swkr-portfolio

Design.

Analysis.

Optimization.

About Me

My name is Stephen Roper, and this is my portfolio where I get to share small parts of big projects. I'm a recent PhD graduate in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from Queen's University and have worked on multidisciplinary problems for most of my professional and academic career. From research in applied optics, automotive, and aerospace to personal design projects on rovers and drones, I approach and frame problem solving through these lenses. In each application I seek out objectives, constraints, and variables, I build engineering models, and I create new products from conceptual design to production.

I developed these skills throughout my doctoral degree, linking fundamental aspects of non-linear programming to the development of new methodologies and numerical design tools, and believe any problem can be solved by applying these three principles. From lightweight structures to investment strategies, this is what I love. This is what I do.

Top

Projects

Projects.

A New Mobility Platform for the Queen's Space Engineering Team

maximize payload adaptability / working space | subject to mass (45kg) and maneuverability (rock climb) constraints

Rover pitch control with rear actuated rocker

Compact and easily accessibly electronics enclosure

Rocker suspension

Loopwheels

2016 Vehicle

2018-2019

External Sensor Packaging and Structural Landing Mount for a Drone

maximize stiffness | subject to 100g structural mass constraint

2019

Electronics housing

Landing leg assembly

Main external sensor

Snap-fit connection to DJI Phantom Drone

Quick-Mount Industrial Drone Propeller Guards

maximize stiffness (and impact resistance) | subject to 1kg structural mass and cost constraints

2020

Center-mounted approach

Thin gauge sheet metal

(cheaper alternative to carbon tubes)

3D printed couplers

(adhesively bonded)

Carbon fiber tubes

(lightweight, but expensive / hard to mass produce)

Drone arm / prop

3D printed couplers

(riveted)

Mk I

Mk II

Side-mounted approach

Rovers

Drones

Publications

Publications.

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Integrated topology and packaging optimization for conceptual-level electric vehicle chassis design

S. Roper, I.Y. Kim, 2022, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part D.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Integrated topology and packaging optimization for multi-phase multi-component problems

S. Roper, I.Y. Kim, 2022, In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 65.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Integrated topology and packaging optimization using coupled material and component pseudo-densities

S. Roper, I.Y. Kim, 2021, In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 64, p. 3345-3380.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Simultaneous isotropic and anisotropic multi-material topology optimization

S. Roper, H. Lee, M. Huh, I.Y. Kim, 2021, In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 64, p. 441-456.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

A topology optimization implementation for depth-of-focus extension of binary phase filters

S. Roper, S. Ryu, B. Seong, C. Joo, I.Y. Kim, 2020, In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 62, p. 2731–2748.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Spatial gradient interface detection in topology optimization for an unstructured mesh

L. Crispo, R. Bohrer, S. Roper, I.Y. Kim, 2020, In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization. 63, p. 515–522.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Brief note › Research › peer-review

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Conferences

Multi-joint topology optimization: a method for considering joining in multi-material design

B. Shiff, S. Roper, M. Pamwar, B. Sangha, I.Y. Kim, 2021, In: SAE World Congress WCX. Technical Paper 2021-01-0812.