Thomas Capon

University of Maryland, College Park

College Park, MD
Electrical Engineering and Physics
Bachelor of Science, May 2009
Email: robot256@gmail.com

Robotics Academy Research Project:

Autonomously Reconfigurable Technology, Research Associate
Principal Investigator: Cynthia Cheung, Code 695

Research and Work Experience:

• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Student Intern – Greenbelt, MD, August 2005 – June 2006
Tetrahedral walker project: assist in design, fabrication, testing, firmware development, and mechanical integration for an experimental robot.
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, National Space Club Scholar – June - August 2005
Tetrahedral walker project: assembly of conceptual modeling, assist assembly of experimental robot

Special Skills:

• Hardware assembly and maintenance
• Network cabling and configuration
• Autodesk AutoCAD 2004
• Cadsoft EAGLE
• C
• C++
• Visual Basic
• Assembler for Microchip PIC microcontrollers
• Basic analog electronics design and analysis
• Electrical and electronics soldering
• Digital electronics design and analysis
• Microcontroller programming, integration, and troubleshooting

Honors and Awards:

• Semester Academic Honors (Dean’s List), January 2005
• University of Maryland, Dept. of Electrical Engineering Departmental Honors Program, 2005-2009
• Inventis Academy of Engineering Scholars, 2005 – 2009
• Dean’s Scholarship, 2005 – 2009
• A. James Clark School of Engineering Scholarship, 2005-2009
• “Best Use of Technology” Judge’s Choice Award, Botball 2004
• AP Scholar with Distinction Award, 2004, 2005
• Maryland Distinguished Scholars Program, Honorable Mention, 2004

Hobbies and Interests:

Electronics, mobile autonomous robotics, computer maintenance and networking, machining and mechanical design, playing trumpet, and theoretical physics.

Personal Statement:

“I have always loved to build things. To me, engineering isn't so much a vocation as a way of life. With robotics, I am able to bring together my diverse interests in electrical, mechanical, and software engineering to produce creative and innovative results. I love collaborating in a team of competent engineers, and working with my fellow Robotics Academy members has been both productive and enjoyable. Working in the space program at NASA allows me to interact with some of the greatest minds in the world, and gives me countless opportunities to apply my creativity and problem-solving skills to real-world situations. I hope to continue working at NASA for many years and perhaps assist in the first manned mission to Mars.”