Amy Bilton
Room 3-472m, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge,
MA, 02139
bilton (at) mit.edu
Education
January 2013
Doctor of Philosophy Candidate, Department of Aeronautics and
Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge, MA
- Thesis Title: A Modular Design Architecture for
Application to Community-Scale
Photovoltaic-Powered Reverse Osmosis Systems
June 2006
Master of Science, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Thesis Title: Fusion of Remote Vision and On-Board Acceleration Data for the Vibration Estimation of Large Space Structures
Sept 2000 - June 2004
Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours, Division of
Engineering Science, Aerospace Option, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Thesis Title: The Aerodynamic Design of a Solar Vehicle
Research Experience
Sept 2008 - Present
Research Assistant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Field and Space Robotics Laboratory, Cambridge, MA
Advisor: Steven Dubowsky
- Developed optimal modular design algorithms for photovoltaic-powered reverse osmosis systems.
- Developed methods to design renewable energy systems subject to uncertain power sources and system demands.
- Designed and constructed experimental photovoltaic reverse osmosis system.
- Developed analysis & control methods for binary-actuated mirror structures for solar concentrators and space telescopes.
- Designed experimental binary-actuated mirror system.
Sept 2004 - June 2006
Research Assistant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Field and Space Robotics Laboratory, Cambridge, MA
Advisor: Steven Dubowsky
- Developed an estimation algorithm to estimate the shape of a vibrating space solar power system using remote vision and structure-mounted sensors.
- Designed an experimental system to simulate a 2-D microgravity environment.
May 2003 – Sept 2003
Research Assistant, University of Toronto
Institute of Aerospace Studies, Aircraft Flight Systems and
Control Laboratory,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Advisor: Hugh H.T. Liu
- Tested different aircraft auto-landing systems for range of weather conditions using Simulink models, a real-time flight simulator and a flight training device.
Relevant Work Experience
Dec 2007 – Aug 2008
Senior Control Systems Engineer, Honeywell Aerospace,
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Developed the control software for aircraft environmental digital sensor controllers.
- Supervised on-site installation and testing of new developmental environmental digital sensor controllers.
- Performed system testing on the test bench and test system rig.
Nov 2006 – Oct 2007
Systems Engineer, Pratt & Whitney, Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada
- Developed the control system for the fuel efficient PW617 engine program.
- Analyzed test results and suggested methods to improve the performance of the engine using software.
- Reviewed and created test proceedures and system requirements for the engine control system.
Journal Papers
Bilton, A.M., Lee, S.J., and Dubowsky, S., “The Kinematic
Control of Hyper-Redundant Binary Actuated Compliant Systems
with Application to Solar Mirrors with Experimental
Validation,” submitted to the ASME Journal of Mechanisms and
Robotics, 2012.
Bilton, A. M., and Dubowsky, S., “The Modular Design of
Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Systems – Making Technology
Accessible to Non-Experts,” Desalination
and Water Treatment, Vol. 51, pp. 702-712, 2012.
Bilton, A. M., Wiesman, R., Arif, A. F. M., Zubair, S. M.,
and Dubowsky, S., "On the Feasibility of Community-Scale
Photovoltaic Powered Reverse Osmosis Systems for Remote
Locations." Renewable
Energy, Vol. 36, No. 12, pp. 3246-3256, December
2011.
Bilton, A. M., Kelley, L. C., and Dubowsky, S., “Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis – Feasibility and a Pathway to Develop Technology,” Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol. 31, pp 24-36, July 2011.
Bilton, A. M., Ishijima, Y., Lichter, L., and Dubowsky, S. "A Sensor Architecture for the Robotic Control of Large Flexible Space Structures." The Journal of Field Robotics, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 287-310, April 2007.
Book Chapters
Lienhard, J. H., Antar, M. A., Bilton, A. M., Blanco, J.,
Zaragoza, G., "Solar Desalination," in Annual Review of Heat Transfer,
Vol. 15, New York: Begell House Inc., 2012.
Conference Proceedings
Reed, E. A., Bilton, A. M., and Dubowsky, S., “Controllable
Energy Recovery for a Smart PVRO System,” Submitted to the IEEE/ASME
International Conference on Advanced Intelligent
Mechatronics 2013, July 9-12, 2013, Wollongong,
Australia.
Meng, L., Bilton, A. M., You, Z., and Dubowsky, S., “Adaptive
Heliostat Solar Arrays using Shape-Optimized Compliant
Mirrors,” Proceedings of
the ASME 2012 International Design Engineering Technical
Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering
Conference IDETC/CIE 2012, Aug. 12-15, 2012, Chicago,
Illinois, USA.
Bilton, A.M., and Dubowsky, S., “Inverse Kinematics for the
Control of Hyper-Redundant Binary Mechanisms with Application
to Solar Concentrator Mirrors,” Proceedings of the International Symposium on
Advances in Robot Kinematics 2012, June 24-28, 2012,
Innsbruck, Austria.
Kelley, L. C., Bilton, A. M., and Dubowsky, S., “Enhancing
the Performance of Photovoltaic Powered Reverse Osmosis
Desalination Systems by Active Thermal Management,” Proceedings of the ASME 2011
International Mechanical Engineering Congress &
Exposition, November 11-17, 2011, Denver, Colorado,
USA.
Bilton, A. M., Kelley, L. C., and Mazzini, F., “Design
Optimization of Sustainable Off-Grid Power Systems for the
Developing World,” Proceedings
of the ASME 2011 Energy Sustainability Conference,
August 7-10, 2011, Washington, DC, USA.
Bilton, A. M., Kelley, L. C., and Dubowsky, S., “Photovoltaic
Reverse Osmosis – Feasibility and a Pathway to Develop
Technology,” Proceedings of
EuroMed 2010, Desalination for Clean Water and Energy,
October 3-7, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Lee, S. J., Bilton, A. M., and Dubowsky, S., “On the
Kinematics of Solar Mirrors Using Massively Parallel Binary
Actuation,” Proceedings of
the ASME 2010 International Design Engineering Technical
Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering
Conference IDETC/CIE, August 15-18, 2010, Montreal,
Quebec, Canada.
Patents
Dubowsky, S., Bilton, A. M., and Lee, S. J., “System for
Discretely Actuated Solar Mirrors,” US Patent Application Number
12/839479, July 20, 2010.Dubowsky, S., Bilton, A. M., and Kelley, L. C., “Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis System with Thermal Management,” US Patent Application Number 13/032896, February 23, 2011.
Presentations
“Modular Design of Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Systems.” Cyprus
Institute, September 21, 2011, Nicosia, Cyprus.“Design Optimization of Sustainable Off-Grid Power Systems for the Developing World,” ASME 2011 Energy Sustainability Conference, August 7-10, 2011, Washington, DC, USA.
“Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Overview.” Guest Lecture for MIT Graduate Course - 2.500 Desalination and Water Treatment, December 6, 2010, Cambridge, MA.
“On Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis – Feasibility and a Pathway to Develop Technology.” EuroMed 2010, Desalination for Clean Water and Energy, October 3-7, 2010, Tel Aviv, Israel.
“Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis.” Guest Lecture, Ariel University, October 4, 2010, Ariel, Israel.
“The Design of Modular Photovoltaic-Powered Reverse Osmosis Systems.” Cyprus Institute, September 27, 2010, Nicosia, Cyprus.
“On the Kinematics of Solar Mirrors Using Massively Parallel Binary Actuation.” ASME 2010 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference IDETC/CIE, August 15-18, 2010, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
“The Design and Control of Modular Solar Powered Reverse Osmosis Systems.” Cyprus Institute, July 16, 2009, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Volunteer Experience and Leadership
2010 – 2011
President, Sidney-Pacific Graduate Community, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
- Led the largest graduate residence at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology with over 650 residents.
- Managed an annual budget of over $100,000 and obtained in excess of $50,000 of external funding for student projects in a competitive proposal processes.
- Represented interests of graduate residents to the MIT community and worked with members of the MIT Graduate Students Council to address community concerns and plan community-building activities.
- Received the William L. Stewart Jr. Award for outstanding contributions made to student life at MIT.
Trustee, Sidney-Pacific Graduate Community, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Organize alumni activities and acted as lead organizer of
10th Anniversary Alumni Weekend which brought 100+ alumni to
MIT.
- Advise the members of the Sidney-Pacific Graduate Community Executive Council.
- Mediate conflicts and serve on disciplinary committee for the community.
Student Government, Sidney Pacific Graduate Residence, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Organized monthly social brunches for the MIT graduate student community with attendence in excess of 250 people.
- Supervised group of approximately 20 volunteers.
- Managed annual event budget of $10000.
2004 – Present
Team Advisor, Blue Sky Solar Racing Team, University of
Toronto
- Mentor young students through the design of a solar powered vehicle.
- Perform regular design reviews and suggest improvements to mechanical and aerodynamic designs.
- Accompanied team of 10 students during the 2007 World Solar Challenge, a race from Darwin to Adelaide across the Australian Outback.
Sept 2001 – Aug 2004
Team Leader, Blue Sky Solar Racing Team, University of Toronto
- Lead designer of aerobody and chassis subsystems.
- Organized a team of 25 students in both design and construction of the aerobody and chassis.
- Networked with companies to obtain funding and materials to construct to vehicle.
- Competed in the 2003 American Solar Challenge, a race from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Other Activities
- Member, Student Presidential Search Committee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012)
- Member, Institute Committee on Event Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012)
- Treasurer & Webmaster, Women’s Graduate Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2012)
- Alumni Chair, Thirsty Ear Executive Committee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2010-present)
- Officer, Sidney-Pacific Graduate Community, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2009-2010)
- Project Manager, University of Toronto Free-Flight Glider Team (2002-2004)
Media Exposure of Previous Work
- MIT Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis System - MIT News
- University of Toronto Solar Car Project - Discovery
Channel’s Green Machines, Toronto Star, CTV News Toronto,
CBC Heads Up, Dassault Systems Magazine
Fellowships and Awards
- Cyprus Fellowship, MIT (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- William L. Stewart Award, MIT (2011)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Student Award (2003)
- Murray F. Southcote Award (Top 1% of Class), University of Toronto (2003)
- University of Toronto Academic Scholarship (2000)
- Medal of the Governor General of Canada (2000)
- Carter Scholarship (2000)
- Helen Kavanagh Nicol Scholarship (2000)
References Available Upon Request