Andreatta Engineering
About Andreatta Engineering
Some historical information about Andreatta Engineering and its founder.
Andreatta Engineering
Andreatta Engineering is a sole proprietorship operated by David Andreatta. David is a freelance Sr. Electrical Engineer / Computer Scientist with over 20 years of experience in various electronics technologies: IC / FPGA design, algorithm development, DSP, servo control, high-speed board design, electro-mechanical motion control, and embedded microprocessor systems. He has applied these technologies in such industries as medical equipment, storage peripherals, telecommunications, and aerospace.
With a wide variety of interests and the requisite supplemental training, Dave is as comfortable in a machine / welding shop as he is with IC, circuit card, and embedded systems design! As Dave would say, "This gives us an advantage when designing a complete system as we can take a project from concept through working prototype without ever losing control of the development effort! And, the insight gained from understanding all aspects of a system pays a big dividend when extending, modifying, trouble shooting, or simply reusing a design!"
Current Status:
Having consulted "on the side" for many years, Dave recently took "Andreatta Engineering" full time in November of 2001!
Have a look at Dave's personal resume here.
Current / Past Projects:
Andreatta Engineering Associates:
Growing up on a farm / ranch in Southern Colorado, Dave demonstrated a very early aptitude for electrical, electronic, and electromechanical systems; repairing stereos, televisions, and customizing equipment installations "for hire" at the age of 9. Expanding this skill set and becoming an Amateur Radio operator in his early teens, Dave was well established in electronics and continued with custom television distribution networks, C-band satellite TV, custom audio / public address system installation, and he began to "pioneer" solar and wind powered remote VHF radio repeater installations throughout his high school years. An opportunity to attend night school classes at the University of Southern Colorado, USC Pueblo, CO, was an early introduction to mainframe programming and job control language.
Awarded the prestigious Boettcher Foundation Scholarship, David continued his education at Colorado State University, CSU Fort Collins, CO, in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Always eager to employ his ever expanding skill set, Dave continued working through college and consulted in the development of specialized LASER, electro-optical, and data acquisition systems for medical research. Armed with a new suite of skills in EE/CS, and enticing introductions to Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Dave graduated in 1987 - continuing with his medical research consulting and launching into a career as a design engineer. As Dave often muses, "...Sometimes I think my analysis, troubleshooting, and "make it work" abilities came from growing up on the ranch. The education merely provided a more sophisticated set of techniques... ;-) I'll probably never finish my graduate degree, because I keep coming up with new and fun things to learn..."
Early in Dave's career as a design engineer for various corporations, he quickly discovered that the typical engineering position was structured to utilize only a small portion of his skill set. First "consulting" across product lines or project teams, then moving to "technical lead" positions, and finally consulting "outside" (with full knowledge and approval of his employer, of course...) Dave began to enjoy the fulfillment of applying a broader skill set! As Dave has said, "...This allowed me to expand and keep my skill set sharp! When my 'day job' was firmware, I'd pick up hardware jobs on the side. I'd structure the work so that neither my employer nor my client deliverables were ever compromised, and I always avoided conflict of interest situations. All parties reaped the benefit of working with a more 'well rounded' engineer! Plus, I enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with other teams, and gradually learned the business / management aspects of consulting engineering... "
Having worked with many wonderful project teams and independent consultants through the years, Dave has developed an association with a sharp group of people in a variety of engineering / technical disciplines. The added advantage of having worked together, coupled with the knowledge of each others strengths, allows for a hand picked project team to "come together" at an amazing rate and efficiency. Dave comments, "...Working with those folks I admire and enjoy being around has really put the 'FUN' in engineering. Have you ever noticed that people who are enjoying their work seem to do a better job?... ;-)"
Related Side Interests:
Dave finds enjoyment in amateur astronomy, photography,
outdoor exploration, fly fishing, target shooting, aviation, and has temporarily
sidelined his talent as a multi-instrument Jazz musician. As a fully licensed
gunsmith, Dave likes to apply the principals of engineering to the 'art';
and specializes in accurizing and precision machined modifications. As
a licensed private pilot, Dave leans toward the backcountry and mountain
flying extremes, and sees it as a means for the discovery of pristine escapes
for astronomy, photography, camping, and fly fishing... Never fearing "getting
his hands dirty", his most aggressive cross-functional project is re-construction
of an imported Russian bushplane - engineering and implementing upgrades
to the electrical, avionics, control, and fuel systems along the way. Utilizing
his entire skill set, and providing a means for expanding knowledge in
materials, chemical, and aeronautical engineering disciplines, he has reported
it as "...simultaneously; the most interesting,
challenging, enjoyable, and exhausting thing I've ever done!".
See the Wolverine story at Bush
Flying Central. Once active in emergency medical response, volunteer
fire fighting, and search and rescue; Dave would like to reactivate those
services (perhaps in an aviation capacity) once some of the current projects
are "out of the queue"... As a co-investor
on delivery position #27 of the piston kit Carter
Copter, it's not likely Dave will run out of "fun things to do" any
time soon...