ELECTRONICSROBOTICS
.01

ABOUT

PERSONAL DETAILS
Lublin, POLAND
mapiconimg
damian.nowak@delmero.com
Hi! I am an embedded systems engineer, which means I am very passionate about designing electronics and programming microcontrollers - especially for robots. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with! Available as freelance

BIO

ABOUT ME

I'm in love with robotics, since I've seen my first Iron Man comic book. Thanks to my parents and friends, I was able to pursue my passion and invest loads of time and cash into many spectacular wins and fails in this field. At some point my experience and knowledge was big enough, to explore professional career and allowed me to make my living of it. I was not just programming robots. I was, and still am, building them from scratch. If you are looking for a way to transfer your great idea into working piece of hardware - I am the nerdy guy you should talk to!

Since May 2018, I have been following my biggest dream of being self-employed freelancer, to work with professionals and people passionate about their jobs from all around the world. I'm open to B2B contracts and other forms of cooperation. Long term, short term - it doesn't matter, as long as your project is fun and at least a little bit challenging for me.

"Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road." - this is how Stewart Brand describes why we should follow innovation in technology. I wish to be as many parts of as many steamrollers, as possible!

HOBBIES

INTERESTS

ROBOTICS

It is my passion since the early highschool. I was very lucky to convert this hobby into career and to make my living by doing what I love.

HAM radio

Listening to and talking through the amateur-band radio gives me goosebumps, it also fascinates me how "useless radio bands" can be used via Earth's high layers of atmosphere to contact almost any continent with a very cheap and simple devices.

Running

Running is my way to relieve stress, stay healthy and to find creative solutions for everyday engineering problems. I prefer distances of about 10km, but you can sometimes meet me on half-marathon runs too.

Road cycling

I just love bicycles... I build them by myself and I love that feeling, when simple mechanics and a muscle effort transposes into high speed and long distances. Although I like being lonely when traveling by bike, you can also meet me on Zwift when the weather is getting worse outside.

SciFi books

I don't read books that are not about electronics or programming too often, but when I do, I prefer SciFi. Not the simple, easy-to-read ones, but rather huge space operas. My number one writer is Peter F. Hamilton. I've read all of his books, some of them several times.

JOKES

WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH (Yes, I am that nerdy)


Can I tell you a TCP/IP joke?

- Hello, would you like to hear a TCP joke?

- Hello, would you like to hear a TCP joke?

- Hello, would you like to hear a TCP joke?

- Hello, would you like to hear a TCP joke?

- Yes, I'd like to hear a TCP joke.

- OK, I'll tell you a TCP joke.

- OK, I will hear a TCP joke.

- Are you ready to hear a TCP joke?

- Yes, I am ready to hear a TCP joke.

- OK, I am about to send the TCP joke. It will last 10 seconds, it has two characters, it does not have a setting, it ends with a punchline.

- OK, I am ready to get your TCP joke that will last 10 seconds, has two characters, does not have an explicit setting, and ends with a punchline.

- I'm sorry, your connection has timed out. Hello, would you like to hear a TCP joke?


UDP joke

- I'd tell you a UDP joke, but you might not get it.


Two types of people

There are two types of people in this world:

1. Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.


.02

RESUME

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • 05.2018
    now
    Lublin, POLAND

    Owner, Embedded Systems Engineer

    DELMERO

    • active noise cancelling SoC solution development in C/C++ (as a project team member)
    • Modbus RS485 PLC extension devices prototypes
    • development of linux drivers in C
    • cryptography related issues solving in C
    • participating in open source projects
    • electronics schematics and multilayer PCB design
    • STM32 microcontrollers programming in C
    • IoT devices prototyping
    • GPS-based automation devices prototyping for small planes logistics
    • FreeRTOS and LwIP (TCP/IP stack) based development
    • Integrating self-developed hardware with high level Internet applications
    • GUI development for Linux
    • computer repairs
    • webpages development
    • consulting
    • copywriting
    • freelancing
  • 09.2018
    09.2019
    Warsaw

    Software Developer (external contractor)

    Intel Corporation

    • working on a complex, international BSD/GPL open source project,
    • cryptography API development for hardware drivers in Linux,
    • software engineering in C,
    • unit testing and good practices,
    • tech support & consulting
  • 01.2014
    05.2018
    Lublin, POLAND

    Robotics Specialist

    ACCREA

    • software engineering in C/C++
    • bottom-up design of embedded systems - hardware and software (expert in STM32F4 + CMSIS)
    • development of real-time applications (Debian+RT_PREEMPT, FreeRTOS)
    • advanced multilayer PCB design
    • implementation of TCP/IP stack for embedded applications
    • integration of Matlab&Simulink generated code with custom solutions
    • development of hardware drivers for Simulink
    • custom EtherCAT slave (STM32) and master (PC) development
    • development of ROS applications for robotic manipulators and mobile robots
    • architecture and control system design of mobile and stationary robots
    • implementation of forward and inverse kinematics for custom robots
    • tech support & consulting
    • corporate network design and administration (over 20 users)
  • 01.2013
    11.2013
    Legionowo, POLAND

    Electronics Specialist

    BTC Corporation

    • "Robotics" category introduction for KAMAMI.pl and KAMAMI.com
    • social media channels management
    • customer service
    • writing articles for MIKROKONTROLER.pl portal
    • writing articles for BLOG.KAMAMI.pl
    • translations and use-case (programming, assembly) examples for new products
    • electronics service
    • C programming
EDUCATION
  • 2016
    paused
    Lublin, POLAND

    ELECTROTECHNICS, MSc

    LUBLIN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

  • 2006
    2011
    Warsaw, POLAND

    AUTOMATICS AND ROBOTICS

    WARSAW UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

OTHER
  • 2010
    now
    Warsaw, POLAND

    MEMBER

    MENSA Poland

  • 2009
    now
    POLAND

    FORUM MODERATOR, COPYWRITER/BLOG REDACTOR

    FORBOT.pl - Polish robotics online forum

    FORBOT.pl
  • 2009
    now
    POLAND

    Founder

    HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl - blog about robotics

    HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl
  • 12.2014
    Lublin, Poland

    HAM Radio Operator

    Electronics Communication Department (Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej)

    A-CLASS HAM Radio Operator's certificate
  • Europe

    DRIVING LICENSE

    B Category
.03

SKILLS

ENGINEERING SKIILLS
Schematics and PCB design >
LEVEL : EXPERT EXPERIENCE : 7 YEARS
Autodesk EAGLE EMC MULTILAYER PCB BOM Gerber files
Soldering >
LEVEL : EXPERT EXPERIENCE : 7 YEARS
SMT THT Microscope Reflow Production documentation
C LANGUAGE >
LEVEL : EXPERT EXPERIENCE : 10 YEARS
Embedded Drivers GTK+ Linux Embedded Linux
Embedded Systems Programming >
LEVEL : PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE : 6 YEARS
STM32 AVR C programming Eclipse Atollic TrueSTUDIO FreeRTOS LwIP
Matlab & Simulink Embedded >
LEVEL : PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE : 4 YEARS
RTW Simulink Embedded Coder Stateflow
Robotics >
LEVEL : PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE : 4 YEARS
Denavit Hartenberg kinematics Robotic Toolbox ROS
2D/3D CAD Design >
LEVEL : COMPETENT EXPERIENCE : 6 YEARS
Autodesk Inventor Autodesk AutoCAD
COLLABORATION SKILLS
AGILE >
LEVEL : COMPETENT EXPERIENCE : 3 YEARS
SCRUM Redmine Trello KanbanFlow JIRA
Version Control Systems >
LEVEL : PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE : 5 YEARS
git SVN
Customer services >
LEVEL : PROFICIENT EXPERIENCE : 5 YEARS
Technical support Cost estimates Presentations Fairs and exhibitions Toggl
.04

PORTFOLIO

Some of my projects
Custom Devices

sChrono

sChrono

About The Project

I have designed, built and programmed a prototype of the device that allows measuring very short periods of time with 1 microsecond resolution.
It’s being used as a part of a system that measures speed of automatically launched projectiles passing through optic gates.
It communicates via Modbus RS485 interface with Delta PLC industrial controller. Customer uses it for machines that are testing mechanical strength of modern PV panels.


Custom Devices

SKYLIGHTS

SKYLIGHTS

About The Project

I have designed, built and programmed a prototype of the device that manages “smart” lightning integrated with furniture. The main idea was to use it in kitchen – devices can work independently and can drive long strings of LEDs with very smooth PWM animations, they have PIR and proximity sensors, can be used with drawers and lockers without the need of mechanical switches. Devices can handle custom animated light profiles, which makes possible e.g. highlighting wardrobe’s insides for a few seconds and then gradually dimming the lights, also turning the power off in case of longer inactivities.


Software Development

DPDK (Open Source)

DPDK (Open Source)

About The Project

Data Plane Development Kit is an Intel’s open source project that extends an idea of using polling dedicated CPU cores instead of interrupt-driven networking to speed operations by a huge numbers. For more information I’d suggest taking a look at project’s main page: https://www.dpdk.org/
My role in the project was Network Software Developer. I was mostly working on DPDK’s small part called “QAT”, which is an API for Intel hardware called Quick Access Technology supporting on-chip cryptography and compression.

To see my contributions to the project (including code I wrote), check out the Patchwork webpage:
http://patchwork.dpdk.org/project/dpdk/list/?series=&submitter=1184&state=*&q=&archive=both&delegate=

Professional Robotics

L2R Robotic Arm

L2R Robotic Arm

About The Project

Main goal of the project is to design and build a robotic arm, with very integrated mechatronics, configurable kinematics and, prefferably, unlimited number of rotations in each joint.

My tasks, as part of L2R, included:

  • high- and low-level system architecture design,
  • design and development of miniature motor controller with additional “smart” functionalities,
  • development of industrial grade internal interface, based on EtherCAT,
  • co-design and development of mechatronic system for sending electrical signals via rotating mechanical parts,
  • software development with GUI for PC user (Linux, GTK+).
Professional Robotics

SKIDDY Mobile Platform [2015-2018]

SKIDDY Mobile Platform [2015-2018]

About The Project

The project consisted of building a universal, resistant to difficult working conditions (rain, snow, mud, high dust, etc.) mobile platform with a lifting capacity of 100-150 kg.

My tasks, as part of SKIDDY, included:

  • design and implementation of the SkidController controller, reducing the costs and increasing the hardware integration factor for controlling 4 high-power motors,
  • cooperation with mechanical designers on the drive design and efficient cooling for dust-tight and watertight robot housing,
  • high-level software and ROS libraries integration to facilitate the use of the robot’s capabilities to the customer.
Professional Robotics

RAMCIP – Robot Assistant for MCI Patients [2014-2017]

RAMCIP – Robot Assistant for MCI Patients [2014-2017]

About The Project

The project involved building a robot that would autonomously supervise and support elderly people and those with mild cognitive impairment (eg the onset of Alzheimer’s disease).
The robot’s tasks include: detecting the patient’s fall and immediately informing the doctor, supervising the hob while cooking lunch and switching off the burner, if the user forgets about it, administering medicine, helping in reaching objects from hard to reach places (eg high shelves), initiating teleconferences with the patient’s family, periodically carrying out psychological tests – to track the development of the disease.

My tasks, as part of RAMCIP, included:

  • co-writing of a project application for Horizon2020 (grant 643433),
  • software development for embedded (STM32) and PC (Linux+RT_PREEMPT) systems  in C/C++,
  • further development of JointsController, which I have designed for ReMeDi project,
  • planning, supervising and work reporting of electronics designers and programmers team,
  • representing the company in front of the consortium in all the topics related to the system architecture and user safety issues,
  • co-creation of the robotic arm control system,
  • design and co-creation of the mobile platform control system, prototyping and testing.
Professional Robotics

ReMeDi – Remote Medical Diagnostician [2014-2016]

ReMeDi – Remote Medical Diagnostician [2014-2016]

About The Project

The project’s main goal was to build a robot with control station, that allows remote (online) USG and palpation examination, using haptic interface. ReMeDi robot is a kind of “extension” of doctor’s body, which enables him to move around the patient and to feel all the forces acting on robot’s arm.

My tasks, as part of ReMeDi, included:

  • design, implementation and programming of the JointsController (STM32), which replaced the previously used ControlBox (PC); the robot would be too big, too expensive and would have a very limited battery life without it,
  • planning, supervising and work reporting of electronics designers and programmers team,
  • representing the company in front of the consortium in all the topics related to the system architecture and user safety issues,
  • co-creation of the robotic arm control system,
  • design and co-creation of the mobile platform control system, prototyping and testing.
Hobby Robotics

FREEbot – Freescale tribute robot

FREEbot – Freescale tribute robot

About The Project

Similarly to the “Orangutan” robot, FREEbot was meant to encourage customers to buy specific robotic components from online shop I was working for. It is based on very popular FREEDOM-KL25Z, which could be event received for free at some point. Freescale’s innovation was Code Warrior with Processor Expert tool, which allows user to configure most of the peripherals with beginners-friendly clickable forms.

FREEbot consists of cheap parts, including Pololu KTIR transoptors, Pololu step-down regulator and Arduino motor shield (L298 + Schottky diodes). Sales of those parts skyrocketed a week after publication of my “Step by step guide – how to build FREEbot”, which you can find here.

Hobby Robotics

ORANGUTAN – Thinking Robot

ORANGUTAN – Thinking Robot

About The Project

The main goal of this project was to design and develop a small and cheap robotic platform, that would encourage customers to buy specific robotic components from online shop I was working for.

It uses Pololu Oragutan controller (AVR) – hence the name -as well as some other Pololu parts and miniature servomotor.

Double SHARP sensors measure distances for a obstacles and the differential measurements are being used for P-like (proportional) controller to adjust the robot course.

.05

PUBLICATIONS

Some of my articles
12 May 2016

Which battery should I use for my robot? [PL]

HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl

Extensive article about types, pros & cons and correct usage of different kinds of batteries in robotics.

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 50 articles I wrote for HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl

Online articles Selected Damian Nowak

Which battery should I use for my robot? [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles Selected
20 Apr 2016

Oscilloscope in robotics workshop [PL]

HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl

Article about basic usage of the oscilloscope, explaining why and how to use it when building robots (or any other electronics).

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 50 articles I wrote for HOBBYROBOTYKA.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

Oscilloscope in robotics workshop [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
12 Aug 2013

FREEbot (Freescale KL25Z) – instructables [PL]

MIKROKONTROLER.pl

It is a beginners-friendly article explaining how to build and program robot built on Freescale Freedom KL25Z controller.

Read this article for free
See the full list of articles I wrote for MIKROKONTROLER.pl

Online articles Selected Damian Nowak

FREEbot (Freescale KL25Z) – instructables [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles Selected
21 May 2013

Orangutan the Robot – instructables [PL]

MIKROKONTROLER.pl

It is a beginners-friendly article explaining how to build and program more complex robot built on "Pololu Orangutan" controller.

Read this article for free
See the full list of articles I wrote for MIKROKONTROLER.pl

Online articles Selected Damian Nowak

Orangutan the Robot – instructables [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles Selected
13 Feb 2013

Recipe for the Minisumo robot [PL]

FORBOT.pl

It is a beginners-friendly series of articles explaining how to build and program minisumo robot.

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 20 articles I wrote for FORBOT.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

Recipe for the Minisumo robot [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
12 Apr 2012

Line Follower Enhanced robot [PL]

"ELEKTRONIKA DLA WSZYSTKICH", P. 16-18, AVT

Download PDF of free demo version

Journal Paper Selected Damian Nowak

Line Follower Enhanced robot [PL]

Damian Nowak
Journal Paper Selected
14 Feb 2012

Spherical spectral display [PL]

"ELEKTRONIKA DLA WSZYSTKICH", P. 13-16, AVT

Download PDF of free demo version

Journal Paper Selected Damian Nowak

Spherical spectral display [PL]

Damian Nowak
Journal Paper Selected
About The Publication

30 Sep 2011

CadSoft Eagle – beginners course [PL]

FORBOT.pl

It is a beginners-friendly series of articles about basic usage of the very popular software for PCB and schematics designers.

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 20 articles I wrote for FORBOT.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

CadSoft Eagle – beginners course [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
31 Jul 2010

Servos in amateur robotics – Compendium [PL]

FORBOT.pl

It is a beginners-friendly article explaining how to use servos as robots actuators.

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 20 articles I wrote for FORBOT.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

Servos in amateur robotics – Compendium [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
13 Sep 2009

A programmable, line following robot’s recipe for beginners [PL]

forbot.pl

It is a beginners-friendly article explaining how to build and program very simple robot.

Read this article for free
See the full list of over 20 articles I wrote for FORBOT.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

A programmable, line following robot’s recipe for beginners [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
03 Aug 2009

How to build a robot? [PL]

FORBOT.pl

It is a beginners-friendly article explaining how to build a very simple, analog robot.

Read the latest remake of this article for free
See the full list of over 20 articles I wrote for FORBOT.pl

Online articles Damian Nowak

How to build a robot? [PL]

Damian Nowak
Online articles
.06

CONTACT

Drop me a line