Experience

Freespace Solutions Pty Ltd

• Airlines and Aviation
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder and Lead Engineer

  • Jan 2009 - Present

  Freespace Solutions is a successful consultancy with 2 technical focuses. Firstly in providing design, research and contracting services, to both defence and industry. Freespace Solutions focuses on the areas of antennas, beamformers, integrated circuits, signal processing, and RF systems. Secondly in providing tuning and mechanical design support for a range of large industrial multi-rotor projects around the world. Freespace Solutions is a successful consultancy with 2 technical focuses. Firstly in providing design, research and contracting services, to both defence and industry. Freespace Solutions focuses on the areas of antennas, beamformers, integrated circuits, signal processing, and RF systems. Secondly in providing tuning and mechanical design support for a range of large industrial multi-rotor projects around the world.



Ardupilot

• Lead Control Developer

  • Jul 2012 - Present

  I designed and wrote the attitude control and navigation code for the multi rotor aircraft in the open source unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform ArduPilot. As the lead control developer, I have been engaged to design and tune copters ranging from .5kg to 50 kg. Since my involvement in ArduPilot I have watched the UAV hobby turn into a billion dollar industry. ArduCopter is currently flying on in excess of 500,000 aircraft and is used by US and Australian defence, NASA, and is the default advanced multirotor flight controller in the world.



Freespace Operations

• Australia
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer

  • Jul 2019 - Present

  Large RPAS / UAV Specialists - multirotor and VTOL systems. CASA 50 kg Type Rating Approval of Callisto 50 multirotor system granted. Australian designed and manufactured RPAS - zero risk of foreign cyber espionage or data breaches. The autopilot and avionics code can be made available for security review. Large RPAS / UAV Specialists - multirotor and VTOL systems. CASA 50 kg Type Rating Approval of Callisto 50 multirotor system granted. Australian designed and manufactured RPAS - zero risk of foreign cyber espionage or data breaches. The autopilot and avionics code can be made available for security review.



University of Adelaide

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Lecturer

  • Jan 2011 - Nov 2021

  I work with Christophe Fumeaux in the area of electromagnetics and antenna design. I co-supervise two PhD students. My close working relationship with Christophe and other academics helps me stay abreast of the latest techniques and advancements in the field of radio frequency engineering. I work with Christophe Fumeaux in the area of electromagnetics and antenna design. I co-supervise two PhD students. My close working relationship with Christophe and other academics helps me stay abreast of the latest techniques and advancements in the field of radio frequency engineering.



Freespace Drone Racing

• Australia
• Spectator Sports

• Chairman Of The Board and Chief Technical Officer

  • Nov 2017 - Mar 2020

  The team at Freespace Drone Racing has been at the forefront of giant drone technology development since 2015. The DNA of the Melbourne based Giant Drone Racing team is still the same, Chris, Leonard, Dave, Ken and Grantley are committed to continuing our legacy of pushing technology boundaries with the introduction of the FS1 Giant Drone and the incredibly agile FS500 series Racing Drone. We are also pushing boundaries in developing platforms to race our amazing drones in safely, by taking an Aviation Safety Systems approach we are creating multiple layers of defence to ensure Regulators, Federations and the public have confidence in the integrity of Drone Racing.



Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)

• Senior Millimetre Wave Technology Researcher (EL1)

  • Mar 2010 - Jul 2018

  Undertake scientific and engineering development activities in support of RF Electronic Warfare & Radar system tasks including wideband antennas, integrated circuits and RF signal processing.Lead, manage and assume a subject matter expert role, of a small team of RF engineers to conceive and research, microwave and mm-wave technology solutions, in the areas of wideband antennas, beamformers, integrated circuits and signal processing in support of the Group’s larger advanced wideband RF Electronic Warfare system development.Centre of expertise in mm-wave wideband antenna (especially phased array) and analog component design.Provide scientific and engineering advice and support to all group activities, including ADF Project support, particularly in the area of RF antennas, RF signal processing, RF measurement and microwave and mmwave techniques.Contribute to the planning and execution of trial activities, providing engineering and other support as required. Trials may be conducted on land, air or sea based platforms and in remote localities.Contribute to the group’s research agenda in the area of advanced RF Electronic Warfare systems by proposing and developing new concepts, especially relating to wideband system techniques covering the microwave and mm-wave frequency bands.

• Specialist Engineer (Contract)

  • Jan 2009 - Mar 2010

  Support Radio Frequency Technology (RFT) Group in the development of mm-wave systems. Supply expertise in microwave and millimetre-wave component design, antenna element and array design and manufacture, analogue beam-forming networks and radar system simulation, design and hardware in the loop.



The Institute for Drone Technology®

• Australia
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advisory Board Member

  • Nov 2016 - Sep 2017

  I resigned my position when I found the management of the institute did not meet my minimum standard of integrity. If anybody would like to discuss this with me message me here on LinkedIn. I resigned my position when I found the management of the institute did not meet my minimum standard of integrity. If anybody would like to discuss this with me message me here on LinkedIn.



Freedom Class Giant Drone Racing™

• CTO and Founder

  • Oct 2016 - Sep 2017

  Unfortunately the Director of Freedom Drone Sports did not meet my minimum standard of honesty and integrity and I have had to look for other partners to develop the 500 and Giant drone racing vehicles that are owned and created by Freespace Solutions. If anybody would like to discuss this with me message me here on LinkedIn. Unfortunately the Director of Freedom Drone Sports did not meet my minimum standard of honesty and integrity and I have had to look for other partners to develop the 500 and Giant drone racing vehicles that are owned and created by Freespace Solutions. If anybody would like to discuss this with me message me here on LinkedIn.



Freedom Drone Sports™

• CTO and Founder

  • Aug 2016 - Sep 2017

  Unfortunately the Director of Freedom Drone Sports did not meet my minimum standard of honesty and integrity and I have had to look for other partners to develop the 500 and Giant drone racing vehicles that are owned and created by Freespace Solutions. If anybody would like to discuss this with me message me here on LinkedIn. Freedom Drone Sports™ is the home of the world's most exciting range of drone companies: Freedom Class Giant Drone Racing™ Freedom Drone Consultants™ DroneBet™ Drone Fantasy League iLearnDrones™ The Schools Program iFlyDrones™ The Drone Flight Experience



Broadcom

• United States
• Semiconductor Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Antenna Array Specalist

  • Feb 2011 - Oct 2016

  I consult in the design and manufacture of antenna arrays for Broadcoms 60GHz Wi-Fi chips using the 802.11ad standard. The arrays must operate over the frequency range of 55 GHz to 67.5 GHz and be packageable in consumer electronics.This had given me experience using low temperature Co-fired ceramic technology and high levels of integration. I consult in the design and manufacture of antenna arrays for Broadcoms 60GHz Wi-Fi chips using the 802.11ad standard. The arrays must operate over the frequency range of 55 GHz to 67.5 GHz and be packageable in consumer electronics.This had given me experience using low temperature Co-fired ceramic technology and high levels of integration.



3D Robotics

• Multi-Rotor Control Specialist

  • Jan 2015 - Feb 2016

  3DR makes advanced drone technology easily accessible to the construction, mining and surveying industries for use in data analysis, mapping, 3D modeling and more. My focus was on the design of the 3DR Solo multirotor aircraft. My main contributions were the RF link and the autopilot control algorithms. 3DR makes advanced drone technology easily accessible to the construction, mining and surveying industries for use in data analysis, mapping, 3D modeling and more. My focus was on the design of the 3DR Solo multirotor aircraft. My main contributions were the RF link and the autopilot control algorithms.



Daintree Systems

• Lead Engineer

  • Jan 2005 - Jan 2010

  Daintree Systems provides contracting services, to both defence and industry, in the areas of research, design, and manufacture. Daintree Systems provides contracting services, to both defence and industry, in the areas of research, design, and manufacture.



Lockheed Martin

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Specialist Engineer (Consultant)

  • Jul 2009 - Nov 2009

  Provide advice and support on modeling a high capacity, dynamic, military tactical data exchange network. Provide advice and support on modeling a high capacity, dynamic, military tactical data exchange network.



Widentifi

• RF Engineer (Contract)

  • Feb 2009 - Mar 2009

  Design and integration of wireless tag antenna. Antenna element design includes the effect of packaging and batteries and occupies approximately 1/4 x 1/20 lambda. Design and integration of wireless tag antenna. Antenna element design includes the effect of packaging and batteries and occupies approximately 1/4 x 1/20 lambda.



Defence Technology Agency, New Zealand Defence Force

• Lead RF Engineer (Contract)

  • Jan 2009 - Mar 2009

  Development and supply of S-band and X-band patch antenna arrays. S-Band array focused on achieving maximum gain from the available aperture while the S-band array used excess aperture to achieve -35 dB sidelobe levels. Development and supply of S-band and X-band patch antenna arrays. S-Band array focused on achieving maximum gain from the available aperture while the S-band array used excess aperture to achieve -35 dB sidelobe levels.



University of Adelaide

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Associate

  • Jul 2005 - Dec 2008

  Supervise Adelaide University’s technical involvement in the GLIMMR project. The GLIMMR project incorporates three universities, Macquarie University, The University of Adelaide and The University of South Australia. The aim of this project is to build a complete system-on-chip for commercial applications, utilising the 7 GHz of bandwidth available in the 60 GHz ISM band.Technical contributions include:- design of passive structures and models that are accurate well beyond 60 GHz (transmission lines, inductors, transformers),- develop active circuit components including 18 GHz phase shifter, 60 GHz phase shifter, 60 GHz LNA, 60 GHz Mixers,- design chip packaging to operate from DC to 60 GHz.- design 60 GHz integrated antenna elements,- design 1mm2 down conversion module that includes a digital phase shifter, 3x multiplier, LNA, and double balanced mixer.

• Final Year Project Supervisor

  • Jan 2005 - Nov 2008

  Coordinated two ongoing projects for the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department. The first concerns the development of UAV Autopilot and the associated software. The second, Event Manager, is a distributed database to assist scoring and record keeping of sporting events.



Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)

• RF Engineer (Contract)

  • Jan 2001 - Jun 2008

  Contracted by Weapon Systems Division (WSD) to carry out a mm-wave altimeter feasibility study.Assist and advise in the characterisation of two 76.5 GHz FMCW radar transceivers.Design build and test 32 x 50 element antenna array to operate at 76.5 GHz.Assist and advise in the design, implementation, and field testing of a 76.5 GHz radar altimeter.

• RF Engineer (Contract)

  • Jan 2006 - Nov 2007

  Contracted by Electronic Warfare and Radar Division (EWRD) to advise and assist in the modelling, design and implementation a Circular array interferometer, Rotman lens, Butler matrix, and transceivers across 5 - 20 GHz.Design a 5 - 20 GHz Rotman lens demonstrator.



University of Adelaide

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Practical Supervisor

  • Feb 2000 - Oct 2004

• Tutor

  • Feb 2000 - Oct 2003



A

• Electromagnetic Designs

  • Dec 1900 - Dec 1900

  • Slot coupled and directly coupled, patch antenna elements from 3 to 15 GHz. • 2 x 16 element, narrow band patch antenna array and corporate feed network. • 15 element frequency scanned array that operates between ~ 12 and 18 GHz with a field of view of ~80 degrees. • 100 element frequency scanned array that operates between ~ 12 and 18 GHz with a field of view of ~80 degrees. • 100 element frequency scanned element that operates between ~ 60 and 90 GHz with a field of view of ~80 degrees. • Planar 16 x 100 element conformal antenna array test structure. • Circular 16 x 100 element conformal antenna array test structure. • Planar 32 x 100 element conformal antenna array at 76.5 GHz for a FMCW radar system. • Circular 32 x 100 element conformal antenna array at 76.5 GHz for a FMCW radar system. • 4 element, direction finding monopole antenna array, operating at 9 GHz. • 4 and 8 element, direction finding disk cone antenna array, operating at low mm-wave frequencies with a 3:1 bandwidth. (simulation only) • Two narrow band Rotman lenses operating at 17 GHz, including an integrated antenna array. • Broad band Rotman lens operating from 5 to 20 GHz. • Bond wire antenna element at 60 GHz with 7 GHz bandwidth. • 2 x 1 element, bond wire antenna array operating at 60 GHz with 7 GHz bandwidth. • 4 x 1 element, edge coupled patch array operating at 60 GHz with 7 GHz bandwidth. • Capacitively shortened rat race coupler operating at 48 GHz with 7 GHz bandwidth. • Capacitively shortened branch line coupler operating at 60 GHz with 7 GHz bandwidth. • Single ended and differential transmission line models/circuits tested from 0 to 70 GHz. • Transformer and inductor models/circuits tested from 0 to 70 GHz. • Packaging using bondwire and flipchip techniques to 64 GHz. • 2 x 8 element, diagonally polarised, end coupled patch array, operating at 3 GHz with 200 MHz bandwidth (going into service).



B

• Electromagnetic Designs

  • Nov 1900 - Nov 1900

  • 3 x 16 element, horizontally polarised, end coupled patch array, exhibiting 35 dB sidelobes and operating at 9.4 GHz with 600 MHz bandwidth (going into service). • 922 MHz miniaturised credit card sized tag antenna, including the matching and power supply circuit. • 922 MHz miniaturised cattle ear tag antenna, including the matching and power supply circuit. • 8 element, half wavelength spaced, broad band Rotman lens operating at mm-wavelengths. • 16 element, quarter wavelength, 25% bandwidth Rotman lens operating at mm-wavelengths. • 8 element, half wavelength spaced, high dielectric, 3:1 bandwidth Rotman lens operating at low mm-wave frequencies. • 16 element, quarter wavelength, high dielectric, 3:1 bandwidth Rotman lens operating at low mm-wave frequencies. • 1 x 12 (2 dummy elements at each end), stripline dipole array using half wavelength spaced elements, designed to operate at mm-wavelengths with a 25% bandwidth. • 2 x 12 (2 dummy elements at each end), stripline dipole array using half wavelength spaced elements, designed to operate at mm-wavelengths with a 25% bandwidth. • 1 x 20 (2 dummy elements at each end), stripline dipole array using quarter wavelength spaced elements, designed to operate at mm-wavelengths with a 25% bandwidth. • Stripline broadband Vivaldi element operating at low mm-wave frequencies with a 3:1 bandwidth. • Meander line polariser operating at low mm-wave frequencies with a 2:1 bandwidth.



A

• System Simulation

  • Oct 1900 - Oct 1900

  • FMCW radar simulator to examine sea surface returns and waveform effects.• Transmitter and receiver performance and modulation products calculator.• Butler matrix direction finding simulator that includes the antenna pattern phase and magnitude effects.• Rotman lens model to examine lens performance early in the design flow.• Generic radar simulator.

• System Design and Test

  • Sep 1900 - Sep 1900

  • 4 GHz FMCW radar altimeter.• 76.5 GHz FMCW radar altimeter.• 60 GHz BPSK transceiver.• 60 GHz FMCW radar. (not characterised)• Anechoic chamber upgrade at the University of Adelaide, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.• Autopilot sensor suit and telemetry: 6 axis IMU + Magnetic compass, GPS, Altimeter, Airspeed, temperature and humidity.

• IC Circuit Design

  • Aug 1900 - Aug 1900

  • 60 GHz receiver front end module with integrated phase shifter occupying 1 square millimetre.• 18 GHz Vector modulator.• 18 GHz to 54 GHz frequency tripler.• 60 GHz LNA with 7 dB NF.• Down conversion mixer, RF 60 GHz, IF 9 GHz and 15 dB NF.• 60 GHz branch line 0 to 90 degree phase shifter.• 60 GHz IQ generator using a capacitively shortened ratrace coupler.• Calibration structures to 70 GHz.• Passive device characterisation including capacitors, inductors, and transmission lines.