About

 
 

It all started with a Dream

Mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidate with 4 years of experience in mechanical systems design and 2 years of experience in system-level architecture for vehicle control systems. My research encompasses designing, testing, and authoring papers on the dynamics and controls for free-running amphibious vehicles in the highly nonlinear surf zone. I am the program manager for the IIHR Model Quadski, our research amphibious vehicle, leading the conceptualization, design, and manufacturing of upgrades to the vehicle for improved testing capability and performance. My master’s thesis, “Design and Experimental Testing of a Robotics Control Architecture for Free-Running Amphibious Models”, increased the precision and testing capability by an order of magnitude for the testing of amphibious models in the surf zone by using ROS, Arduino, and an open-loop control script. I interned with NASA at Ames Research Center in 2018 where I worked on the team that drove the first investigation into future vertiport concepts for urban air mobility. Lastly, I led the chassis and e-drivetrain teams for 2 years with the University of Iowa’s first electric FSAE team, where I developed my principal leadership and problem solving skills.

I have a passion for the outdoors including, hiking, biking, MTB, and snowboarding and regularly go on vacation to places in Wisconsin and Colorado with friends to do them. I love music, especially going to see live music no matter whether it's a big name band or smaller groups like the band I played guitar in throughout college. I am obsessed with all things space, airplanes and cars (especially F1). I play Kerbal Space Program on occasion messing around with crazy rocket or complex airplane builds. I also have a race car simulator where I can get the full experience (minus the acceleration) of driving a race car at the limit. I also enjoy working on my own personal hobbies, such as a hybrid rocket motor, 3D printing, and remote control cars and planes.

My ambition is to work in the aerospace industry on engine and/or flight controls for semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicles. I'm particularly interested in supersonic and hypersonic flight for transportation of goods and people, interplanetary rocket systems for exploring our solar system, and robotics systems that operate at the edge (deep space, other planets, deep ocean, AI, etc.).

 

Michael Swafford

Education

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Mechanical Engineering

Masters of Science - MS, Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor of Science in Engineering - BSE, Mechanical Engineering

Certificate in Naval Hydrodynamics

General Education

  • Iowa City West High School, Iowa City, IA, August 2010-May 2015

  • High Honors, GPA 3.8

Work Experience

Graduate Research Assistant

IIHR - Hydroscience & Engineering, Iowa City, IA, May 2019 - Present

Design, test, and analysis of amphibious vehicles in the near shore environment        

  • Modernized the IIHR Model Quad-Ski (MQS) control system architecture from RC only to semi-autonomous operation using ROS, Arduino, C/C++, Python, and Simulink.

  • Upgraded MQS from free-wheeled marine mode only to full multimode capabilities using Creo Parametric and Solidworks.

  • Increased investigation capabilities by using MATLAB to automate the organization, analysis, and visualization of collected testing data.

Teaching Assistant

The University of Iowa College of Engineering, January 2018- Present

  • Assist professors with teaching, holding office hours and grading classes.

  • Introductory Thermodynamics, Introductory Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, and Energy Systems Design.

Lead Chassis & E-Drivetrain Team Member

The University of Iowa College of Engineering, January 2018- May 2020

  • Led 2 FSAE car chassis, battery structures, and e-drivetrain design and manufacturing campaigns.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, Iowa City, IA, October 2018 - January 2019

  • Aided driving the IIHR 100 meter tow tank for ACV model testing.

  • Debugged experimental analog and digital instrument issues.

  • Helped set up and tear down of experiment.

Summer Intern

NASA Ames Research Center Aeromechanics Branch, Moffett Field, CA, June 2018 - August 2018

  • Investigated and Engineered CAD models of an Uber Hover Future Vertiport concept for both CFD and EFD.

  • Developed and built a foam model Uber Hover Future Vertiport Concept for Wind Tunnel testing at the NFAC.

  • Collaborated with Humphreys and Partners architecture firm on design material and study findings.

  • Created graphic design for outreach posters related to the mars helicopter and urban air mobility.

  • Cinematographer, editor, and co-director for Aeromechanics branch 2018 outreach video.

Student Computer Technician

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, May 2016 - January 2018

Student computer technician for the department of anesthesia at UIHC.

  • Coordinate and manage new workstation installs

  • On - Call expert for troubleshooting computer issues specific to the department of Anesthesia.

Technologies

Proficiency

Microsoft Word / Google Docs

Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets

Microsoft PowerPoint / Google Slides

PTC CREO Parametric

DS SolidWorks

Solidworks Simulate

MATLAB/SIMULINK

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Premier Pro

Arduino microcontrollers

Robot Operating System (ROS)

C / C++

Python

Experience with

ANSYS Fluent

Radio / WiFi remote control

PTC Windchill

CREO Simulate

ANSYS Mechanical

LabVIEW

Rhino 3D

REX CFD

Hands On Experience

General Mechanic Work

PLA 3D Printing

Welding (TIG & MIG) Steel and Stainless

Metal Fabrication

Machining (3-axis Mill & Lathe)

Plasma Cutting

Wood Working

Fiberglass Layup

Painting

Achievements

Hawkeye Summer Startup Accelerator

Planjery Memorial Award

2X ASHRAE Cedar Valley Engineering Scholarship

6 time Dean’s List student

AP scholar award winner

Eagle Scout

 
 
 

Contact

Now that you have read about what I’ve done and what my skills are, feel free to reach out and start a conversation