Creators

Titanoboa is a project initiated and led by Charlie Brinson, with the help of a diverse team of dozens of co-creators, contributors, helpers, and supporters, from students to professionals, and spanning many disciplines.

Titanoboa’s Creators—The Team:

  • Charlie Brinson – Charlie is the project lead and founder and worked on all aspects of the project from design, fabrication, assembly, logistics and project management.
  • Federico Augugliaro – Federico did the research and mathematical modeling that laid the groundwork for the machine, proving that it would work.  He also began the early mechanical design and FEA analysis on the vertebrae.  Federico is now back at ETH Zurich working on flight assembled architecture.
  • James Simard - James Simard did much of the high level electrical design control architecture, built the control joystick, and generally held the electrical end of things together despite massive challenges and deadlines.
  • Jonathan Faille – Jon Faille did the detailed solid modeling of vertebrae, designed power electronics, sourced and machined parts, assembled and trouble shot the hydraulic system, provided technical advice… what didn’t Jon do again?
  • Markus Hager – Continuation and finalizing of schematic and board design for the “BoaShield”. Parts sourcing for, and manufacturing of the BoaShield PCBs. Contributed to harness assembly and testing. Occasionally brings BBQ to the lab and makes smokies.
  • Michelle La Haye – Michelle did the wiring harness design and assembly, Git revision control setup, helped with BoaShield schematic review and parts sourcing.
  • Hugh Patterson - Mechanical design and fabrication. Hugh’s interest is in design, materials, manufacturing and snake motion. His main focus on the first prototype has been on the mechanical design of the vertebrae, joints, and head; including CAD, structural analysis, cutting, grinding, drilling, MIG and TIG welding.
  • Julian Fong – Julian was our ace in the hole for on the fly control software.  The man could program in a dust storm with flames shooting all around him on no sleep and it would come out like poetry.
  • Kevin Lowe– Kevin helped with continual development of control software and numerous Titanoboa deployments.
  • Michael Vass  - Master of electronics, battery systems, and software.
  • Ian Brown -  Fueled by a mountain of juice boxes, Ian slaved for endless hours developing the control and communications code. 
  • Eric Wilson –   Eric also slaved for endless hours developing the control and communications code.
  • Jordan Cowan – Jordan helped design and assemble the hundreds of fittings that make up the hydraulic system. 
  • Tim LukianWebsite and logo design & development.
  • Mark Eijsermans– Welding, head fabrication, eye design and animation.
  • Dillard Brinson - Dillard helped with high level design decisions and single handedly blazed through much of the aluminum vertebrae welding.
  • Kelly Metzger – Kelly helped with fabrication, wiring, molding plastic, theatrics and generally brightening the shop.
  • Polly Tan – Polly helped with fabrication, welding, fundraising, and anything else she could get her hands on including spantacular snake uniforms.
  • Graham Mitchell – Graham has helped develop the Android diagnostics and control app for Titanoboa.
  • Angus Rittenburg – Notorious for unshakable work ethic and his ability to burn the midnight oil, Angus helped with fabrication of position sensors and other items.
  • Stefan Storey – Stefan’s mad genius helped with project management and fabrication and prototyping.
  • John Blake – Jon Blake is a seasoned fabrication guru who taught the fab crew how to work with Aluminum.
  • Sam Meyer – Sam helped with vertebrae welding, fabrication, and keeping people in line.
  • Emily Hamilton -  Emily helped organize the kickstarter campaign and manage the project in general.
  • Jonathan Tippett – Jon helped supply work space and tools to make the project happen. Jon is currently working on Prosthesis, the anti-robot.
  • Ben Cooper – Ben cooper helped with video documentation and the kickstarter fundraising campaign.
  • Antonio Silva – Antonio helped with the kickstarter fundraising campaign.
  • David Alfonso  -Dave helped with wiring, fabrication and general assembly of the beast.
  • Lee Wasilenko – Lee helped source battery system components.
  • Ryan Johnston – Ryan helped with welding vertebrae and helped supply tools to make the project happen.
  • Leigh Christie – Leigh helped manage project resources and provided design guidance and helped supply tools to make the project happen.
  • Kate Semrau -Kate helped coordinate media and the kickstarter fundraising campaign.
  • Brian Lee -Brian helped with intial electrical circuit and architecture design
  • Justin Lemire Elmore – Justin helped with his vast battery and electric motor knowledge and helped supply work space and tools to make the project happen.
  • Alex Walker -Alex Walker did the initial head modeling, helped with aesthetics, and tools to make the project happen.
  • Dallyn Rule – Dallyn helped form the initial head ideas and image and with prototyping of the outer scale design.
  • Grant Harris:  Grant helped with Titanoboa graphics design.
  • Lis Thomas – Lis helped with fab work and fundraising.
  • Ryan Cutler -Ryan helped with the ground roller design.
  • Gavin  Hartnett – Master of the blade of death, Gavin helped with general fab and controls testing.
  • Joey Lopez – Joey helped with initial hydraulic testing, and control.
  • Lisa Zhang – Lisa helped with initial testing and prototyping.
  • Kat Kolar -Kat helped make our glorious spandex snake uniforms.
  • Eva Schaffer – Eva helped with fundraising.
  • Sunny Leung - Sunny helped with ongoing software and controls development and the scale model “Ti-tiny- boa.”
  • Tabitha Lee - Tabitha helped with electronics and the scale model “Ti-tiny- boa.”

 

More in-depth team profiles coming soon!