RESUME OF DAVID D. WRIGHT
Multidisciplinary engineer, published in acoustics, electromechanics, fluid mechanics, and robotics. Seven
patents issued. Lead engineer for the design of
• two gas turbines,
• infrared instruments,
• void meters,
• vacuum coating (sputtering) machines,
• optical image analysis system,
• document feeder for office copier,
• one bladed windmill,
• quiet (90 dbA) rock drill,
• powerful (2+ hp/lb) electric motor,
• space qualified electronics,
• high force linear motor and controller,
• linear postioner, and
• energy harvesting electronics
EDUCATION
1963-1966 Penn State University, State College, PA
Major: Engineering Science, first in class.
1967-1974 Ph.D program at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Major: Thermodynamics
Exams and courses complete.
AWARDS AND AFFILIATIONS
Evan Pugh Scholar (Penn State 1966), Dean’s list throughout college career, Honorary member Tau Beta
Pi (Engineering), Phi Kappa Phi (Scholastic Achievement), Sigma Tau (Physics), Pi Mu Epsilon
(Mathematics), Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honors). Member SAE and ASME. Registered professional
engineer in New Hampshire, 1973-2002.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1983-present WAT, Inc., 8870 VT RTE 113, Vershire, VT 05079. Founder
1980-1983 Boulder Steel, Inc 2696 30th St. Boulder, CO.
1978-1980 Consulting in Boulder, CO region, including:
Sable Instruments, Analog Systems, HPS Corporation and Molnar
1976-1978 Dyad Engineering, Lebanon, NH. Founder
1973-1976 IRAD Engineering Consultants, Inc., Lebanon NH. Founder
1967-1973 Creare, Inc., Box 71, Hanover NH. Project engineer
PUBLICATIONS
"Factors Affecting Drop Spread in Hot Melt Ink Jet Printing," ASIE 1994.
"On the Generation of Intense Shock Wave Pressures and Pressure Gradients in Liquid," ASME 1990.
"Algorithms for All-Wheel Steering," SPIE 1988.
"Advanced Rover for Planetary Exploration," SPIE 1988.
"Design of an Electric Flywheel for Surge Power Applications in Mobile Robots," SPIE 1987.
"Comparison of Mobility System Concepts for a Mars Rover," SPIE 1987."Power and Propulsion Systems
for Mobile Robotic Applications," SPIE 1986.
"Design of a Lightweight, Full Mobility Vehicle," AI and Robotics Conference, Austin, TX 1985.
"Design and Development of a Quiet Rock Drill," U.S. Bureau of Mines Report, 1977.
"Combustion Design Fundamentals," 14th Symposium on Combustion, 1973.
"Fluid Mechanic Analysis of High Pressure Ratio Centrifugal Compressor Data," AVLABS Report 69-76,
1970.
PATENTS
U.S. Patent 3,885,782. "Automatic Document Handling Apparatus for a Copying Machine" Assigned to
Xerox Corporation in 1973.
U.S. Patent 4,348,635. "Detecting and Measuring the Position of a Break in Solid Formations by Measuring
the Capacitance of an Elongated Element Embedded Therein" Assigned to Joy Manufacturing in 1979.
U.S. Patent 5,440,143. "Folded-Path Optical Analysis Gas Cell" Assigned to On-Line Technologies, Inc. in
1995.
U.S. Patent 5,486,917. "Flexture Plate Motion-Transfer Mechanism, Beam-Splitter Assembly, and
Interferometer Incorporating the Same" Assigned to On-Line Technologies, Inc. in 1996.
U.S. Patent 7,267,043. "Actuators with Diaphragm and Methods of Operating Same." Assigned to
Adaptivenergy, LLC in 2007.
U.S. Patent 7,608,984 B2. "Motion Amplification Using Piezoelectric Element." Assigned to Adaptivenergy,
LLC in 2009.
U.S. Patent 8,253,307 B2. "Circuits for Harvesting Energy from Piezoelectric Devices" Assigned to Par
Technologies, LLC in 2012.
EXPERIENCE
Acoustics: Theory of sound radiation from rock drilling equipment followed by design and demonstration of
a 90 dbA rock drill. Analysis and design of ultrasonic horn radiators. Development of a low noise blower.
Basic Research: Mathematical modelling of boundary layer turbulence. Computer simulations of the
kinetics of turbulent combustion. Development of methods to calculate magnetic fields and forces in
regions with nonlinear susceptibility.
Computer Programming: Fluent in BASIC and FORTRAN. C programs on embedded systems, TI and
Atmel. Programs include business applications, robot and motor controllers, optical ray tracing and
technical simulations. Also use standard application software for CAD/CAE.
Electromagnetics: Innovation of an electric motor which has received national attention for its high power to
weight ratio of four horsepower per pound (see Popular Science, August 1986 or Automobile, March
1987). Calculations of electrostatic particle separation. Innovation of electromagnetic actuators including
voice coil devices, flat armature oscillating motor with 2000 lb force capability, magnetic bearings, and high
force pulsed solenoids (rail gun).
Electronics: Design of analog, digital and hybrid devices, including: a portable teletype (with others, in
1970); circuitry for the GRD electric guitar; instruments to measure length, moisture, voids and uv spectra;
a plasma torch height servo; computer interfaces for robotics and data acquisition; power supplies for
motors and pulsed solenoids; and energy harvesting electronics.
Fluid Mechanics: Design of fluid machinery including two centrifugal compressors, a windmill, a gyrocopter
rotor and a Coanda burner. Analysis and simulation of rock drill energetics, nuclear reactor loss of coolant
accident conditions, a continuous flow, solids-dewatering centrifuge, leakage in a hand operated water
pump, an automotive supercharger, and a large water turbine. Analysis of protein separation in theraputic
streams, and heat transfer in a spreading drop.
Optics: Development of image clarity and optical system evaluation techniques for a manufacturer of office
copiers. Design of the optical system for an infrared hygrometer, FTIR spectrometers and a Fizzeau
interferometer. The design and fabrication of diamond turned optics. Development on FTIR based gas
analysis instruments.
Product Design: Developed both high and low volume designs. Design of several production machines for
sputtering metal films. Design of KF clamps and other vacuum fittings for medium scale production.
Design of a document feeder for office copiers. Design of a basketball return machine, a fog-free mirror
and the Econoslide linear positioner.
Robotics: Design of the WAT robotic arm. Design of a four wheel drive, four wheel steer robotic vehicle
platform. Conceptual design of mars exploration robots.
Stress Analysis: Vibration analysis and design of high speed rotating machines. Wrote a FEM computer
program for analyzing frames. Engineering of an all composite body for the DARPA Autonomous Land
Vehicle. Stress wave analysis of rock excavation by mechanical impact.
Technical Writing: Publications, proposals (including five SBIR awards), several conference presentations
and over 200 proprietary reports.
DAVID D. WRIGHT
8870 VT RTE 113
Vershire, VT 05079
(802) 685-2152
(256) 792-8462 cell
dave@watinc.biz