Robert Chase
Mechanical Engineer
I am a Mechanical Engineer raised in Norfolk, VA with my Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University. I have professional experience in the maritime and shipbuilding industries, with an interest in autonomous systems.
Over the past 5 years, I have gained valuable hands-on experience as a mechanical engineer through several internships at Norfolk Tug Company and Newport News Shipbuilding. I have also had the chance to apply my formal education in multiple projects towards the end and after college. For more information regarding my professional experience, check out my resume.
Education
North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 2022-2026
B.S in Mechanical Engineering Magna Cum Laude
Relevant Coursework: Senior Capstone, Modern Manufacturing Principles, Automatic Control Systems, Computational Methods, Electrical Engineering, Strengths of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Thermodynamics, Vibrations, Statics & Dynamics
Involvement: Sailing Team Captain 2024-2025 National Defense Society, Co-founder and Chief Engineer
Awards: Dean’s List 2022-2026 1st Place - Senior Capstone Project 2nd Place - MAE Undergraduate Research Competition
Portfolio
MOSAIC - Autonomous USV & UAV
I am currently developing an autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel designed to carry a deployable UAV which can launch from and land on the USV autonomously. The main use cases of this product is to conduct offshore infrastructure inspection and maritime defense missions. I own all aspects of the USV, named MOSAIC, from initial design and validation, through hardware integration and testing. We are currently in the on the water testing phase and the UAV is being developed in parallel by my associate. This project is being conducted and managed by Seaborne Systems, LLC.
Volvo Senior Capstone - Aerodynamic Device to Reduce Semi-truck Drag
I developed and built an aerodynamic device for semi-trucks which affixes to the tractor trailer rear bogie axle and cuts fuel costs for shipping companies and truck owners. I led my team of 4 through research, design, analysis, and fabrication. I owned the primary design and CFD analysis, and contributed to the structural analysis, fabrication, and presentations. At the end of the project, my team and I were awarded 1st place against other teams of mechanical engineers.
Undergraduate Research - Electrostatic DEM Analysis of Charged Lunar Regolith
During my senior year at NC State, I conducted research in the Porous Media and Multiphase Flow (PMMF) Laboratory to analyze and draw tangible conclusions from NCSU-written DEM results using MATLAB. This research is the beginning of a greater effort to build an understanding on the behavior of lunar regolith lofting, a phenomenon in which clouds of dust form on the Moon, posing significant challenges to NASA and other agencies looking to land there.
Sheet Metal Storage - Range Rover Classic
Over the course of one winter break, I spent many hours measuring and modeling to design an aluminum sheet metal storage system to be installed in the trunk of my 1995 Range Rover Classic. The system is designed to house an oversized spare tire while maximizing the usability of the remaining volume. This project gave me experience with SolidWorks sheet metal tools, tolerance stack-up, design for manufacturing (DFM), and COTS hardware integration. The plans and sketches for this system are currently being sent off to a sheet metal shop to be constructed.
Simulating Filament in Fluid Stream - Computational Methods
For my Computational Methods in Mechanical Engineering course, I, alongside my partner, wrote a MATLAB script to simulate an elastic filament in a corner fluid stream with base excitations. The equations of motion are integrated using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method, and simulations are performed for multiple excitation cases, including various oscillation amplitudes, frequencies, and flow field strengths.
Technical Skills
Over the course of my professional and educational careers, I have developed many technical skill, both in hands-on areas and in software. Notable software includes SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, Ansys, MATLAB, and Microsoft Excel. Click below to see details.