About Us

John Wason, Ph.D.

Tuxedo, NY 10987
(518) 279-6234

Highlights of Qualification

• Robotics and Software engineering expert

• Over ten years as owner of Wason Technology, LLC

• Experience working with Research Universities, Fortune 500 corporations, Small Business, and Government Laboratories

• Four engineering degrees, including a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Extensive interdisciplinary skillsets with hands-on experience

• Development of several flagship projects that have received funding from the United States government

• Numerous conference and journal publications on a wide range of topics

• Visiting Researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Doctoral Dissertation on robotic microassembly of MEMS structures

Work Experience

• Owner, Lead Engineer, Wason Technology, LLC, 2011 - Present

• Visiting Researcher, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2013 - Present

• Center for Automation Technologies and Systems, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, March 2006 – June 2012

• Telerobotics Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, Summers of 2004 and 2005

• Mechatronics Research Laboratory, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, February 2003 – March 2006

See Portfolio for descriptions of products and projects

Education

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY

• Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, Graduated December 2011

• Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Graduated May 2007

• Bachelor of Science, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Double Degree, Graduated May 2006

Skills

• System Design: Design of complex multidisciplinary automation and robotic systems, specializing in experimental testbeds

• Software Engineering:  C++, Python, C#, Java, MATLAB, LabView, VB, Windows, Linux, MacOS, Arduino, Android, iOS, FreeBSD, ABB RAPID, ROS

• Embedded Systems: Computer interface and dynamic control applications

• CAD: SolidWorks Solid Modeling Software, Mastercam

• Modeling/Control: Extensive experience in control design using MATLAB/Simulink

• Dynamics and Control analysis

• Electronics: Analog/Digital circuit design, VHDL, microcontroller integration, automation electronics

• Computer maintenance: Software, Hardware, and network experience in Linux, Windows, MacOS, and FreeBSD

• Microfabrication: Spin coating, contact alignment, Deep RIE, wet bench

• Distributed systems: Design and programming of complex systems involving numerous computers and computational modules

• Web and Cloud: Websites, Web Applications, Client and Server side development, Cloud Infrastructure

• Computer Vision and associated optics

• Private pilot certified for VFR flight

• SCUBA diver, certified Advanced Open Water by PADI

Patents

J. Wason, J.T. Wen, J. Gorman, N Dagalakis, "System and method for probe-based high precision spatial orientation control and assembly of parts for microassembly using computer vision," U.S. Patent 8746310B2, May 11, 2012.

J. Wason, "System and method for implementing augmented object members for remote procedure call", U.S. Patent 10536560B2, Mar 12, 2018.

Selected Publications

J. Wason and J. T. Wen, "Robot Raconteur® Updates on an Open Source Interoperable Middleware for Robotics", in Proc. IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, 2023, pp. 1-8.

H. He, B. Aksoy, G. Saunders, J. Wason, and J. T. Wen, "Plug-and-play software architecture for coordinating multiple industrial robots and sensors from multiple vendors", in Proc. IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, 2023, pp. 1-8.

J.D. Wason, "Robot Raconteur® version 0.8: An Updated Communication System for Robotics, Automation, Building Control, and the Internet of Things", in Proc. IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, 2016, pp. 595-602.

Y-C Peng, S. Chen, D. Jivani, J.D. Wason, W. Lawler, G. Saunders, R. J. Radke, J. Trinkle, S. Nath, J.T. Wen. "Sensor-guided assembly of segmented structures with industrial robots," Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 6, 2021

J.D. Wason, J.T. Wen, J.J. Gorman, N.G. Dagalakis, “Automated Multi-Probe Microassembly using Vision Feedback,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 28, no. 5, October 2012.

J. D. Wason, W. T. Gressick, J. T.-Y. Wen, J. J. Gorman, and N. G. Dagalakis, “Multi-probe micro-assembly,” in Third Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Scottsdale, AZ, 2007.

J. D. Wason, W. T. Gressick, J. T.-Y. Wen, J. J. Gorman, and N. G. Dagalakis, “Multiprobe microassembly experimental testbed,” in International Conference on Micromanufacturing, Pittsburg, PA, 2008.

J.D. Wason, W. Gressick, J.T.-Y. Wen, K. Morgan, J. Heald, and S. Mueller, “Model-based control of a high-temperature crystal growth process,” in Fourth Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Washington D.C., 2008.

H. Bai, K.D. Chapin, J.D. Wason,  and J.T. Wen, “Experimental verification of formation control with distributed cameras,” in 48th IEEE conference on Decision and Control, Shanghai, China, 2009.

J.D. Wason, J.T.-Y. Wen, Y.M. Choi, J.J. Gorman, and N.G. Dagalakis, “Vision Guided Multi-Probe Assembly of 3D Microstructures,” in IEEE/RSJ International  Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010.

Elsabee KA; Wason JD; Boyle J; Nazarian R; Wen JT; Carl AL; Ledet EH. Adjacent Level Changes in the Entire Thoracolumbar Spine Following Surgical Intervention as Measured Using a Novel In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Robotic Simulator.  Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society. October, 2010:182.

Elsabee KA, Wason JD, Boyle J, Nazarian R, Wen JT, Carl AL, Ledet EH. Adjacent Level Effects: A Novel In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Protocol for Assessing Redistribution of Motion of the Entire Thoracolumbar Spine Following Surgical Intervention. The Albany Medical College Orthopaedic Journal, 2010; 2:32-9.

J.D. Wason, J.T-Y. Wen, and N.G. Dagalakis, “Dextrous Manipulation of a Micropart with Multiple Complaint Probes through Visual Force Feedback,” in IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Shanghai, China, 2011.

J.D. Wason, J.T-Y. Wen, “Robot Raconteur: A communication architecture and library for robotic and automation systems,” in Seventh Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Trieste, Italy, 2011.

Elsabee KA; Wason JD; Boyle J; Nazarian R; Wen JT; Carl AL; Ledet EH. An In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Simulator to Quantify 3D Kinematics of the Thoracolumbar Spine. Accepted to the Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Hartford, CT. October, 2011.