-levels of autonomy.
Chandra, Sharat Washington Univ JPLYIP Abhinandan Jain SImulation studies for semi-autonomous ground vehicles
Activity: Support development of semi-autonomous ground vehicle simulator using ROAMS, and conduct scenario simulations and analysis for different levels of autonomy and environmental conditions.
Dolci, Marco N/A JVSRP Adrian Stoica Lunar Sample Return - MoonRise
Activity: Autonomous surface operations for the sampling and sample transfer of 1 kg of samples from the surface of the Moon and to the Lunar Ascent Vehicle (LAV).
Galli, Filippo Polytechnico University in Turin JVSRP Amir Rahmani Adaptive Autopilot for Agile Aircraft  (A4)
Activity: Develop a high performing autopilot based on L1 Adaptive and/or MPC based control techniques.
Gaut, Aaron Self JPLYIP Abhinandan Jain Simulation studies for semi-autonomous ground vehicles
Activity: Support development of semi-autonomous ground vehicle simulator using ROAMS, and conduct scenario simulations and analysis for different levels of autonomy and environmental conditions.
Glick, Paul UC San Diego JPLYIP Aaron Parness Electrostatic Adhesive Robot
Activity: Improve on the adhesive wheel design to increase the performance and decrease the weight of the system.
Goeckner-Wald, Claire Caltech JPLSIP Sawyer Brooks M2020 Sample Caching Subsystem Software Test Development
Activity: Assist in the design, development, and execution of automatic software test scripts, ranging from unit tests to system-level functionality verification.
Governale, Giusseppe Polytechnico University in Turin JVSRP Adrian Stoica Transformers: Unfolding solar reflectors to powering robots in shaded areas on the Moon
Activity: Determine the location of reflectors to ensure continuous illumination at specified points inside or outside the crater, and the controls needed to ensure illumination as the sun moves along the horizon.
Hockman, Benjamin Stanford University JVSRP Robert Reid Risk-aware Strategies for the In-situ Exploration of Small Bodies with Hopping/Tumbling Robots
Activity: Developing risk-aware motion planning approaches for microgravity robots that hop and tumble over these surfaces.
Hussain, Abraham Caltech JPLSIP Jeng Yen Enhancing Rover Sequence Generation and Simulation
Activity: Implement and test the new components in RSVP, including Terrain Classifier and RScketch, to improve the sequence generation and simulation capability.
Kikuchi, Shota Purdue University JVSRP Marco Quadrelli E-Glider Modeling and Simulation
Activity: Will study the orbital dynamics around an asteroid subject to solar radiation pressure and electrostatic forces. The environment near the surface of airless bodies.
Kneis, Christina USC NASA Undergraduate Internship Eric Kulczycki Development of Sample Retrieval Operations Software for Mars Sample Transfer Test Bed
Activity: Assist in the design, development, and testing of sample retrieval tools for sample caches as part of the development of a Mars Sample Transfer Test-bed development.
Lacoponi, Saverio Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies JVSRP Kalind Carpenter Enceladus Vent Climber
Activity:Develop possible mobility solutions to traverse into and through Enceladus plumes. Prototype the concepts and test them for viability. Report on lessons learned and paths forward.
Landolfi, Mattia Polytechnico University in Turin JVSRP Amir Rahmani Adaptive Autopilot for Agile Aircraft  (A4)
Activity: Develop a high performing autopilot based on L1 Adaptive and/or MPC based control techniques.
Lee, Connor Caltech SURF Larry Matthies Robust feature tracking for UAV state estimation
Activity: Explore the use of high dynamic range cameras and more robust visual feature tracking methods to improve visual-inertial state estimation for small UAVs operating in highly variable lighting.
Liu, Sophia Caltech SURF Amir Rahmani Mission Planner Interface for Coordination of Robot Teams
Activity: Develop a web-based editor and visualization tool for multi-agent mission planner being developed at JPL.
Lucena, Girly Santa Monica College JPLYIP Gail Woodward Multi-mission Robotics
Activity: Support the development of CARACaS applications for sea surface and underwater unmanned vehicles.
Lusso, Dario Polytechnico University In Turin JVSRP Marco Quadrelli E-Glider Modeling and Simulation
Activity: Develop physics models and simulation techniques for electrostatic interactions of objects of various geometries in a micro-gravity space environment.
Mehanovic, Dino Universite de Sherbrooke JPL Graduate Fellowship Aaron Parness Development of Microspine Grippers
Activity: Develop new microspine designs that maximize the number of hooks in contact with the surface, and thus the ability to react load.
Melendez, Mayra Caltech JPLSIP/Space Grant Russell Smith Plume Mode Transitions in a Hollow Cathode
Activity: Make hardware/software improvements to the OS-Bot system. This would include working with a 1/5th scale RC car chassis souped up with a micro controller, IMU, several radios, and other sensing hardware.
Miller, Jane Northwestern Space Grant program Christopher Assad Natural Robot Control Interfaces Using Wearable Bio-Sensors
Activity: Assist in developing robotic platforms to test a new wearable interface for sending control commands to robots.
Moffitt, Amanda Mount San Jacinto Community College Consortium for Undergraduate Research Experience Gail Woodward Multi-mission, multi-agent Robotics and Computer Vision
Activity: Assist in the area of autonomy software system integration and test of algorithms for mutli-agent cooperative control and/or vision-based perception systems.
Mongelli, Marco Polytechnico University in Turin JVSRP Paul Backes Comet Surface Sampling V&V Hardware Development
Activity: Design a testbed consisting of a mock spacecraft with simplistic control.
Moreno, Jasmine UC Riverside Maximizing Student Potential in STEM Eric Kulczycki Software Development and Testing for Mars Sample Transfer Test Bed
Activity: Design, development, and testing of robotic arm control and workspace analysis software for sample retrieval tools and sample cache interface features as part of the development of a Mars Sample Transfer Test-bed development.
Murthy, Sheila Caltech SURF Adrian Stoica From Innovation to Flight - Pilot Projects
Activity: Development and prototyping, and possible test in flight. Prototypes will be mechanical, electrical or robotics systems which would be tested in a atmospheric or space flight.
Nanjangud, Subash UC Davis JVSRP Abhinandan Jain Dynamics modeling of space platforms
Activity: Improve the dynamics modeling algorithms and software in use at the DARTS lab for modeling of robotic and rover platforms.
Nowak, Norbet Fachhochschule Dortmund JVSRP Roland Brockers Terrain map generation for terrain relative navigation of a tandem MAV system
Activity: Generate terrain maps from image pairs that are acquires by two MAVs flying in tandem formation.
Orenstein, Jeffrey Caltech SURF Aaron Parness Microspine Drill
Activity: Designing and implementing several characterization experiments with the new hardware in the relevant rock suite.
Paolevanian, Torkom Caltech JPLSIP Matthew Gildner Developing Control Electronics for Modular Brushless Actuator
Activity: Assist in the improvement of the control electronics for a modular brushless robotic actuator.
Paton, Michael UTIAS JPLSIP Issa Nesnas Multi-sol Rover Navigation
Activity: Support maritime computer vision software for autonomous sea surface vehicles.
Peterson, Ariel Santa Monica College Maximizing Student Potential in STEM Eric Kulczycki Mechanical Design and Testing for Mars Sample Transfer Test Bed
Activity: Assist in the design, development, and testing of sample retrieval tools and sample cache interface features as part of the development of a Mars Sample Transfer Test-bed development.
Peterson, Tanner Trinity University JPLSIP Matthew Frost Mars 2020 Robotic Arm
Activity: Assist with design, mechanical support, operations and data collection of testbeds used to inform the Robotic Arm design and docking interface.
Porter, Fletcher UC Santa Barbara JPLSIP Jason Carlton Roboticist Intern
Activity: Provide mechanical support on various robotics projects including, but not limited to, the DARPA Challenge JPL robot RoboSimian, the ATHLETE robot and the Asteroid Capture mission.
Rhee, Helena Representing Self CURE Program Michael Wolf Multi-mission, multi-agent Robotics and Computer Vision
Activity: Developming and testing algorithms for mutli-agent cooperative control and/or vision-based perception systems.
Riccobono, Dario Polytechnico University in Turin JVSRP Paul Backes Comet Surface Sampling V&V Hardware Development
Activity: Design a testbed consisting of a mock spacecraft with simplistic control.
Rodriguez, Javier California State University, Long Beach JPLSIP Adrian Stoica From Innovation to Flight - Pilot Projects
Activity: Development and prototyping, and possible test in flight. Prototypes will be mechanical, electrical or robotics systems which would be tested in a atmospheric or space flight.
Salazar, Robert UC Santa Barbara SURF Adrian Stoica Transformers: Unfolding solar reflectors to powering robots in shaded areas on the Moon
Activity: Determine the location of reflectors to ensure continuous illumination at specified points inside or outside the crater, and the controls needed to ensure illumination as the sun moves along the horizon.
Sawada, Kae California State University, Los Angeles JPLSIP Adrian Stoica Innovation to Flight - Advanced Launch Systems
Activity: Create a dynamic user interface with sysml model that allows formulation and implementation teams at jpl to interact with and alter launch vehicle related information.
Schaler, Ethan UC Berkeley JPLYIP Aaron Parness Electrostatic Adhesive Robot
Activity: Improve on the adhesive wheel design to increase the performance and decrease the weight of the system.
Simonson, Ellie Massachusetts Institute of Technology JPLYIP Masahiro Ono Journey to the Center of Icy Moons
Activity: Develop mission concepts for ICE, identify the primary risks associated with the mission, and identify potential mitigations for these risks, and perform a feasibility analysis for the mission.
Van Wal, Stefaan University of Colorado JPLYIP Issa Nesnas Modeling Surface Interactions of Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids on Small Solar System Bodies
Activity: Developing motion planning approaches for microgravity robots that hop and tumble over these surfaces.
Wehage, Kristopher UC Davis JPLYIP Rudranarayan Mukherjee Robotics Modeling
Activity: Developing computational models of robots, software for modeling different robotic behaviors, animations of new concepts and interfacing third party software into our existing software base.
Wenzel, Sean UC San Diego JPLSIP Marc Pomerantz Outreach Visualization development support
Activity: Develop unit test cases to help us automatically test system components and may develop shader code to render various on s screen elements such as the background star field and planetary textures.
Wisniewski, Lukasz Space Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences JVSRP Robert Reid In Situ Analysis of Regolith Properties on Small Solar System Bodies from Spacecraft/Rover Hybrids
Activity: Will explore mechanical aspects of spacecraft/rover hybrid design; in particular actuators, sensors and mobility techniques that can measure regolith properties in situ.