Richard has 35 years of experience in test and evaluation. He spent 27 years with a large agriculture equipment manufacturer where he managed validation and verification tests for hydraulic and drivetrain components. These tests ensured the components were ready for production and met the reliability goals. He managed and participated in the design and build of more than 80 hydraulic component test stands as well as drivetrain performance and durability test stands.

He is currently consulting on a transaxle test stand and a new implement design for the AgRobotics Soil Sampling Machine.

Background

Over his career, Groves has worked on a number of projects and technical investigations. The following list illustrates the wide variety of projects that Richard has worked on:

• Drivetrain Production Test Group, Manager
   - Ensured new drivetrain product programs met the production verification and validation      plans and reliability goals.
   - Managed drivetrain lab test resources to ensure they were correctly utilized relative to      new product programs priority, production schedules and within budget
   - Supervised 14 Drivetrain Test Engineers; indirect supervision for 33 wage personnel
   - Product Verification Champion for IVT Transmission Program (Infinitely Variable      Transmission)
   - Member of the Drivetrain Test Facilities Renovation Team ($30 million renovation project)
   - Developed and managed Expense and Capital Budgets for Drivetrain Test Group

• Vehicle Component and Drivetrain Engineering Test Groups, Manager
   - Ensured new drivetrain product programs, and vehicle component and subsystems met      the product verification and validation test plans.
   - Supervised 9 Vehicle Component Test Engineers and 14 Drivetrain Test Engineers; indirect      supervision for 51 wage personnel.
   - Developed and managed Expense and Capital Budgets for Drivetrain and Vehicle      Component Test Groups.
   - Group leader: Transmission Test Facilities Renovation Planning Group

• Vehicle Component Test, Materials Engineering and Load Histories, Group   Manager
   - Ensured vehicle component and sub-systems met the product verification and validation      test plans and reliability goals
   - Managed ‘Materials Engineering’ self directed work team
   - Established Load Histories Group for obtaining, compiling and analyzing field duty cycles to      endure lab tests accurately represented customer use

• Vehicle Component Test and Materials Engineering, Group Leader
   - Ensured vehicle component and subsystems met the product verification and validation      test plans and reliability goals
   - Managed ‘Materials Engineering’ self directed work team

• Hydraulic Component Test, Group Leader
   - Ensured hydraulic components and sub-systems met the product verification and validation      test plans and reliability goals
   - Developed the design specifications for a new Hydraulic Component Test Lab. Worked with      the architect and contractors to ensure the facility was built to specifications and on time      and within budget
   - Supervised the design and build of more than 80 hydraulic component test stands and      integrated systems using electric variable frequency drives, hydraulic pumps, valves,      instrumentation and data acquisition systems. Testing to SAE, ASAE and CE standards
   - Hydraulic and pneumatic system design utilizing high pressure pumps, electro-hydraulic      motors, valves, sensors, coolers, etc.
   - Product Research and Development, off-road and rubber tracked vehicle hydraulic systems

Additional Information