Chris Welch

Chris Welch has an extensive work experience spanning across multiple companies and research institutions. Chris began their career at Chevron as a Facilities Engineer Intern in 2012 and continued in this role for two consecutive summers. In 2013, they joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as an Undergraduate Student Researcher, where they worked on various projects related to marine robotics and autonomous underwater gliders. Chris filed a patent for a battery-free AUV propulsion system and gained expertise in image processing techniques for autonomous pipeline inspection.

In 2014, Chris Welch continued their research work at MIT as a Graduate Researcher, focusing on autonomous manipulation from free-flight and autonomous bracing with complex geometry. Chris filed another patent for a mechanism designed for AUVs to latch onto subsea structures and conducted FEA analysis and CAD rendering using Solidworks.

In 2016, Chris joined the Toyota Research Institute as a Systems Integration Engineer and worked in this role until 2020. Chris then transitioned to the position of Senior Systems Integration Engineer at the same company. In 2019, they also took on a role at Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development as a Systems Integration Engineer, specializing in MaaS AD Development.

In 2021, Chris Welch joined Woven Planet Holdings as a Senior Systems Integration Engineer, Vehicle Hardware Platform Sub-Team Lead, MaaS AD Development, where they are currently employed.

Throughout their career, Chris has contributed to projects in the fields of autonomous manipulation, marine robotics, and systems integration. Chris has filed multiple patents and gained expertise in various engineering tools and techniques such as Solidworks, MATLAB, and FEA analysis.

Chris Welch attended the Polytechnic School from 2005 to 2009, though no degree or field of study was specified. Following this, they enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 2009 to 2013, where they earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical & Ocean Engineering. Finally, they furthered their education by pursuing a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology / Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 2013 to 2015.