Charlie Gallentine, PhD

C* Laboratory

Research Associate • Aug, 2020 — All degree requirements completed January 2026

Self-driven research on fluidic actuation components, (pumps, valves, actuators) for soft robotic actuation from blank-sheet through full validation.

• Owned end-to-end design and validation of compact fluidic power and control mechanisms, balancing performance, manufacturability, and experimental reliability from concept through tested hardware.
• Applied linear and nonlinear control to dynamic systems using simulation and physical testing, resolving stability, integration, and feedback control issues.
• Led and coordinated a 20-person, multi-institution team, setting technical direction and integrating contributions into cohesive, working systems.
• Delivered fully integrated, experimentally validated fluidic subsystems used as the basis for published designs and follow-on development.

St. Cecilia Academy

Head Robotics Teacher • Jan, 2022 — Present

Teaching position responsible for technical instruction & volunteer coordination for Tennessee's only all-female FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team.

• Taught robotics, mechanism design, systems thinking, and embedded programming using the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) platform and Java programming language.
• Developed leadership skills through classroom instruction while managing and coordinating a team of five volunteer mentors, school administration, and parental engagement.
• Designed, adapted, and delivered a comprehensive high‑school robotics curriculum to meet diverse student skill levels, fostering technical confidence and problem‑solving ability.

Honeybee Robotics, Flight Systems Group

Software Engineering Intern • Summer: 2018, 2019

Summer engineering intern with a primary focus on algorithm development for FPGA-based signal conditioning.

• Designed and implemented FPGA-based digital and analog TTL hardware for quadrature interpolation, improving control resolution in reaction-wheel mechanisms under spaceflight constraints.
• Delivered embedded and desktop software in MATLAB, C/C++, and Python, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support development and testing of spaceflight motion-control systems.
• Developed embedded firmware in C on an MSP430 microcontroller to support real-time systems, automate testing, and improve hardware validation repeatability.
• Designed circuit schematics and PCB layouts, then executed testing and validation to verify performance against technical requirements.

Vanderbilt University

PhD, Mechanical Engineering • January, 2026

Vanderbilt University

M.S., Mechanical Engineering • 2025

Clemson University

B.S., Computer Engineering • 2020

Systems Design, Integration & Troubleshooting

Design and diagnose complex electromechanical, fluidic, and robotic systems using first-principles analysis and rapid iteration. Comfortable taking unfamiliar systems apart, identifying root causes, and driving practical fixes from concept through validation.

Modeling, Prototyping & Testing

Develop analytical and numerical models of discrete and continuum systems to guide design decisions. Design hardware using CAD/CAM workflows, additive and subtractive manufacturing, and hands-on experimental methods. Plan and execute experiments, analyze performance data, and iterate designs with reliability and repeatability in mind.

Controls, Computation & Embedded Systems

Implement embedded and desktop software in MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, and Python for modeling, sensing, actuation, and closed-loop control. Experience with linear and nonlinear control, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, and integration of sensors, motors, and controllers.

Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Design novel electromechanical, fluidic, and textile-based devices from blank-sheet concepts through characterization and documentation. Apply GD&T (ASME Y14.5), design for manufacturability, and optimization for CNC machining, conventional fabrication, and additive processes.

Communication, Teaching & Leadership

Communicate technical ideas clearly through written documentation, publications, and presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences. Teach, mentor, and collaborate with teams spanning multiple disciplines and experience levels. Produce clear engineering drawings, test reports, and process documentation to support team execution.

Tools & Languages:

MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C/C++, embedded C, FPGA, microcontrollers (MSP430), SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion 360, Onshape, PCB design, test automation, hardware validation

• Additively-Manufactured-Servopumps-for-Soft-Robots - https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4068584
• Frequency‑Addressable Resonant Valves for High Degree‑of‑Freedom Control. - Preprint - Submitted, January, 2026
• An Integrated Frameless Motor Gerotor Pump for Hydraulic Actuation of Soft Robots. - Preprint - Submitted, October, 2025
• DISSERTATION: Compact Control Elements for Soft Robots: High Bandwidth Pumps, High Pressure Actuators, and Frequency Addressable Valves - Defended, January 16, 2026