Kevin Lomeli is a mechanical engineer with experience in automation design, control system design, electrical documentation, testing, and project management. He worked at Matrix Technologies designing control systems for pharmaceutical clients, including a PID control system. He also led a personal project designing and controlling an inverted pendulum. Lomeli then took a risk joining early-stage startup Lit Motors to work on their self-balancing electric motorcycle, the C-1. There, he created the critical control algorithm and led an engineering team to upgrade the C-1 prototype, demonstrating it driving and balancing at TechCrunch Disrupt 2012.

1. KEVIN LOMELI
Mechanical Engineer
Work
Portfolio
photos taken by Kevin Lomeli
all rights reserved

2. THE WORLD AFTER SCHOOL
My control and design projects inspired me to try automation
Summer 2010 - Spring 2012

3. MATRIX TECHNOLOGIES
Matrix is an automation design and validation firm for
pharmaceutical companies throughout the Bay Area.
My role consisted of control system design, electrical
wiring documentation, test generation & execution,
and project management.

4. Matrix Technologies
PID Control System
Our clients required a PID control system for training purposes. I took the detailed requirements and
designed the panel with 4 displays, 24VDC power distribution, and Analog IO fused terminals.
I contacted and submitted my drawings to a third-party manufacturer for construction. A month later, the
system was shipped to me for inspection. The product met specification, so the system was handed over
to the client with closeout documentation.
Fabricated control system & PID control panel with LED Wiring layout with fuse
validated documentation displays protection

5. Matrix Technologies
Recognized by Control Engineering Magazine
I was the youngest of the leaders under 40

6. SIDE PROJECT Inverted Pendulum
I wanted a little extra excitement, so for fun I
designed, built, and controlled an unstable system.

7. INVERTED ø - pos
encoder
x-pos 24vdc
encoder motor
PENDULUM
Limit Rack &
Switch Pinion
Y
X
ø

8. THE LEAP
I stumbled upon an early stage startup that had a
revolutionary dream.
I saw an opportunity to make a difference for the
company and for the world.
It was a huge risk, but I took it.
February - October 2012

9. The C-1
A fully enclosed and self-
stabilized electric
motorcycle
How is it self balanced?
Control Moment Gyroscopes.
Lit Motors is a lean startup, striving to It’s the core IP of Lit Motors
disrupt the automotive industry with
an efficient and safe electric vehicle.

10. Before I joined, Lit had
created small concepts and
test beds of their
technology.
But the control system and stability algorithm
wasn’t figured out.
I created the control algorithm.
It is the secret sauce and a significant
milestone for Lit Motors

11. The working prototype sparked interest with the press

12. I lead the engineering development
to upgrade the C-1
Given:
4 ME interns,1 EE intern, 2 contractors, three
months and a $60k budget.
Goals:
• Upgrade the control system H/W & S/W
• Include safety landing gear
• Improve vehicle structure
• Demo it driving and balancing live at Tech
Crunch Disrupt 2012

13. During the three month push, we built:
• torque test bed
• gyro test bed
• custom windshield, carbon fiber seat, and
aesthetic features
• NI cRIO control + power distribution systems
• Battery pack + BMS
• optimized control moment gyros
• pneumatically powered landing gear

14. We worked around the clock and pulled it off!
The C-1 balanced and drove on stage before thousands of
viewers. We placed 2nd in the competition.

15. More press coverage
post TechCrunch Disrupt