Derek Scherer, MSc

Derek Scherer, MSc is Founder of the Golem Group.
 
In 2011, Derek worked full time at Weta Workshop to create animatronic props and effects for several feature films, including The Hobbit. He also worked on set with animatronic pieces and actors.
 
In February 2006, Derek started his own company as a launching pad for a career in human-centered robotics. He developed several animatronic systems, incorporating work with robotic frames, pneumatic actuators, servomechanisms, sensors, printed circuit board electronics, and control circuitry. Golem Workshop is an ongoing effort to advance animatronic and co-robot technologies for themed attractions, medical, and commercial settings.
 
From January 2010 to August 2011, he was a researcher at the US Army Research Laboratory Robotics Program Office. He developed control software and electronics for a tentacle manipulator (robot hand made of multiple snake-like robots), acquired specialized training in embedded systems development, worked with robots the size of bugs, the size of cars, and many in-between, developed projects using the Robot Operating System, and performed research in the effect that robot movement has on a human observer.
 
From July 2005 to January 2010, Derek worked as a computer engineer for the US Army CERDEC. He was on the C2ORE ATO Team, working in software development, testing, and demonstrations on a system to control multiple robotic entities simultaneously. Additionally, he worked as an ARL guest researcher in various robotics technologies under the Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance.
 
Derek coauthored A Participatory Framework for Developing Co-Robotic Technologies for Eldercare and Construction of a Hyper Redundant Robotic Tentacle Manipulator.
 
He earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering at Norwich University in 2005. He earned his Master’s of Science in Computer Science at Columbia University in 2009.
 
Watch his YouTube channel. Watch KCLive — Derek Scherer creates Hobbit movie magic. Read Army Technology Expands Snake-Robotics. Read his LinkedIn profile. Follow his Twitter feed.