Pedro Davalos

Research Engineering Associate
Space Engineering Research Center
Texas A&M University
3118 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3118

E-mail: pedro@tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 845-8768
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I completed my BS (2002) and Masters Degree (2008) from the Computer Science Department at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and I have been involved as a Research Engineer with the Space Engineering Institute, the Spacecraft Technology Center, the Space Engineering Research Center, and KAMU at TAMU.
My research interests include Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Localization and Mapping for Robotics

Projects

Space Image Simulation and Sensor Testing - 2010
Developed an image simulation and calibration process for testing space-based sensors such as StarTrackers. Furthermore, we have conducted multiple tests of industry StarTracker prototypes and verified accuracy performances of attitude estimates.
Presented at AGI Satellite ToolKit Users Conference, Houston, TX, June 18, 2010
Presentation: (PPT) (PDF)
Video: STK-VSI Simulation Comparison (wmv)
Space Image Simulation and Sensor Testing



Orbital Analysis of an Asteroid Tracking Spacecraft - 2010
Performed an orbital analysis of a spacecraft on a planetary mission to track the Apophis Asteroid. Also generated imagery simulating a camera onboard the spacecraft as it tracked Apophis using Dr. Daniele Mortari's Virtual Star Tracker Simulation Software.
Project Collaborators: Julie Sandberg, Brad Taylor, Carolyn McGraw
Apophis Tracking Simulation:
- Video Download (wmv)
- YouTube Video
Apophis Asteroid



CariTags:) - 2010
CariTags is a fully automated face recognition tool that allows anyone to recognize their Facebook friends! CariTags combines multiple machine learning techniques providing an integrated system with a simple interface.
Website: http://caritags.com
Facebook Page: Facebook Page
Caritags



Automatic Music Genre Classification - 2009
Implemented a classification algorithm for automatic genre classification of music audio files using Linear Discriminant Analysis and a Quadratic Classifier.
Paper: PDF
Automatic Music Genre Classification



Distributed Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm - 2009
Designed, Implemented, and Tested a distributed version of the Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm on a parallel system (IBM p5-575 AIX 5.3) using OpenMP.
Paper: PDF
Distributed LM Algorithm



Automatic Fundamental Matrix Estimation - 2008
Design, implementation, and analysis of a system capable of continuously estimating the fundamental matrix automatically using SIFT feature points and RANSAC to find correspondence, therefore assisting localization by the calibrated 3d reconstruction .
Report (PDF) (DOC)
Matlab Source Code (zip)
Fundamental



Space Situational Awareness - 2008
The goal is to implement a detection mechanism that allows satellites in orbit to identify any approaching nearby objects, that can be utilized by currently deployed spacecrafts using only imaging sensors.
SSA



Camera Calibration for Star Identification - 2007
Evaluate camera calibration techniques and compare performance for inter-star angle measurements to aid in star identification.
Presentation (PPT) (PDF)
Report (PDF)
Calibration



Sketch Recognition - 2007
Recognizing hand-drawn sketches in real-time, typically using a Tablet PC, SmartBoard, or other pen-based input
Presentation (PPT)
Report (PDF)
Sketch Recognition



Automatic Speaker Segmentation - 2007
Given a Speech signal containing a spoken conversation between an unknown number of people in a single channel with no overlapping speakers assuming minimal background noise, find the number of distinct speakers and identify the segments (times) where each speaker is talking
Presentation (PPT)
Report (DOC)
Matlab Source Code (ZIP)
Speech Segmentation



Darpa Grand Challenge - 2007
We tried to compete in the 2007 Darpa Urban Challenge (up to the site-visit).
Project Website 1: pegasusbridge.blogspot.com
Pegasus Bridge 1 2005 Qualification Video
DARPA Grand Challenge



GeoCam - 2006
We developed, designed, and built a payload with an imaging device for a High-altitude Balloon as a prototype of a low-cost, quick response imaging system capable of performing image registration and analysis for emergency response situations.
Project Website: sei.tamu.edu/geocam
Project Blog: hasp-geocam.blogspot.com
GEOCAM



HeoCam - 2005
An autonomous Space Shuttle title inspection system, where my part was to design the algorithm to detect the presence of the orbiter, and identify it's location and attitude.
HEOCAM



StarNav - 2003
A Star-Tracker prototype for autonomous attitude determination for satellite navigation systems.
STARNAV



M.S. Degree Plan

Speech and Face Recognition - Dr. Gutierrez-Osuna (Spring 07)
Analysis of Algorithms - Dr. Friesen (Summer 07)
Computer Vision - Dr. Song (Fall 07)
Statistical Pattern Classification - Dr. Gutierrez-Osuna (Fall 07)
Advanced Robotics - Dr. Song (Spring 08)
Neural Networks - Dr. Choe (Spring 08)
Software Engineering - Dr. Lively (Summer 08)
Directed Studies - Dr. Song (Summer 08)
Human-Robot Interaction - Dr. Murphy (Fall 08)
Operating Systems - Dr. Pooch (Fall 08)
Seminar (Fall 08)

Talks/Presentations...

 Aug 25, 2010Calibration and Testing of SSA Imager and Software using PC-based Tools, Space Protection Conference, Albuquerque, NM
 Jun 18, 2010Space Image Simulation and Sensor Testing, AGI Satellite TollKit Users Conference (PPT) (PDF) (WMV)
 Apr 16, 2008Localization for Lost Robots through Scene Recognition (PPT) (PDF) (DOC) (Report PDF)
 Mar 31, 2008Indoor Scene Recognition (PPT) (PDF)
Mar 31, 2008SEI Training Session: SLAM
Mar 19, 2008Vision Based Mobile Robot Localization and mapping using Scale-Invariant Features (PPT) (PDF)
Feb 25, 2008SLAM (PPT)
Feb 11, 2008Probabilistic Roadmaps for Path Planning in High-Dimensional Configuration Spaces (PPT) (PDF)
Dec 3, 2007Sketch Recognition Results (PPT) (Report)
Nov 27, 2007Camera Calibration for Star Identification (PPT) (PDF) (Report)
May 9, 2007Speaker Segmentation (PPT) (Report)
Apr 10, 2007Eigenfaces for Recognition (PDF)
Feb 27, 2007Multidimensional representation of personal quality of vowels and its acoustical correlates (PDF)
Feb 8, 2007Should recognizers have ears? (PDF)
Oct 9, 2006Matlab Training for SEI (PPT)
Mar 22, 2006Intro to C Programming for SEI Training (PPT)
Mar 8, 2006SuperResolution Test Results (PPT)

A few other links...

What You'll Wish You'd Known by Paul Graham
You and Your Research by Richard Hamming
SLAM Research by Andrew Davison
Camera Calibration Toolbox for Matlab by Jean-Yves Bouguet
Igor Carron's Blog on Compressed Sensing
I, Cringley by Robert Cringley


(c) Copyright 2010 - Pedro Davalos
Mirror 1: http://caritags.com/pedro
Mirror 2: http://serc.tamu.edu/new/bios/pedro
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