Scholarship & Speaking
Knowledge Sharing Philosophy
Engineering knowledge has the greatest impact when it’s shared clearly and applied practically.Whether through technical writeups, public presentations, or collaborative engineering work, I aim to communicate systems-level engineering concepts with actionable clarity.
Featured Presentation
From Schematics to Reality: Turbocharging Mechatronics with Autodesk Fusion
Autodesk University 2025 — Las Vegas, NV
Role: Presenter
View presentation →
A featured Autodesk University session showcasing a systems-engineering approach to integrating PCB design, 3D modeling, and documentation workflows within Autodesk Fusion.
This presentation centered around the SENTRY turret project, illustrating how multidisciplinary prototyping can bridge mechanical, electrical, and educational engineering workflows.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Real-Time Integration and Testing of Distributed Autonomous Systems
IEEE Xplore, 2025 — Co-Author
DOI: 10.1109/11007919
Collaborative research exploring distributed control and verification strategies for networked robotic platforms.
Contributed to hardware-in-the-loop design methodology and experimental validation of embedded control systems.
Modular Embedded Architectures for Autonomous Surface Vehicles
IEEE Xplore, 2024 — Co-Author
DOI: 10.1109/10801999
Describes the design and testing of a scalable embedded framework for autonomous maritime robotics.
Contributed to systems integration, telemetry architecture, and field testing in applied research environments.
Ongoing Technical Interests
Systems Integration in Education:
Applying professional systems-engineering workflows to hands-on academic learning environments, bridging mechanical and electronic disciplines through reproducible design.
Autonomous Systems Development:
Building fault-tolerant, safety-aware control architectures for multi-agent robotic platforms in research and educational settings.
Engineering Communication & Documentation:
Advancing how technical teams document, visualize, and teach complex systems effectively.
Engineering Leadership in Competition Environments:
Applying systems thinking, event operations discipline, and mentoring structure through FIRST Robotics Competition.
Speaking Engagements & Availability
I am available for:
- Conference presentations and guest lectures on mechatronics, PCB design, and systems engineering.
- Workshops on integrating multidisciplinary design tools and documentation workflows.
- Panel discussions focused on engineering education, automation, and practical innovation.
Contact:
📧 zachary@zcohen-nerd.com
🔗 LinkedIn · GitHub