Engineering Leader specializing in Embedded Systems,
Electric Machines, and Product Development
About
Over the last 15 years, I've helped build a company that designs and manufactures electric machines, working alongside customers, researchers, and engineers around the world. Along the way, I've learned from countless successes - and even more failures.
I believe the best engineering creates shared value: for customers, for businesses, and for the teams that bring products to life. My approach is to pursue simple, robust, and effective solutions while embracing the uncertainty that comes with building something new. I've found that the strongest teams are those that treat mistakes as opportunities to learn, communicate openly, and continuously improve.
I'm also a strong believer in documentation as an engineering discipline. Good documentation begins early, evolves with the product, and transforms individual experience into shared knowledge that enables teams to move faster and build with confidence.
Whether I'm designing embedded systems, developing electric machines, mentoring engineers, or helping shape product strategy, my goal is the same: build technology that solves meaningful problems while leaving the team stronger than when the work began.
Products & Projects
ORCA Series Smart Linear Motors
(Product Line)
Direct-Drive Linear Tubular motors with integrated force and position sensing, motor drivers, and control logic. This product line simplifies linear motor systems while offering advanced features like haptic effect and robust, high bandwidth sensing. Thousands of ORCA motors have been sold into a vast number of applications around the world. From 2017 to 2026, these motors have been manufactured in Victoria, BC using proprietary coil winding and other manufacturing techniques developed by Iris Dynamics.
2017 - 2026
Roles
Design Team Leader
Principal System Architect
PCB and Magnetic Circuit Designer
Technical Highlights
Tightly integrated, novel Position and Force sensors
On-board HBridge motor drivers delivering up to 2 kW
Wide operating supply voltage (12-66)
Novel 4-phase winding geometry
Forces up to 1 kN (ORCA-15)
Speeds over 5 m/s (ORCA-3)
Firmware Features
ARM Cortex M4 based controller with 3 kHz control loop
Force Control Mode, Position Control Mode, Path Control Mode, Haptic Effect Mode
High Bandwidth PID Current Controllers
Integrated USB-based GUI
Proprietary Force Sensing Algorithms
Responsibilities
System architecture
Electronics design
Firmware development
Magnetic circuit design
Manufacturing support
Compliance testing
Product validation
Team leadership
Industrial Ethernet Gateway
(Product)
The controller integrates deterministic industrial Ethernet communications with high-bandwidth ORCA motor communications, enabling synchronized multi-axis operation while maintaining the performance characteristics of the ORCA platform. The hardware was designed specifically for industrial deployment, incorporating robust power protection, deterministic safety interfaces, and compliance-driven electrical design suitable for cabinet installations.
2025–2026
Roles
Technical Lead
Product Architect
Electronics & Embedded Systems Designer
Technical Highlights
Zynq-7000 AMP system running Petalinx and Baremetal OS
Deterministic multi-axis control supporting up to 4 ORCA motors
Gigabit Ethernet Switch
Wide input voltage range (12–66 V)
Industrial protection circuitry
Responsibilities
Defined overall product architecture
Electrical system design and schematic capture
PCB design and hardware bring-up
EMC Compliance
Power system and protection circuit design
Technical leadership across hardware and firmware development
Raven 6-DOF
(Product)
A Stewart Platform system using ORCA Linear Tubular motors and an FPGA-powered controlled that provides a real-time forward kinematic model. These platforms facilitate unrivaled virtual-reality training and entertainment due to the extremely low acoustic noise, the ability to create sharp haptics and vibrations, and the ability to directly cancel motion platform motions from a VR headset without additional sensors. These products have been used by industrial, commercial, and military customers.
2018–2021
Roles
Technical Lead
Product Architect
Electronics & Embedded Systems Designer
Technical Highlights
Zynq-7000 AMP system running Petalinx and Baremetal OS
Deterministic multi-axis control supporting 6 ORCA motors
Real-time Forward Kinematic model
48 V, battery powered
Acceleration cueing and washout algorithm
Responsibilities
Defined overall product architecture
Electrical system design and schematic capture
FPGA design of kinematic and cueing models
PCB design and hardware bring-up
Technical leadership across hardware and firmware development
Active Multi-Axis Stability for Neonatal Transport
(Project)
This collaborative research initiative, featuring Iris Dynamics, the National Research Council of Canada, and Children's Hospital of Easter Ontario evaluates and mitigates the harmful effects of whole-body vibration and noise on infants during emergency transit. The project utilizes ORCA linear motor-powered active damping platforms, specifically the RAVEN-6DoF, to provide sub-micron physical adjustments that isolate fragile neonates from transport stress.
2025
Roles
Project Lead, Principal Control System Designer
Technical Highlights
Significantly attenuated vibrations across the spectrum
Moved critical resonances down in frequency to safe ranges
VR Motorcycle Handlebar Motors
(Product)
Iris Dynamics provided the core haptic force-feedback technology for The Twilight Saga: Midnight Ride, an award-winning VR motorbike simulator at Lionsgate Entertainment World. Integrated into custom simulators designed by DreamCraft Attractions and CAVU Designwerks, Iris’ technology powered the real-time, zero-latency steering feedback that physically simulated vehicle physics, collisions, and terrain changes for riders.
2017 - 2019
Roles
Technical Lead & Project Manager
Principal System Architect
Embedded Systems Designer
Technical Highlights
Delivered robust force-feedback for handlebars of the bikes
Implemented USB communication for force commands and position feedback to/from the simulator
Allowed interactive, compliant forces with layered effects like enemy interference, mud effects, branches, etc
Responsibilities
Motor architecture & design
Electronics design
Control system design
Contract negotiation, client communications
On-site installation support
Joystick/ Gear Shifter
(Prototypes)
A Stewart Platform system using ORCA Linear Tubular motors and an FPGA-powered controlled that provides a real-time forward kinematic model. These platforms facilitate unrivaled virtual-reality training and entertainment due to the extremely low acoustic noise, the ability to create sharp haptics and vibrations, and the ability to directly cancel motion platform motions from a VR headset without additional sensors. These products have been used by industrial, commercial, and military customers.
2017 – 2018
Roles
Product Architect
Electronics & Embedded Systems Designer
Technical Highlights
Software-configurable haptic effects
(Engine rumble, gear grinding, etc)
Software-defined gate patterns and hard stops
Virtual force linking between joysticks / actuators
Responsibilities
Defined overall product architecture
Electrical system design and schematic capture
Control system design
Software design
PCB design and hardware bring-up
MOOG 6dof Middleware
GUI and translation between simulators and hardware
Role: contract negotiation and software design and development
Language: qt and c++
Target OS: Windows 10
Interfaces: UDP, USB Serial, shared memory
Status: delivered and deployed
Description: a software application was written which was a GUI for platform diagnostics, a translator for simulation software to communicate with the platform, and interfaced with a micro controller responsible for hardware signals and controls.
This was an excellent opportunity to work as part of a much bigger picture
Force-Feedback Rudder Pedals
4-phase, 45 lbf @350 W, linear motor
Roles: software, firmware, electronics design and development; motor design
Embedded processor: 32 bit ARM
PCB design mixed signal, 24V 20A (per channel)
Windows GUI: c++ and qt
Status: archived
Description: Following the success of the linear motor in the Dragonfly yokes, 4-phase geometries were conceived and a 24V system was built.
This project lead to some really cool magnetic geometries and sensor technologies
Dragonfly Flight Yoke
2014 Kickstarter Campain
Roles: firmware and electronics development; motor design; customer support
Embedded processor: ARM 32 bit / AVR 8 bit (handle)
PCB design: mixed analog/digital, 2-layer, 12V 250W
Interface: USB DirectInput (native plug-and-play in Windows)
Status: all units shipped
Description: a 3-phase cogless linear induction motor provides contactless pitch feedback, while a brushed rotary motor (COTS) provides roll feedback. Variable-speed fan, multiple handle options, temperature and position sensors.
This project gave me a good appreciation for the depth of my inexperience
Patents and Publications
Highlights
WO2018148850 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LINEAR ELECTRIC MACHINE (wipo.int)
Improve Electric Motor Efficiency with Increased Phase Counts | Power & Motion (powermotiontech.com)
