Nick Playle

Background

About Nick Playle

I have extensive embedded experience with both MCU and FPGA designs, encompassing the entire product lifecycle from requirements capture to schematic layout, PCB layout, PCB prototyping, HDL requirements entry, generation and verification (both Verilog and VHDL), HALT / HASS screening and testing, EMI / EMC testing and troubleshooting, and finally production release. In the embedded world I have designed circuit boards ranging from single layer to 12 layers with high speed signals such as DDR, as well as RF circuitry such as GPS and communication radios. My designs have covered the gamut of ultra high reliability autopilots encompassing fault tolerant design to mass produced commercial products with over units sold. In these designs, depending on requirements I have used Cortex M3, M4, M7, R5 MCUs from vendors ST, NXP, Infineon, TI and Espressif, and FPGAs from Actel/Microsemi, Xilinx/AMD, and Intel / Alterra. I have developed boards and programmed firmware (both bare metal and with various RTOSs) for interfaces including USB, SPI, UART, I2C, I2S/SAI, PDM, and custom MCU-FPGA parallel interfaces. I have experience with DO-160 environmental and EMC testing, and more generic IEC EMC and ESD testing. I have extensive experience travelling to perform on-site commissioning and integration of autopilot systems into customers' aircraft according to a tight schedule and mission specific set of requirements. This has allowed me to use my project management and troubleshooting skills to ensure that the project finishes on schedule and meets the mission requirements. My systems integration experience encompasses CAN and RS485 networks (including CANOpen networks) to control servos and actuators, and point to point communication using RS232, PWM and analog control. In personal and industrial capabilities I have experience with the design, maintenance, and use of 3D printers, and CNC plasma cutters, routers and lasers, and currently run my own 4 axis CNC router and CO2 laser of my own design, as well as a desktop 3D printer. I also have a fully equipped shop with CNC mill, lathe, welder and other metalworking equipment to produce prototype parts on site, while learning new techniques that feedback into my designs to improve initial product DFM. My graduate work focused on flight control, FPGA architecture and control of switch mode power supplies. My thesis work focused on vision assisted navigation, specifically the fusion of payload vision data with existing inertial sensor data.