Julian Reynolds

Resume

Skills

I have experience with Python, scikit-learn, OpenCV, C/C++, MATLAB, OpenGL, GLSL, and Lisp.  I have experience with advanced control algorithms such as fuzzy logic control, neural network predictive control, model reference control, and reinforcement learning.  I have an associate Solidworks certification and have experience with using SWS for finite element analysis.  Additionally, I have experience with soldering, machine shop tools such as mills and lathes, and other hands-on skills.

Statement of Purpose

I was introduced to the world of engineering at a young age.  In middle and high school my stepfather and I assembled and worked with CNC machines and later we moved onto building 3D printers.  I helped him assemble multiple machines when I was young, and recently I spent my winter break building my own 3D printer at home.  On my eighth birthday, the party favors I asked my parents for were robot kits.  I invited two friends over, and the three of us spent the whole party building our own robots.  When we were done we ran outside to watch these machines walk across the driveway, and I knew from then on that robotics were going to be a part of my life.  I have a passion for building and creating things, which is fueled by the instant gratification that comes with seeing the results of the work I put into these projects.  One example is from my freshman year at Mines when my design team took second place in the final competition for creating a low-cost food storage and preservation device that did not require electricity.  In school I have had many opportunities to learn engineering fundamentals and the math that governs everything our species has ever built, and I have also had many opportunities to apply my knowledge in hands-on settings.  Whether I am in the machine shop, maker space, or the Digger Design Lab, I always enjoy approaching difficult problems and creating a solution to them.  

I pursued mechanical engineering and robotics because of my affinity for working with my hands and physically building things.  As the treasurer of the Robotics Club here at Mines, I have seen firsthand the amazing things that the students are building.  Experience in the club has opened my eyes to the seemingly infinite applications of autonomous systems, from robots that fight each other in an arena to motor powered exo-suits that can give people superhuman abilities.  I have always been fascinated by robotics and automation, partially stemming from my experience with 3D printers.  I am always eager to continue learning, and I want to apply what I have learned to creating machines that can complete tasks better than a human could.  Robotics have the capacity to increase production, strengthen our country’s defenses, contribute to public safety, and countless other applications.  It is my belief that robots are the way of the future, and I want to be on the forefront of this new era of scientific progress.

I have had hands on experience with programming, wiring electronics, and assembling machines and I have discovered a passion that will become my career.  I believe that robots have the potential to help people, and I think that they will carry our species into the future by allowing us to do things that would never have been possible to achieve without the assistance of machines.  I want to learn as much as I can so that I can make a lasting impact on this field and improve the standard of living of as many people as I can. I also want to have a career where I love what I am doing, so that I can continue to work hard and never lose my enthusiasm for creating things.  I believe that the field of robotics can provide me with these opportunities, and I know that my passion for building will lead to success in any projects that I undertake.