DEAEM Daniel Eric Andenmatten Engineered Machines
Optimize your Universal Robots with Copley 7th Axis Controller – the powerful URCap plugin for external axis control and seamless parameter management through Copley Controls motor drive integration. The Copley 7th Axis Controller URCap enables direct control of ModbusTCP-enabled Copley Controls motor drives without the use of middleware. Simply connect the drive to Universal Robots via ethernet network and your UR can read and write 32bit Copley parameters. Easily integrate 7th Axis range extenders and external motor motion into your programs with convenient Relative, Absolute and Home motion program nodes. With the Copley 7th Axis Controller, you are not limited by motor selection due to Copley’s extensive support of a variety of motors. Big or small – control it all with the Copley 7th Axis Controller.
Integrates with ModbusTCP-enabled Copley motor drives to read and write 32bit parameters.
Olympus Controls, Automation Engineer, Sales
At Olympus-Controls, I served as the Automation Project Engineer Sales, where I managed the entire end-to-end project lifecycle for sophisticated automation solutions. I specialized in motion control, machine vision, and robotics for a diverse portfolio of clients, including notable companies like Cepheid, Roche, Zoetis, and Tesla. My role was to act as the primary technical point of contact, translating complex customer requirements into functional system specifications and overseeing the successful installation of automated robotic cells. I coordinated cross-functional engineering teams and was responsible for troubleshooting startups and ensuring accurate documentation for both hardware and software systems. This experience provided me with a deep understanding of multi-domain system integration and the critical role of client collaboration in delivering custom technical solutions.
Garaventa AG, Design Engineer, Sales
Loen Aerial Tramway
During my tenure as a Design Engineer at Garaventa AG, I served as the primary design engineer for the initial concept of the Loen Skylift. This project was a groundbreaking endeavor, as the lift is renowned for being one of the steepest aerial tramways in the world. I was directly responsible for the cantilevering tower design, a critical innovation that allowed the tramway’s longitudinal profile to closely follow the mountain edge. This required extensive design calculations to ensure optimal clearance and prevent collision with the mountain face, a testament to my ability to solve complex engineering challenges with precision and creative insight. The project’s success, which has drawn visitors from around the world, highlights my capacity for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in large-scale mechanical systems.
Halong Bay Aerial Tramway
I was instrumental in the erection of the Halong Bay Queen Cable Car. This project featured one of the largest track cables in the world, which presented significant logistical and technical challenges. My primary responsibility was to perform the intricate rope pulling calculations for the erection process. This involved designing a multi-step sequence of rope pulling diameter increases to safely install the main cable over the bay. These calculations were critical to the project’s success, as they ensured sufficient clearance for shipping vessels below throughout the entire installation, a testament to my ability to manage complex constraints and deliver a safe and successful outcome.
Personal Projects
Home Assistant
I designed and implemented a comprehensive smart home ecosystem built on the open-source Home Assistant platform. This project showcases a blend of technical skills, from leveraging numerous community integrations to the development of custom hardware. Using ESPHome, I engineered bespoke devices for core automations, including room sensors, garage door control, and the mechanical systems for automated curtains and blinds. The final system unifies control over all light switches, HVAC, and a robust security suite with video surveillance, providing an intelligent and responsive environment managed through custom automations and remote notifications. This work demonstrates my ability to build flexible, custom, and secure smart home solutions from the ground up.
Solar Optimizer Program
SimpleOptimizer is an AppDaemon app for Home Assistant that intelligently manages the home’s minisplits and heat-pump water heater to make the most of solar energy while maintaining comfort. It learns your preferences from manual adjustments (pattern learning), optionally trains lightweight ML models, and uses short‑term predictive analytics (solar production, demand, weather, occupancy, battery state) to choose modes and target temperatures. The app prioritizes using excess solar, adapts settings automatically with confidence thresholds, and updates dashboard sensors so you can see current mode, targets, confidence, and predicted schedules at a glance.
Automated Curtain Device
Material Ropeway Transport System
I designed and constructed a custom material ropeway system for a cabin, demonstrating proficiency in mechanical design and electrical control. The system features a robust suspension with two 16-foot steel posts supporting a fixed steel cable, engineered for durability and reliable material transport. A dual-hoist configuration, combined with a remote crane relay controller, allows for precise control, enabling the platform to be stopped at any point along the line for safe and user-friendly loading and unloading.
Bear Electric Fence Ignition Coil Driver
For a cabin in Lake Tahoe, I engineered a custom bear fence deterrence system. The core of this project was a bespoke circuit I designed to drive a truck ignition coil driver, allowing for an adjustable, high-voltage output. The circuit features potentiometers for precise control over both the timing and intensity of the coil’s output. The entire circuit was meticulously designed in Fusion 360 with single-pane routing. I then generated the Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) code for a desktop CNC machine to fabricate the board from a single copper-clad PCB, which I then manually populated with all necessary components. This project highlights my skills in custom circuit design, rapid prototyping, and delivering robust, site-specific solutions for unique environmental challenges.
Utility Trailer Motorcycle Toy-Hauler Camper
After graduating with my master’s degree, I embarked on a deeply personal and challenging project: designing and building my own custom mini toy hauler. This endeavor began with an improperly designed utility trailer, which I first had to meticulously fix by addressing its significant structural and suspension issues. With a solid foundation in place, I then proceeded to weld a custom frame using 1.25-inch square tubing, which was mounted to the trailer to form the foundation of the camper. This project was a true test of my full-stack engineering skills, integrating mechanical, electrical, and systems design. The finished camper featured a 20-gallon freshwater tank with a water heater and a fully functional air conditioning unit. Its most innovative feature was a rear opening system—the upper half of the back folded up, while the lower half folded down, allowing me to load and transport a motorcycle with ease. Upon completion, I took my creation on a 9-month, 15,000-mile cross-country road trip, where it performed flawlessly through diverse weather conditions, proving the durability and reliability of my design. The journey was a testament to my ability to transform a concept into a functional, robust, and personally meaningful piece of engineering.