Ian Valle

Ian Valle is a University of Maryland senior majoring in mechanical engineering. During his time at the MATRIX Lab, he’ll be assisting MATRIX Assistant Research Engineer Dr. Wei-Kuo Yen with the “Buoyancy-Operated roBottle” (BOB) project, which utilizes printed circuit boards and sensors to detect pressure and measure the robot's environmental conditions. He’ll be contributing to the project by modifying its Arduino code, making 3D-printed parts if needed, and testing the robot to see how accurately it detects pressure.

As a MATRIX Lab intern, Ian would like to make changes to the BOB that successfully increase its maximum depth and make its pressure readings as accurate as possible. He was interested in the position because it involves principles from fluid mechanics, electronics applications, and automation.

Ian’s research interests include automation, robotics, and electronics. His skills include 3D printing, using CAD for 2D sketches, soldering, using MATLAB, and programming in C++ and Python.

At the University of Maryland, Ian is involved in the Terrapin Rocket Team “TerpRockets,” a student-run, cross-disciplinary organization where participants design, build, and launch high power rockets. Next school year, he plans to continue expanding his knowledge of the engineering field, make a good capstone project, and secure an offer for a full-time job after graduation.