Learn about the teams and individuals who are leading the way.
Meet The Team
Chris
Johnston
Co-Project Lead
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AJ
Leshem
Co-Project Lead
Lily
Donaldson
Business Lead
Andrew
Linville
Chief Engineer
Gabriel
Brenza
Co-Hardware Lead
Gabriel Durango
Co-Hardware Lead
Jason
Battikha
Software Lead
John Henry
Ruhl
Electrical Lead
The Teams
Business
The business team handles all the communication and outreach activities of the team. This includes developing marketing campaigns, building brand awareness, performing website design, curating relationships with sponsors, raising funds to cover project expenses, and more. Although this team is not involved with the construction of the machine, they still are essential to the teams success.
Logistics
The logistics team coordinates with suppliers and manufacturers to acquire parts and has the responsibility of transporting the VT Boring Machine across the country. The team keeps costs down while obtaining quality parts and services to support the other sub-teams. This allows the Diggeridoos to run smoothly and achieve its goals.
Hardware
The mechanical team deals with everything that is not electrical in nature. That could be anything from the structure of the tunnel and TBM, to the hydraulics system, to the cutters on the mining face. The mechanical sub-team just like the other teams is multifaceted and has many responsibilities in different areas.
Electronics
The electronics team is the other engineering based team but focuses on everything electrical in nature. That could be anything from the gas sensors, to the GUI and code that run the machine, to the power that supplies all components. Being so broad allows for many people with different skills to work together in areas that they could excel at.
Software
The software team is responsible for the programming logic for the entire machine. The PLC code that the team writes monitors sensor data from electrical components placed on the machine and triggers safe states if they are outside a reasonable range. The team is also responsible for monitoring the TBM heading and location underground and ensuring it stays on the pre-programmed path using IMUs and GPSs in the system. All of this is done on a custom, in-house GUI which maintains constant communication with the PLC on the machine and relays telemetry data for review.