David A. Cohen
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robotic motion axis, joint motor-driver (3-phase brushless) and sensor acquisition module. This was a 10-layer PCB. All
designs were functional on the first spin. Verb Surgical was wholly acquired by J&J in 2020. (Feb ’17 – Nov ’19)
Boston Dynamics: Robotic platform control and motor drive circuitry EMC mitigation work. EMC / EMI chamber
testing to identify issues, followed by design modifications to existing circuitry and high-speed PCB layout, and module
interconnect cabling system, to help pass FCC regulatory compliance testing for the “Spot” robot. (Oct ’18 – ’Jan 19)
Harvard University Wyss Institute: Designed wearable, custom data-acquisition system for human body exoskeleton
suit robotics project (DARPA). Complete component-level circuit design, hand prototyping, and PCB design and layout,
from napkin sketch to fully functioning circuit boards in one spin on a tight schedule. Slightly bigger than a credit card, a
6-layer PCB containing a microcontroller, LiPo battery and on-board charging circuit, CAN bus interface, 9-Axis IMU,
custom designed log-amp based galvanic skin response measurement circuit, ambient temperature sensor, barometric
pressure sensor, humidity sensor, heartrate sensor, IR non-contact skin temperature sensor, GPS receiver, Bluetooth
transceiver, LED, sound and vibration haptics, SD card memory interface, and complete power-management system.
Board communicated time-critical data to central embedded-computer system via CAN bus. (July ’14 – Dec ’14)
Medrobotics: Robotic laparoscopic surgical system. Responsible for electronic and electromechanical system
architecture design, distributed embedded-computer architecture system design, system and sub-system level risk
analysis, FMEA, component-level analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit and sensor design, non-programmable
element safety circuit design, hand-prototyping, experimentation, debugging, and systems integration for a robotic
snake based, minimally invasive, flexible, laparoscopic surgical system. Other responsibilities included managing
internal resources, EMC / EMI mitigation design, and in-chamber mitigation testing activities, FDA compliant design
documentation activities, and general system and sub-system verification / validation testing. (June ’09 – Oct ’13)
Cue Acoustics: Consumer device. A tabletop radio that competed in the same space as the Bose Wave Radio. Project
management, development of internal company practices and procedures for documentation control, revision control and
knowledge capture, general vendor partnership building, business development, third-party design resource management,
system level design for ESD and EMI issue mitigation, and safety agency testing management. Worked to place the
design into high volume manufacturing, while working to reduce the BOM costs. (Mar ’07 – Aug ’08)
Lead Electronic Design Engineer, Consumer Robotics Division – iRobot Corp., Burlington, MA (W2 work)
This began as a W9 consulting position. Responsible for system and component-level analog, digital, embedded-
microcontroller, sensor, and RF design for iRobot’s Roomba robotic vacuum product line, as well as several advanced
development projects including a robotic lawn mower. Responsible from start to finish for the debris sensor, RF
communication module, and docking station designs used in the Roomba product line, as well as the microcontroller
system architecture for the second-generation Roomba. Responsible for extensive high-volume component cost savings
through aggressive vendor relationship building and business development efforts. Additional responsibilities and
experience included:
Project management involving schedule creation and tracking, budgeting including collaboration with
marketing to flush out preliminary COGS and ROI numbers, design technology and approach risk analysis,
FMEA, working with the legal department on initial IP filings, traveling to India when working with and
managing the iRobot India design center resources, working with UL and other approval agencies to gain
safety and electromagnetic compliance certifications.
Printed circuit board design, layout, and layout management using internal and external resources.
Taking designs to production including travel to iRobot’s contract manufacturers in China to help create,
set-up, and debug assembly processes of engineering pilot manufacturing production runs.
Electromechanical design to support sensor development, hands-on prototype building and development.
Low power design for battery operation, and battery charger design for NiMH batteries.
Very high electro-static discharge immunity design as the Roomba product is very much like a mobile
Van De Graaff generator that requires specialized and unique ESD mitigation strategies. (July ’03 – Feb ’08)
Contract Electrical Engineer – Proven Process Medical Devices, East Walpole, MA (W9 work)
Surgical device project. Start to finish component-level circuit design for a hand-held, battery operated, micro-power, low
cost, high-volume, high-reliability, disposable surgical device for Boston Scientific. Product focus was microvolt-level,
strain-gauge sensor signal acquisition, and microcontroller digital processing. Electronics worked in conjunction with