Gabriela Bravo-Illanes

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Gabriela Bravo-Illanes

MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University

I'm a mechanical engineer specialized in product design, mechatronics and robotics. I got a MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, and my bachelor in Mechanical Engineering at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. I love creating things, could be from innovative ideas to solve a work related problem, a piece of software to model or control something, to hobby related crseations like paintings and new dishes. My favorite quote is "What some folks call impossible, is just stuff they haven't seen before."

Robotics Experience

Consumer Robotics Design Engineer.

Amazon Lab126 | 2021-Present

Working in the next generation of Astro Robot

Research: Intelligent prosthetic arm

Stanford University | 2020-2021

Collaboration in the development of a prosthetic arm capable to assist user based on EMG signals and mixed reality. The arm will be capable to predict user intentions to simplify the user's control of the arm. This project is under development on its early stages and is being done in collaboration with a PhD student.

  • Bibliography review to understand the state of the art and define following steps of the project.
  • Prepared a simulation in ROS using a model of a prosthetic arm to test some concepts.

Course Project. Simulation of a Grocery Shopping Robot (CS225A)

Stanford University | 2020

Collaboration in a team designing and simulating a panda arm over a Mobile platform that pick objects from a basket and place them over a surface.

Project Video →

Project Report →

Course Project. ROS autonomous Turtlebot simulation (AA274A)

Stanford University | 2020

Collaboration in a team simulating on ROS a turtlebot capable to perform SLAM, path planning (A*) and follow trayectories.

Project Video →

Mechatronic and Automation design experience

Student project. Mobile Robot (ME218B)

Stanford University | 2020
Designed a small robot. We exercised concepts learned in Smart Product Design Applications course (ME 218B) at Stanford University: digital and analog circuits, DC motors, hierarchical state machines, noise reduction, SPI communication and the use of sensors like accelerometers and color sensors.

Project website →

Student project. Arcade game (ME218A)

Stanford University | 2019
Designed an arcade game. We exercised concepts learned in Smart Product Design Fundamentals course (ME 218A) at Stanford University: we created state machines, wrote code and pseudo-code, worked with an event-services framework and designed analog and digital circuits.

Project website →

Volunteer Research Engineer

HART Lab, UC Berkeley | 2018-2019
Designed, prototyped and tested a knee-motion tracking system using IMU sensors and a novel algorithm written on Matlab. Product designed to monitor recovery on patients after a knee ligament reconstruction

Co-authored publication →

Internship. Designed a machine that measures spring constant

Power Train Technologies | 2013

Designed and fabricated a mechanism and software (in LabView) to automate a machine that tested the injector spring of mining trucks.

Other Design Experience

Hardware Development Engineer Intern

Amazon | 2020

Worked for Amazon Prime Air, Systems Engineering Team. Developed a simulation software on Python of multiple drones. Simulation outputs help to take system level decisions.

Research and Development Engineer

Mutual de Seguridad | 2016-2017
Worked in a multidisciplinary group of medical doctors and engineers. We developed solutions to different needs inside the hospital using 3D printing.
  • Designed and fabricated assistive tools for people with reduced mobility. These tools were 3D printed and designed in collaboration with physicians and occupational therapists (OT). They allowed the OT to stop handcrafting these tools, and at the same time, offered to the patient a cheaper, aesthetically pleasant, washable alternative.

    Designs →

    Co-Authored publication →

  • Fabricated anatomical models for complex surgery planning using patient's computed tomography and a 3D printer.
  • Designed and fabricated skulls implants in collaboration with neurosurgeon. A 3D printed mold was fabricated based on patient's CT scan, sterilized, and used to create implant with Cranioplastic. This alternative was up to 50% cheaper than the current provider.

Internship. Designed a software for fatigue analysis

SKF Chilena SAIC | 2014

Designed a software that compute remaining life of a component based on its load history measured with a strain gauge in its critical point. Code written on Matlab

''La Ruta Solar'' race participant

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2011

Collaborated in the design and construction of a motorized tricycle, powered by PV panels.

Leadership Experience

Volunteer as event organizer

INSPIRE | 2018-2019
Planned and hosted events for a community of people who has moved to the East Bay Area from a different country or state. Some events were book clubs, cooking workshops, museum visits, among others.

INSPIRE Website→

Co-founder of the Laboratory of Clinical Innovation

Mutual de Seguridad | 2016-2017
This laboratory serve as a hub where health professionals and engineers can develop technologies that facilitate and assist rehabilitation, surgery planning and diagnosis.
I was speaker in several congresses about the application of 3D printers in a clinical environment.

Health Symposium, 2017 Chile. (Spanish video) →

Medical Application of 3D printing, a colloquium. (Spanish video) →

Quality Engineer

Linde High Lift Chile S.A. | 2015-2016

Directed and implemented new quality standards to improve internal processes and customer service in all branches along the country.

Co-founder and event organizer of ME Student chapter

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2013-2014

Organized activities for students to improve their skills and knowledge about mechanical engineering.

Additional Experience

Volunteering as a mentor in TechGYRLS Program

YWCA Berkeley/Oakland | 2017-2018
Taught and developed activities to promote interest in science and technology in young girls. Volunteered in “La Escuelita Elementary School”, located in Oakland, CA.

Teaching Assistant

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2011-2014

Lectures: “Properties and strength of materials” (2011-2014), “Dynamics of mechanical systems” (2012), “Mechanics of solids” (2012), “Mechanical behavior of materials” (2013-2014), “Thermodynamics” (2014).

FabLab Assistant

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2014

Assisted students with the use of the PCB router

Undergraduate researcher

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2012

Conducted experiments to develop metallic foams from powders in viscous liquids for implants with osteointegration.

Relevant coursework

  • Introduction to Robotics, Advanced Robotic and Experimental Robotics (ME320, CS327A and CS225A)
  • Autonomous Robots (AA272A)
  • Machine Learning (CS229)
  • Smart Product Design (Mechatronics) (ME218A and ME218B)
  • Design and Manufacturing (ME203)
  • Precision Engineering (ME324)
  • Dynamics of Mechanical Systems (ICM2803)
  • Mechanical Engineering Design and Designe of Machine Elements (ICM2323 and ICM2333)
  • Properties and Strength of Materials (ING1024)