​​​​Matt Haberland​

Research Experience

University of California, Los Angeles 

Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Program in Computing

Assessing and improving robot swarm distribution controllers in theory, simulation, and experiment. Developing machine learning techniques for classification of officer activity in LAPD body-worn video. Mentoring various undergraduate research projects.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Postdoctoral Associate

Studied the effect of mass distribution on the energetic efficiency of bipedal robots. Supervised undergraduate and graduate research projects.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Research Assistant

Developed a framework for extracting principles from biology for application to robot design using techniques from rigid body dynamics, optimal control, and statistics.  Performed case studies on the effects of knee joint direction and type on biped energetic efficiency; tails on quadruped maneuverability; and swing leg retraction on energetic efficiency and stability.

Cornell University

Graduate Researcher

Developed a balancing controller for the Cornell Ranger walking robot.

Cornell University

Undergraduate Researcher

Designed and fabricated hardware and wrote software for the Cornell Ranger walking robot; implemented the first successful control system for the Cornell Marathon Walking Robot.

Teaching Experience

University of California, Los Angeles 

Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Program in Computing

Teaching computer programming, including first and second courses in C++ (PIC 10A, 2x; PIC 10B, 2x); an introduction to Java for students with some programming experience (PIC 20A, 7x); and a relatively advanced course in Python (PIC 16, 2x), an original course with a flipped classroom format. Class sizes have ranged from 30-120 students with one to four TAs. Median rating in effectiveness and helpfulness 8 out of 9 (75%+ response rate).

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Biomimetics, Biomechanics, and Bio-inspired Robots

Teaching Assistant

Designed and delivered a series of six 90-minute lectures on hybrid-dynamic robot simulation, optimal control, and biomimetic principle extraction. Created problem sets and lab activities, instructed labs, and held office hours.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Introduction to Numerical Simulation

Teaching Assistant

Designed and delivered a 90-minute lecture on analysis of a numerical ordinary differential equation integration scheme.  Prepared problem sets and held office hours and review sessions.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dynamics and Control I

Teaching Assistant / Instructor G

Taught two recitation sections, a responsibility normally reserved for professors for this course.  Prepared problem sets and held office hours and review sessions.

Cornell University

System Dynamics

Graduate Teaching Specialist

Led laboratory section. Developed and documented laboratory activities.

Industry Experience

NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Member of Technical Staff, Associate Level

Responsible for design, fabrication, and testing of the Contact Sensor / Stabilizer for the rock drill of Mars Science Laboratory. Led designers, analysts, and technicians in support of flight hardware delivery.

NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Co-op

Created brassboard (prototype) hardware for Mars Science Laboratory            

Designed, implemented, and presented test programs for Mars Science Laboratory