Tyler L'Hotta

Tyler L'Hotta's areas of expertise include powertrain systems engineering, mechanical design, structured testing and failure analysis, computational modeling, powertrain and vehicle performance, and data acquisition. His background includes experience with mechatronic sensor integration and computer vision, using Python and C++ for controls, data acquisition, and analysis. Mr. L'Hotta's work has emphasized applied and fluid mechanics for vehicle systems, developing and validating test methods for intake and exhaust performance, building calibrated rigs, and corroborating physical measurements with simulation. His background includes pressure-differential techniques, airflow characterization, and acoustic — resonance strategies for managing tonal content and vibration. Representative efforts include a volumetric flow bench for intake characterization validated against Ansys simulations. Across projects, he focuses on traceable procedures, reproducible methods, and clear linkages from experiment to design decisions.

Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. L'Hotta served as an officer of Buffs Racing Inc. and Director of Powertrain Engineering, guiding a 150-plus member Formula SAE program through full-vehicle design, manufacturing, and validation using DVP&R and FMEA; he coordinated cross-functional development and test to closure. He also collaborated with Sierra Space on a capture-net launcher for resident-space-object mitigation by contributing to circuit design, tolerance analysis, and root-cause resolution using test-engineer data.