Always Learning. Always Thinking. Always Tinkering.
Expanding my horizons in Mechatronics/Robotics to build the future.
Get to Know Me!
Robotics Engineering Major, Widener University
Greetings! My name is Ross Baer. I am currently a Robotics Engineering Major at Widener University, Chester PA. I am an individual who enjoys taking on challenging projects to help deepen my understanding, as well as widen my horizons for what may be possible in the future. With the help of my laser cutter and 3D printer I am able to bring my ideas into a physical and realistic form, along with designing custom electronics and PCB to control my ideas. I have developed strong foundations in most C languages, including MATLAB. I believe that my principles can also be applied to other languages when needed.
I am aware that I have much more to learn and experience, and I am dedicated to getting my work done until I believe that it is in its prime! Some other interests I have include working on cars, soldering, and woodworking. I also am a beer enthusiast and will take bribes in Sour Patch Kids!
Latest Projects
Take a look at some of my current projects that I am working on!
High speed Packet interface with IC2 based servo Control
On a modern day rail road, the switches or turnouts are often controlled by a dispatcher and an electro-pnumatic machine to move the point from one side to the other to change the direction on the track. On a model railroad there are many other options to change these positions, some are manually controlled while others use coils or other forms of motor. Currently at Rockledge Model Railroad Museum, where I am the acting head of Electrical and head of Electronics Development, I have undertaken the task of updating our old World War 2 latching coils to be replaced by integrated controlled servos. This new servo based movement system is not only capable of being toggled by a hard input to the shield, but are integrated into the Digitrax system. This allows control from any device wired or wireless to control/active switches, relays, and even other control units. These also have the ability to actively communicate with the system to report errors in positions or loss of signal.
Project Car!
2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP
Back in May of 2021, I purchased a Pontiac Solstice from an insurance auto auction in Long Island. After I had transported the car back to Philadelphia, the repair of the car started. I began with rewiring the entire interior to remove an old sound system as well as an awful security system. Next it was onto removing the blown motor to rebuild it. New Pistons and rods, along with all new bearings and bolts were put in. Then a complete new built head was put on and the motor was dropped back into the car! After that I had to remove the entire rear suspension of the car just to be able to remove the clutch. I have torn this car completely apart and put it back together more times than I can count! Click Below to follow my progress as I hope to get further along!
My ETSY store : BaerEmber
Laser Engraved Catan
In November of 2020, due to the pandemic forcing me to live at home, I was often found tinkering around with my 3D printer and making small pieces here and there. After giving it some thought I decided to purchase a K40 laser to add to my prototyping lab. When I was looking around for projects to do, I often found I took inspiration from my surroundings. One of my favorite board games was Settlers of Catan. With the inspiration from that board game I decided to design and fabricate a set of the game for myself. After I made that set, I thought I could really expand my horizons and challenge myself with making more and seeing if I would be able to sell them. I opened a small Etsy shop titled BaerEmber and from there I began selling sets! I thought I would only sell a few sets and people wouldn’t be interested in my product, but boy was I wrong!
Skills And Expertise
I have pushed my self not only in classes but on my own to broaden my horizons to new methods, languages, software, and much more. To build strong foundations that will help me design the impossible!
Coding
Software
Prototyping
Leadership
Hobbies
Relevant Courses
My Coding Background
I am confident that I have well-built fundamentals in most C based languages as well as MATLAB. I also believe that I have the primary knowledge for Python, JAVA, and Java-script. As someone who is a quick learner and more than willing to learn new concepts, I would be more than happy to learn a new language of code if asked or required to do so. Something that I find helps improve me as a worker, engineer, and student is the help and criticism from more experienced coders around me, as they have often taught me useful information for bettering my code. I do still have lots to learn and improve on and am excited to further my knowledge!
C++
Java
MATLAB
Java-script
C#
Willingness to Learn
What Software am I capable of using
I have learned a decent amount in AUTOCADs inventor along with both Eagle PCB Design and Slicer used for 3D printing. Not only that, but I am also able to use MATLAB for some basic analysis programs. I am also experienced with Visual Studio and have expansive knowledge of Lightburn for laser engraving. Along with that I am also capable of using Microsoft Office Suite and most other Suite based environments.
Inventor
MATLAB(Non code)
Eagle/EasyEDA
Visual Studio
Lightburn
Office Suites
Prototyping Experiences/Capabilities
I have 5 years of 3D printing experience. Along with that I currently own a Craft Bot Plus and have recently acquired a Zotrox Inkspire! I have also used a K40 laser, which is just a cheap barely 20w CO2 base laser engraver. I. was able to save money from selling laser engraved goods from my K40 to buy a much larger 50W Ruida based laser engraver (Picture below). I have an extensive use of light burn software for laser engraving along with Sl3cer, Inventor, Sketch-Up, and Fusion 360 for 3D models to be printed. With these it allows me to bring my ideas into a physical form. I also have a fair amount of soldering experience and am able to solder small electronic components onto PCB boards with a heat gun along with being able to do much larger wires with a soldering iron. Furthermore, I am able to design electronic schematics for projects and components as well as develop these into designed PCB boards to be outsourced and made. I have a small amount of woodworking experience and am comfortable with most wood shop tools or handheld tools. I love to prototype the cray ideas in my head and be able to to use my knowledge and creativity to help with not only my projects, but others as well.
3d printing
Soldering
Laser Engraving/Cut
Wood Working
PCB design
Code Development
Leadership and Coaching
In my many years, I am often told that I am outspoken and when I have issues or concerns I voice my opinions and ask for feed back when possible. I believed that learning from the people around you, being able to take criticism, asking for help when needed, and being able to voice you opinions and reasons are the characteristic I try to abide by to be a Leader and someone who is willing to learn and be coached. Some of my leadership included being the captain of my ice hockey team for my Junior and Senior years of high school. This position allowed me to learn how to work as a team to contribute to one goal, while also teaching me how to be coach able and understand that I can always improve. While being the captain I often had to ensure that everyone was not only progress but enjoying being together and working together, by being a person that the teammate could take to about concerns or areas they wished to work on helped out team work more as one. I further added on to my leadership roles in high school by being elected as one the robotics team captains for out FTC robotics club for my junior and senior years. I worked hard as captain to make sure that we collectively learned together and made sure all ideas were considered and deliberated on. This also allowed me to know how to reach under pressure and when there was a time crunch of how to direct people and request items that were needed. While we were not the top most ranking teams due to budget restrictions we often well exceeded what the other team thought we were capable of. Final my most current leadership role in at Rockledge Model Railroad Museum in Fox-Chase PA. I am the current acting head of Electrical and head of Electronics development. I currently work with about 5-6 workers to manage and complete most wiring projects needed for the layout. Not only do I help revise our yearly budge, I work with my team to plan what needs to be done within the club and set time frames. Furthermore my role as head of Electronics development allows me to take on the most advance electrical projects.. My most recent electrical project is the Digitrax Loconet servo controller(Seen in the projects page) where I am creating what is know as a stationary decoder. This project will progress the layout into a more advanced and modern layout capable of advanced control that is often very intricate. I have worked with all of the members to make sure that when my system is finished that most members will be able to not only implement the system but diagnose problems and operate it while I am away. To be a great Leader you must be able to learn from all the people around you and not just the people above you. I believe that everyone has something to contribute ( to a certain extent, cant ask a anthropologist to change code).
What hobbies and other fun stuff do I like to do?
My hobbies allow me to relax and do something I enjoy after a long days work. I have played Ice Hockey for 16 years of my life (Since i was 5). I enjoy going skating with my friends or playing pick up games with my father in his mens league. I also enjoy volunteering at Rockledge Model Railroad Mesuem where I am the head of electrical and help progress the layout as it was built from the ground up. I have been helping with the new building and layout since 2014 when it was acquired. Since i was the youngest I was often tasked with getting under the layout or standing on top of it to do wiring. I have made countless friends with the other people and go sometime just to sit and talk and learn about their life. I also enjoy going beer tasting when I get the chance with friend or family. Cape May brewery is one of my favorites! Furthermore, I often use my makers space which I have designed and built, which includes my Laser engraver/cut, 3dPrinters, and full wood shop to help bring my ideas to life. If there is a warm day and I have some downtime on the weekend I tend to spend it rebuilding my project car, or go go-karting to get the adrenaline kick and set some blistering track times to make sure my friends know whose the fastest of the all. I also enjoy cooking and learning new recipes and just hanging out with my friends whether it is playing games like quiplash or just having conversations around bon fire making smores. Recently I have been able to start expanding my sense of style now that covid is drawling to a end and I cant sit is sweat pants all day. Since I was young i was tinkering with everything and tearing it apart or putting it back together, Ive slowly worked towards my goal of being the Dos Sakis to be the most interesting man in the world capable of anything.
Gallery to describe me
Contact Me!
Feel Free to contact me anytime!