John D. Martens, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Martens specializes in control systems and software, microprocessor-based and computer systems, circuit design and analysis, electronic components failure analysis, automotive control systems, electronic stability control systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and process control (including DCS and SCADA analysis), robotics and automation, computer vision, consumer products design and failure analysis, and intellectual property issues.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Martens managed the embedded control systems group at Delphi Corporation, a leading global supplier of mobile electronics and transportation systems, and led an R & D team from development to commercialization of an active rear steering system for improved vehicle performance. Dr. Martens has experience developing and testing electronic stability control systems. Dr. Martens’ robotic experience includes developing methods and algorithms for the automatic control of a stair-climbing mobile robot. He has experience programming PLC's and analyzing process control systems.

As a member of Delphi’s Innovation Center, Dr. Martens actively supported Delphi’s Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio as an inventor (8 United States patents and 1 European patent) and provided analyses related to patent prosecution, validity, and infringement questions as well as prior art research and enablement. Dr. Martens has continued his active involvement in IP matters at Exponent. His most recent IP activity has involved products such as software-controlled systems including computer hard drive control and fluid delivery systems.

Dr. Martens’ facilities management experience at Delphi includes equipment specification, procurement, installation, and maintenance. His facilities experience also includes the maintenance of a mechatronics research and development laboratory containing several industrial robots and control systems.

Dr. Martens is active in the field of industrial process control, including burner management and combustion control systems for industrial boilers and furnaces. He has advised his clients regarding the appropriate level of safeguards necessary for the safe operation and control of their systems, assisted them in implementing those safeguards, and audited their installations. He draws from his accident investigation experience and his knowledge of industry standards to perform process hazard analyses.

Morrison DR, Fecke M, Martens, JD. Migrating an incident reporting system to a CCPS process safety metrics model. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries 2011, in press.

Martens JD, Fecke, M, Ogle, RA, Bishop, JA. Functional testing for industrial control systems. Proceedings, ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exhibition IMECE2011, Denver, CO, November 11–17, 2011.

Arora A, Martens J, Babic D. AC & DC adapters safety considerations. IEEE Symposium on Product Compliance Engineering, San Diego, CA, October 10–12, 2011.

Fecke M, Martens JD, Cowells J, Morrison DR. A guide to developing and implementing safety checklists: Plant steam utilities. Process Safety Progress 2011; 30(3):240–250.

Ramirez JC, Fecke M, Morrison DR, Martens JD. Root cause analysis of an industrial boiler explosion (and how hazard analysis could have prevented it). Proceedings, ASME 2010 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exhibition IMECE2010, Vancouver, Canada, November 12–18, 2010.

Morrison DR, Fecke M, Martens J. Migrating an organizational incident reporting system to a CCPS process safety metrics model. 2010 Annual Symposium, Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, October 26, 2010.

Fecke M, Morrison DR, Martens JD, Cowells JT. A guide to developing and implementing safety checklists: Plant steam utilities. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2010 Spring National Meeting, 25th Center for Chemical Process Safety International Conference, San Antonio, TX, March 22–24, 2010.

Morrison DR, Martens JD, Ogle RA, Cowells JT. Root cause analysis of a cryogenic refrigeration system explosion. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2009 Spring National Meeting, 43rd Annual Loss Prevention Symposium, Tampa, FL, April 26–30, 2009.

Morrison DR, Martens JD, Ogle RA, Cowells JT. Accident investigation using process control event diagrams. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2009 Spring National Meeting, 24th Annual CCPS International Conference, Tampa, FL, April 26–30, 2009.

Martens JD, Johnson G, So P. Design considerations for consumer products utilizing high voltage. Presentation, 2006 IEEE Symposium on Product Safety and Compliance Engineering, IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society, (PSES), Irvine, CA, October 23–24, 2006. Also approved for publication in the IEEE PSES 2006 Conference Proceedings.

Martens JD, Hac A, Brown T. Detection of vehicle rollover. 2004 SAE World Congress, No. 04-Annual-848, Detroit, MI, March 2004 (Book SP-1869, paper number 2004-01-1757).

Martens JD. Lyapunov-based, on-line identification for backstepping control. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ph.D. Dissertation, Cleveland, OH, Case Western Reserve University, 2000.

Martens JD, Newman WS. Stabilization of a mobile robot climbing stairs. 1994 IEEE Proceedings and IEEE Video Proceedings of the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, San Diego, CA, p. 2501–2507, May 1994.

Martens JD. Enhanced teleoperation of a mobile robot. CAISR Technical Report #93-111, Master's Thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 1993.

Doctoral Thesis

JD Martens. Lyapunov-based, on-line identification for backstepping control. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 2000.

• Automatic racquetball serving machine with adjustable rate and pitch control
• Computer-controlled answering machine with remote interface
• Microprocessor-based stepper motor controller with power electronics
• Microprocessor-based robotic paint nozzle modulation controller
• ISA-based Analog-to-Digital, Digital-to-Analog, and Digital Input/Output data acquisition and control board
• Analog and digital interface circuitry for personal computer including full optical isolation
• PWM-based, feedback velocity controller for radio controller car
• Interface circuitry for radio control car to VME-based multiprocessor system
• Radio control transmitter/receiver link w/ DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) transmission
• Sonar sensor control and VME interface circuitry
• Sound transmission using modulated LED output
• Custom LED-based encoder for mobile robot actuators
• Power electronics and electromechanical device interfaces to control audio equipment using personal computer
• Fan clutch speed monitoring circuitry
• Functional test stand for automotive Height Control Module (11 channel configurable tester)
• Portable VME-based multiprocessor system and power electronics for autonomous mobile robot
• Mobile robot control interface circuitry
• Power amplifier and electronics for 16-channel, computer-controller nichrome heater system
• Espresso maker temperature regulation circuitry with feedback
• Waterbed temperature regulation circuitry with feedback
• Dspace isolation and interface circuitry for automotive instrumentation
• Active, multi-band equalizer for car audio system
• Wiper delay circuitry for automobile
• Radar detection circuitry for automotive applications
• Battery charging circuitry for NiCad rechargeable batteries
• Keypad encoder and decoder circuitry
• FM (wireless) audio transmitter / receiver modules
• Custom, multi-frequency sine-wave generator and special timing circuitry for MTS test equipment interface
• Real-Time Damping module performance test stand

• The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers—IEEE (senior member)
• The International Society of Automation—ISA (member)
• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers—ASME (member)