Systems Lab, The University of Iowa
Research Assistant:   11/2004 - 7/2006
With Professor Er-Wei Bai
Project: Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) adaptive control algorithms

• Proposed an adaptive control scheme to obtain optimum visualization of a contrast bolus that is administered intravenously for the purpose of medical diagnosis.  The adaptive scheme was shown to perform substantially better than the current open-loop tracking techniques in terms of image quality and reduction in contrast dose.
• Developed an on-line bolus estimation algorithm that would track a contrast bolus given the limited viewing aperture in modern CT systems.
• Tested control/estimation algorithms with actual patient data and estimation errors were mathematically quantified.
• Simulated the proposed system on a prototype CT table, pump and imaging device.  The interface was written with LabView software.  Using the test system, the performance improvements over current tracking techniques were quantified.

Dial Lab, The University of Iowa
Research Assistant:   12/2003 - 5/2004
With Professor Andrew Williams
Project: Sony Aibo Robot Programming

• Learned the C++ programming language for the purpose of developing applications for Sony Aibo robots.
• Developed and supervised labs that used the Aibo robots. The labs were used for a computer programming course that Professor Williams was teaching.
• Worked with a graduate student to design and test robot cooperation algorithms.

Caterpillar Inc.    Peoria, IL
Control Systems Intern:  Summer 2005 
Project: Backhoe control applications 

• Developed backhoe force control utilizing hydraulic cylinder pressure feedback.  The control objective was to automate part of the digging process by providing the operator with a method to administer a desired force at the bucket or tool tip.
• Used MATLAB and Simulink to integrate control algorithm into the existing backhoe interface application
• Tested the capability of SimMechanics (a new Simulink package) to provide an accurate system model or to be compiled and loaded on the backhoe controller.

Rockwell Collins    Cedar Rapids, IA
Engineering Intern:  Summer 2004 
Project: Process Modeling 

• Used Rational Rose to develop a UML model that depicted the Technical Consistent Process (TCP) used at Rockwell Collins.
• Worked with a team of engineers to develop a C++ program that simulated the flow of data in the TCP.
• Used Visual C++ 6.0 to develop a TCP tailoring tool.  The TCP tailoring tool would give engineering managers the ability to see the effects of modifying the TCP to fit their particular task. 

Journals

• Er-Wei Bai, James R. Bennet, Robert McCabe, et. al, "Study of an adaptive bolus chasing CT angiography", Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, Vol. 14 2006, pp. 27-38
• Er-Wei Bai, Zhijun Cai, Robert McCabe, Ge Wang, "An Adaptive Optimal Control Design for a Bolus Chasing Computed Tomography", Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, July 16, 2006
• Z. Cai, A. Stolpen, M. Sharafuddin, R. McCabe, H. Bai, T. Potts, M. Vannier, D. Li, X. Bi, J. Bennet, J. Golzarian, S. Sun, Ge Wang, E.W. Bai, "Bolus Characteristics Based on Magnetic Resonance Angiography", Submitted to Academic Radiology, July 12, 2006

Proceedings

• McCabe R, Bennett J, Bai H, Potts T, Vannier M, Wang G, Bai EW:  "NI LabView Interface for a bolus-chasing CT miniature". To appear in NI Proceedings (at the invitation of NI)
• McCabe R, Bai H, Bennett J, Potts T, Sharafuddin M, Halloran J, Vannier M, Wang G, Bai E.W. "Adaptive control of computed tomograph angiography", Proceedings of 6th IFAC Symposium on Modelling an Control in Biomedical Systems

• ECE Distinguished Fellowship at the University of Illinois for the 2006-2009 academic years.
• National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship -- Honorable Mention
• Named to Dean's list all four years at the University of Iowa
• Named to President's List all four years at the University of Iowa 

• Programming:  C/C++/C#, Visual C++ 6.0, Visual C# .NET, Java, UML, HTML, assembly (x86, 18F and 16F PIC, and TI-54x DSP), VHDL, LaTeX
• Operating Systems:  Windows XP, Linux, Unix
• Other Tools:  MATLAB/Simulink(expert level), Maple, MS Office, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, Rational Rose, SPICE/PSPICE, LabView