I am an R&D Engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Test Engineering group. In this role, I improve environmental multi-axis vibration tests through test planning (specifications, modeling, and optimization), execution (controls and hardware platforms), and analysis (data analysis and test metrics).
My research background includes structural dynamics, structural health monitoring, sensors and data acquisition, dynamic modeling, control systems, and optimization. Additionally, I completed the Science, Technology, and Public Policy certificate program in the Univeristy of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy.
During my time as a student, I conducted research at the University of Portland, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Engineering Institute at Jeonbuk National University in Jeonju, Korea. I am a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
Research
Structural Dynamics and Environmental Vibration Testing
In my current role at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I lead an R&D project to improve multi-axis vibration testing. The multiple actuators and control degrees of freedom present in these tests add challenges for reaching desired environments. My work addresses the entire pipeline from test planning to data analysis.
Human Biomechanics
During my PhD, I developed computational tools for monitoring and assisting human movement.
Animal Biomechanics
In graduate school, I also worked with Dr. Talia Moore, PI of EMBiR Lab, to uncover explanations for patterns in evolution and ecology. Often, engineering and robotics can help us test hypotheses and learn more about animal movement.
Publications
Dissertation
S. M. Danforth, "Human Prediction and Robotic Lower-Limb Prosthesis Planning for Safe Perturbation Recovery During Motion," University of Michigan PhD Dissertation, August 2022. [url]
Journal Papers
S. M. Danforth, X. Liu, M. J. Ward, P.D. Holmes, and R. Vasudevan, "Predicting sagittal-plane swing hip kinematics in response to trips," Robotics and Automation Letters, June 2022. Best Paper Award, IEEE BioRob 2022. [url]
T. Y. Moore, S. M. Danforth, J. G. Larson, and A. R. Davis Rabowski, "A quantitative analysis of Micrurus coral snakes reveals unexpected variation in stereotyped anti-predator displays within a mimicry system," Integrative Organismal Biology, March 2020. [url]
P. D. Holmes, S. M. Danforth, X.-Y. Fu, T. Y. Moore, and R. Vasudevan, "Characterizing the limits of human stability during motion: perturbative experiment validates a model-based approach for the Sit-to-Stand task," Royal Society Open Science, January 2020. [url]
Conference Papers
S. M. Danforth, M. Kholer, D. Bruder, A. R. Davis Rabosky, S. Kota, R. Vasudevan, and T. Y. Moore, "Emulating duration and curvature of coral snake anti-predator thrashing behaviors using a soft-robotic platform," IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Paris, France, June 2020. [url]
S. M. Danforth, J. T. Martz, A. H. Root, E. B. Flynn, and D. Y. Harvey, "Multi-source sensing and analysis for machine-array condition monitoring," in Proceedings of the SEM XXXV International Modal Analysis Conference, Garden Grove, CA, January 2017. [url]
T. A. Doughty, L. J. Cassidy, S. M. Danforth, and N. Pendowski, "Varied system geometry and noise implementation applied to nonlinear model tracking," in Proceedings of the ASME 2016 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Phoenix, AZ, November 2016. [url]
T. A. Doughty, L. J. Cassidy, and S. M. Danforth, "Implementing noise, multi-frequency stimulus, and realtime analysis to nonlinear model tracking," in Proceedings of the SEM XIII International Congress, Orlando, FL, June 2016. [url]
Preprints
S. M. Danforth, P. D. Holmes, and R. Vasudevan, "Trip Recovery in Lower-Limb Prostheses using Reachable Sets of Predicted Human Motion," 2020. [arXiv preprint]
C. H. Kim, S. M. Danforth, P. D. Holmes, D. R. Raz, D. Yao, A. Bedi, and R. Vasudevan, "Automated camera-based estimation of rehabilitation criteria following ACL reconstruction," 2018. [arXiv preprint]
Presentations
S. M. Danforth, P. D. Holmes, C. H. Kim, D. Yao, A. Bedi, and R. Vasudevan, "Assessing rehabilitation progress following ACL reconstruction surgery," poster presentation in Dynamic Walking, May 2020. [pdf] [poster]
S. M. Danforth, J. G. Larson, A. R. Davis Rabowski, and T. Y. Moore, "A Kinematic Analysis of Micrurus Coral Snake Thrash Duration and Curvature Enables Quantitative Characterization of Non-Locomotory Behavioral Motion," presentation in Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Austin, TX, January 2020. [url]
S. M. Danforth, P. D. Holmes, and R. Vasudevan, "Inverse optimal control with sit-to-stand data," presentation in Dynamic Walking, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, June 2019. [pdf] [presentation]
P. D. Holmes, X.-Y. Fu, S. M. Danforth, T. Y. Moore, and R. Vasudevan, "N-step reachability to characterize human mediolateral stability during perturbed walking," poster presentation in Dynamic Walking, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, June 2019.
P. D. Holmes, S. M. Danforth, T. Y. Moore, and R. Vasudevan, "Perturbative sit-to-stand experiment for validating a quantitative method for stability estimation," presentation in World Congress of Biomechanics, Dublin, Ireland, June 2018.
P. D. Holmes, S. M. Danforth, T. Y. Moore, and R. Vasudevan, "Perturbative sit-to-stand experiment for validating a quantitative method for stability estimation," presentation in Dynamic Walking, Pensacola, FL, May 2018. [presentation]
P. D. Holmes, S. M. Danforth, T. Y. Moore, X. Y. Fu, and R. Vasudevan, "Humans minimize error in task-relevant dimensions during sit-to-stand," presentation in Dynamic Walking, Mariehamn, Finland, June 2017. [url]
Science and Technology Policy
As a Ph.D. student at University of Michigan, I completed the Science, Technology, and Public Policy graduate certificate program. In this program, I learned about policy's role in science and technology, developed policy writing skills, and explored the interaction of science, technology, and society. My projects in this certificate program include:
A series of memos about facial recognition in law enforcement from the perspective of NIST, and a presentation at a simulated Congressional roundtable,
A series of memos about a controversy regarding essential facilities in the Oregon Coast's tsunami zone,
A case study on the organizational and political causes of the 2005 Jilin Petrochemical Plant explosions, and
A grant proposal and preliminary research for a study comparing standards/regulations between upper- and lower-limb robotic prostheses.
Science Communication
Videos
A highlight of my time as a Ph.D. student was creating videos to ensure my work is presented in a straightforward manner. Here is a video I made for some work published in Integrative Organismal Biology:
During 2020, I worked with the Michigan Engineer News Center staff to gain more experience in science journalism and wrote an article about UM student Dan Bruder designing and prototyping a DIY ventilator.
Fun (and still slightly informative) Videos
Here's a video I wrote and edited for the Dynamic Walking annual meeting, starring my labmate Patrick. This video was also featured on IEEE Spectrum's Video Friday.
Media
Kelly Diamond, "Not all flashy snakes thrash dance the same," IOB Open. [url]
Saima Sidik, "The robotic snakes that could teach us about animal behavior," Scope. [url]
Honors and Awards
2018-2021
Graduate Research Fellowship Program recipient, National Science Foundation
2020
ComSciCon Michigan attendee
2019
People's Choice Award winner, Scientific Visualization Competition, University of Michigan
2019
Rising Stars in Mechanical Engineering workshop attendee, Stanford University
2015
Education Foundation Scholarship recipient, American Institute of Steel Construction
