Amber assisted me in various computer science modules for pupils from upper secondary education as part of the U-Talent programme at the Utrecht University. She helped the pupils during practical exercises and used her thorough knowledge of Arduino development, Unity, Sonic Pi and Processing in a very constructive, friendly and supportive way. Especially her proactive approach was valued by both me and the pupils.
Amber is a hardworking person and she takes her responsibilities seriously.
She is a real team player, because she solved multiple (unexpected) problems together with her teammates during a traveling chemistry practical. She is sometimes a bit uncertain at the start of a new assignment, but she quickly acquires new knowledge and skills and her end results are very good.
She made, for example, a handy, accessible database of schools. She shows initiative by proposing improvements, which were incorporated in a manual for assistants.
I'm very satisfied with her work and I highly recommend her for any endeavor she chooses to pursue!
Amber has worked with me as a student assistent in a short course for high school students about making projects with Arduino's and electrical components. With little help, Amber got to know the material beforehand (ie. building projects with the Arduino). Amber showed interest in the course and aligned her own approach to students with the goals and didactics. She was punctual, proactive in helping students and communicative concerning to where she did and didn't have the knowledge to help. So all in all: a great addition to the teaching team!
As coordinator of Project Werfkracht where Amber participated as teaching assistant, I have learned to know her as a great student to work with. Amber is clear in her communication, is intelligent and quickly sees what is needed somewhere. She is patient and friendly and is always prepared to take on extra tasks. She works hard and good.
Manon Thijssen - Coordinator Project Werfkracht - Utrecht University
Education
Robotics master
Grade 8.6/10
graduated June 2024
Official prerequisites are a bachelor mechanical engineering. Therefore I started out with some deficiencies, but I quickly caught up. Completed:
This course focuses on telerobotics (manipulation of robots at a distance), as well as haptics (feeling the virtual world).
It discusses impedance control, manipulability, scaling force feedback, contact and friction, haptic rendering, vibrotactile, ultrasonic, electroadhesion, force feedback, haptic guidance, different sensors and actuators and much more.
There were also three practica. Two focussed on creating a force feedback simulation with teleoperation (with friction and collisions). The other focussed on creating your own research on haptics. We looked at the effect of vibration instead of visual feedback in VR controllers for precision in following a line.
For this course we developed a way to detect and display the force on a silicon tube when clipped.
It is important to train students in surgery clip application on the correct amount of force to close a vessel, but not cause damage by excessive force,.
For this goal, we designed a force sensing technique with a team of three, based on detection of light through the silicon tube.
In this project, I was personally responsible for electronics and embedded code, while jointly with everyone in the team contributing to the design concepts,
prototyping and evaluation. The resulting paper is downloadable here:
Simulating double pendulum after deriving equations of motions (Langrange).
Non-holonomic constraints and car derivations,
PID controller trajectory control
Practical course on analog electronic basics in the lab. Topics include basic components, amplifiers signals, noise, interferance, microwaves, SPICE simulations, oscilloscopes, generators and network analyzers.
Applied experimental methods is a course where in a short time period, students execute their own research on a human factors experiment.
We set up our own research question, methods, experimental setup, data collection, result interpretation and writing a paper.
Our efforts were focussed on the relation of heart rate and experience of immersion in VR, with and without haptic backpack.
The paper is downloadable here:
Deep learning contains theory on: feed forward networks, back-propagation, optimization, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks, self-attention, and unsupervised methods.
Additionally we read 14 papers on neural networks, and presented one (I presented a paper on (href="https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.10593") Cycle-Consistent Adversarial networks).
In this ethics course, we look at different ethical arguments presented on the increased use of robots (including more humanoid robots) in lectures and papers. We also have discussions on what these outcomes could be, and what policies we think should be created to mitigate negative results.
We also wrote an ethical paper, which in my case was about the use of Codec Avatars in VR (very realistic human avatars).
This course introduces people to the basics of the Linux environment, C++ and compilation with CMake, and ROS. The final result is a programmed self-driving car in ROS, that detects and steers around barrels and stops for pedestrians through Lidar data and computer vision.
Game and Media technology master
Grade 8.5/10
graduated June 2024
Mostly focussed on the fundamental engines behind games, not producing games (although I would be able to).
For example, learning state-of-the-art methods on animation, graphics and physics engines. All courses are already completed:
Computer Vision (C++, OpenCV, OpenGL, Tensorflow/python) Tracking people in 3D by multiple cameras and recognition with machine learning.
Computer Animation (C++ and OpenGL) Building an animation engine that reads skeleton and mesh files and renders animations from scratch.
Optimization and vectorization (C++) Speeding up programs by making better use of the hardware.
Advanced Graphics (C++) Advanced path tracer and ray tracing techniques.
Game Physics (C++) Rigid body, Soft body and constraints simulations.
Motion and manipulation (Python via socket to Unity C#) Building an automatic virtual 2D tabletennis robot competing against other tabletennis robots. Incremental (Inverse) kinematics
Mobile interaction (Unity C#) Performed research on user orientation via audio only in 3DOF "VR" on a mobile phone.
Scientific Perspectives Performing a weekly research with different requirements.
Bachelor Chemistry
September 2014 - July 2017
Minor in Nanomaterials
Minor in Computer Sciences (1.5 years)
Focus on Inorganic, Analytical and Physical Chemistry
Analytical practical experience with: FTIR, Mass Spectrometry (MS), Gas Chromatography (GC), HPLC, Electron Microscopy (TEM/SEM), AAS, UV-VIS and NMR.
Courses I have taken include:
Nanomaterials, Quantumchemistry, Structure of matter, Solids and surfaces, Physical Chemistry 1, 2 and Advanced Physical Chemistry,
Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Electronmicroscopy, Mass Spectrometry, NMR-spectroscopy and molecular modelling, Catalysis, Mathematics and Physics 1 and 2
Minor Computer science
GPA 4.0/4.0
September 2017 - Jan 2019
I have done 1,5 years of the Computer Science Bachelor as a minor on top of 3 years chemistry (4.5 years total).
Image processing (C#)
Webtechnology (NodeJS, Javascript, HTML/CSS)
Computer Architecture and Networks
Game programming (C#)
Databases (SQLite)
Graphics (C# and OpenGL)
Datastructures (C#)
Functional Programming (Haskell)
Logics for Informatics
Working Experience
SenseGlove June 2023 - Current
SenseGlove makes haptic gloves to pick up and feel objects VR. In my role as a Software Developer, I have worked on for example: the water physics in the SenseGlove Greenlab demo, on Bluetooth communication for peripherals, and integration of compatibility between different devices in software.
While I mostly do software, I am a jack of all trades, and try to advocate and pick up the tasks which I think will have the most impact.
Currently that means I am working on the calibration of the gloves which is the first thing customers see when they try one of our demos. This includes designing the process to cost minimum time and to be fun instead of frustrating.
Aside from the design, this includes implementing this in Unity, and testing it with users to evaluate it.
These improvements will improve the calibration process itself, but also the hand tracking, which in turn impacts how well you can interact with the virtual objects.
Thereby I am designing a user friendly first time set up guide, accessible through a QR code on the SenseGlove Nova2 packaging. This will result in a smooth setup of the gloves for new customers.
I love the variety of tasks, and the freedom to make an impact!
Freeaim - Master Thesis internship October 2021 - May 2023
With Freeaim VR shoes, you can walk in virtual reality, while the shoes keep you centred within your play space. For a video, check the homepage which includes other interesting tech or the Freeaim website: freeaim.com.
My thesis goal was to research the best method to map the physical movement of walking on VR shoes to movement in VR (locomotion).
Development for this included rewriting the PC side software to improve the responsiveness of the shoes by communication (C++ PC side and Arduino), linking it to OpenVR, developing a Unity environment to compare locomotion options and performing a user test.
SenseGlove - VR input developer Juli 2021 - September 2021
For my master internship I developed an input solution for SenseGlove.
SenseGlove creates haptic gloves to grab, hold and feel objects in virtual reality (VR).
However, most applications still use controllers as input and interactions such as teleport are not convenient with VR gloves.
Adding a joystick and buttons would allow for faster interactions, and more compatibility.
My role in this internship was to add this hardware to the gloves.
Creating the design, electronics, firmware, software and CAD were all part of this internship.
This was done respectively in C, C#, Unity and Autocad Fusion 360.
The joystick and button functionality was fully implemented in the current SenseGlove software.
I cannot share footage of the design due to confidentiality, but the result was a great user experience and a well-received demo.
This is the first step to make the gloves compatible out of the box with many games and simulations available on the market.
Fair2Media - Computer Vision and Unity developer May 2019 - August 2019
Filling the time between bachelor and master, I worked on the Ditou table at Fair2Media.
Fair2Media is a small company with total of 5 people (excluding me).
The Ditou table is an interactive table where a beamer projects a map of real places via Unity.
On this map, you move round disks as a cursor to place objects such as windmills and solar panels.
The round disks are tracked by a camera above the table.
My responsibility was to develop a new tracking algorithm for round disks on the Ditou table (C++ and OpenCV), and to make an environment in Unity loading, customizing and saving the map.
Thereby, by using the tracked positions, 3D windmills and solar panels could be built on the map. Before I started, there was a table, a camera and a beamer. The previous solution they had, used infrared lights on battery charged disks to track them.
So the entire tracking and also the map projection on the table was built from the ground up.
The tracking and Unity environment communicated via NodeJS.
The table is currently used to demonstrate the outcomes for building windmills and solar panels for citizens’ initiatives.
Utrecht University: Werfkracht, Freudenthal Institute - Teaching Assistant September 2017 - February 2019
The Werfkracht project was built to get students in touch with education. It consists of working an average of four hours a week on diverse activities for secondairy school students.
Examples are:
Translating the Kangaroo Mathematics competition for the visually disabled.
Helping organize and assisting at conferences such as the Woudschoten Chemie beurs and Research Funding Days.
Assisting in multiple U-talent workshops. The U-talent courses are available for secondary school students that perform outstandingly well and want to take additional lessons in a wide variety of subjects. This includes the Arduino, Simulation and games and Music programming workshops below.
Below I will highlight some of the projects I worked on.
Arduino workshops
In this workshop secondary school students learn the fundamentals of Arduino. On day one they learn the basics by doing three projects from the Arduino starters kit book.
After gaining some experience, they think of a project they want to make.
They come up with amazing ideas like a "high five robot", laser vault protection system, velocity sensor or infra red remote controlled robots.
At home, they start working on their ideas in the online Tinkercad environment. On the second day, they build their projects and solve the remaining bugs.
It is always a joy to help in these workshops, since after this workshop they have built something amazing, while they generally have never programmed before.
Simulation and Games in Unity
This workshop teaches secondary school students with generally no programming experience to make simulations and games with the Unity engine.
As a preparation the students follow the Unity tutorials.
On the first day they make a rabbit population simulator by adding random movement, collision, reproduction and death.
A predator and food is then added to the simulation.
They think about a simulation or game they want to make at home and start working on it. They finish it the second workshop day.
During these workshops I guided students as a teaching assistent.
Music Programming
In music programming, secondary school students learn programming, by programming their own song.
In Sonic Pi they learn the basic principles of loops, methods and threads. It uses a programming language based on Ruby.
To accompany their song, they also program an animation in Processing, which touches briefly on classes.
This is a programming language related to Java.
After these workshop, they have made a full music video using code.
During these workshops I guided students as a teaching assistent.
Since I have done the chemistry bachelor, I also assisted in chemistry practicals.
The gas chromatography (GC) practical was designed to enthuse secondary school students about chemistry.
Secondary schools usually do not have expensive apparatus such as a GC.
To give them experience with that, two students from Utrecht University are given a rental car and the equipment.
They drive to the school, set up the equipment and give a presentation on the subject of catalysis and GC.
The students then have a palladium, platinum, copper catalysts and as a control only the support: aluminium oxide.
They then test how well these catalysts work for burning methane by looking at the end products with the GC.
With one other student I transported the GC with equipment by rental car, and installed it at the secondary school.
We presented, assisted students with the measurements and answered students with questions.
Utrecht University - Logics course assistant, Departement Informatics November 2018 - January 2019
These lessons are part of a first year course in the Informatics Bachelor.
I assisted this course, which means answering their questions about homework in dedicated hours throughout the week.
Additionally, they were required to do a minitest every friday, to which I explained the answers afterwards.
Topics include
(Infinite) Sets and relations
Truth tables
Proof and semantics with predicate logics (Natural deduction, Hilberts system, CNF, DNF, normal forms, etc)
Prolog
Content creator - KRO-NCRV - Volunteer November 2015 - March 2016
For the scientific television program for children, Willem Wever, I have worked behind the scenes to make the content.
The activities consisted of:
proposing subjects and experiments to perform on television.
advising the moderators about the correct explanation of the content.
The episodes with content were displayed on the Dutch television starting April 2016.
Topselect Groep BV Nov 2014 - July 2018
Various tasks within University Utrecht:
Informing pupils (secondary school) about the study chemistry.
Laboratory assistant for secondary school pupils during their laboratory experiments, including the Chemistry Olympiad.
Contacting potential participants for research.
Helping with setup of symposia and welcoming participants
De Wolkenfietser - Bicycle repair shop Jan 2011 - October 2011
When I was in high school I was interested in technology and wanted to gain some hands-on experience.
I repaired bicycles every week in a local bicycle repair shop.
Christian Köppe - Lecturer Computer Science at the U-Talent program
