Scott Bell

Rue de Genève 76B
Chêne-Bourg, GE 1225
Switzerland
+1 (832) 715-2652
+41 76 230 77 21‬
scott@scottbell.name

Computer Expertise

• Languages (in order of familiarity): Javascript, Java, OWL, Python, C/C++, SQL
• Technologies: Node.js, Vue.js, AWS

Experience

Senior Software Engineer (August 2021 to Present) @ TRACLabs and NASA

I’m part of the Open MCT team developing the next-generation mission control framework for the NASA VIPER lunar rover and other space missions. I work in frontend and backend software development, design, and prototyping. The application stack is a Vue.js frontend, with Node.js and CouchDB on the backend.

Staff Software Engineer (August 2013 to 2021) @ TRACLabs

I led development on PRIDE, a software suite for automating standard operating procedures for both humans and robots. The software is in use 24/7 at Fortune 500 companies, commercial space operators, and at NASA. It has thousands of simultaneous users. The application stack is Node.js, MySQL, a Vue.js frontend, and hosted on AWS & Azure. NASA used PRIDE during several ISS spacewalks, for the X-57 project, and the VIPER moon rover.

I managed the technical work of over a dozen frontend and backend developers, which includes stand ups, code reviews, hiring, and providing technical guidance and coaching to developers and engineers. I also created prototypes for new features, estimate schedules and costs, plan feature sets and releases, and file for patents. I was responsible for locating and directing resolutions for critical issues related to the software system, and coordinate with QA, DevOps, product management, and marketing.

Software Engineer (August 2010 to 2013) @ TRACLabs

I led development on an integration between NASA’s electronic procedure toolkit and NASA’s Mission Control Technologies (MCT) software, both Java-based. The goal of the project was to modernize NASA’s Mission Control display software of telemetry, procedures, and commanding.

I also led development of PRONTOE, an ontology editor for domain experts. Created in concert with NASA, the Java based tool allowed for complex ontology development by non-computer scientists. PRONTOE was used for training astronaut candidates at NASA.

Software Engineer (August 2002 to 2006) @ S&K Aerospace and NASA Johnson Space Center

I was sole developer on a discrete event life support simulation for intelligent control algorithms called BioSim. The simulation was a test bed for studies ranging from machine learning to reliability theory. The simulation was used by many research institutions and universities including: MIT, Rice, Vanderbilt, UIUC, UC, and the NSF

Computer Systems Specialist (January 2002 to August 2002) @ Laboratory for Intelligent Processes and Systems

Developed and researched novel software engineering applications and techniques.

Research Assistant (November 1996 to January 2002) @ Laboratory for Intelligent Processes and Systems

Helped develop distributed applications using Java and CORBA. Wrote much of client/server interface to a remote object oriented database and the Swing front-end. Wrote XML reporting tool for distributed applications.

Internship (Summer 1999) @ Amazon.com

Wrote Java database extraction and testing tool for Oracle database. Assisted in porting enterprise applications from C++ to Java.

Internship (Summer 1998) @ Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Helped write test engine for the J2ME and assisted in SQE development. Developed web interface test reporting tool for browsers using Perl and CGI.

Internship (Summer 1997) @ Applied Research Laboratories

Assisted in development of distributed version control software. Worked on Postgres/Java bridge and GUI.

Teaching Assistant (September 1997 to May 1999) @ University of Texas at Austin

Helped students with symbolic representation and design patterns. Lectured on Java programming fundamentals.

Ongoing Personal Projects

BioSim: The open source life support simulation

Patents

System and method for executing operations specified in a procedure language
Issued Jul 3, 2018 Patent issuer and number us 10013266

A system for executing a procedure includes a procedure execution engine. The procedure execution engine is configured to translate a procedure defined via a procedure language to natural language statements corresponding to the operations specified by the procedure language. The procedure execution engine is also configured to generate a user interface for controlling execution of the procedure, and to display the natural language statements via the user interface. The procedure execution engine is further configured to indicate progress of execution of the procedure, via the user interface, based on the displayed natural language statements.

Education

2001 B.S. Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin

Publications

• David Kortenkamp, Khalid Adil, Scott Bell, Jeffery Graham, Mary Beth Hudson, Debra Schreckenghost, and Neil Woodbury, “Change Management and Verification of Electronic, Automated Procedures”, in International Space Operations Conference 2021.
• Jason Gabbert, Jeremy Owen, Madeline Devereaux, David Kortenkamp, Scott Bell, and Gilles Kbidy, “Integrated Mission Operation Concepts for the Dream Chaser Spacecraft”, in International Space Operations Conference 2020 (postponed to 2021).
• Debra Schreckenghost, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp, and James Kramer, “Procedure Automation: Sharing Work with Users”, in AAAI Spring Symposium Designing the User Experience of Artificial Intelligence 2018.
• Daniel Bryce, Pete Bonasso, Khalid Adil, Scott Bell, and David Kortenkamp, “In-Situ Domain Modeling with Fact Routes”, in International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling Workshop on User Interfaces and Scheduling and Planning 2017.
• Scott Bell, Pete Bonasso, Mark Boddy, David Kortenkamp, and Debra Schreckenghost PRONTOE: An Ontology Editor for Domain Experts,” in the book Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management, pp 153-167, 2015.
• Mark Boddy, Martin Michalowski, Hazel Shackleton, Pete Bonasso and Scott Bell ConCEPT: Constraint-Checking Editor for Procedure Editing and Tracking,” IJCAI Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Space , 2015.
• Scott Bell, Jim Carciofini, Mark Boddy, Pete Bonasso “Reasoner Performance on Ontologies for Operations,” in Proceedings 7th International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Ontology Development, 2014.
• Scott Bell, Pete Bonasso, Mark Boddy, David Kortenkamp, and Debra Schreckenghost “PRONTOE: A case study for developing ontologies for operations,” in Proceedings 6th International Conference on Knowledge Engineering and Ontology Development, 2013.
• Pete Bonasso, Mark Boddy, Dave Kortenkamp, Scott Bell “Ontological Models To Support Planning Operations,” in Proceedings 8th International Workshop on Planning and Scheduling for Space, 2013.
• David Kortenkamp, Scott Bell, and Debra Schreckenghost “Adjustably Automated Ground Control Procedure Execution for ECLSS Systems,” in Proceedings 42nd International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2012.
• Scott Bell and David Kortenkamp “Embedding Procedure Assistance into Mission Control Tools,” in IJCAI Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Space, 2011
• Haibei Jiang, Luis F. Rodriguez, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp, and Francisco Capristan “Prediction of Reliability and Cost for Environmental Control and Life Support Systems,” in AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 2010
• Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp and Jack Zaientz “Data Abstraction Architecture for Mission Operations,” in The 10th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space (i-SAIRAS-10), 2010.
• Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp and Jack Zaientz “Real-time Monitoring of ECLSS Flight Rules,” in Proceedings 37th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2010.
• Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp and Jack Zaientz “A Distributed Event Architecture for Space System Comps,” in Proceedings of the 3rd ACM International Conference on Distributed Event-Based Systems, 2009.
• Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp and Jack Zaientz “A Data Abstraction Architecture for Monitoring and Control of Lunar Habitats,” in Proceedings 36th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2009.
• Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp and Jack Zaientz “Data Abstraction Architecture for Spacecraft Autonomy,” in Proceedings of AIAA Infotech, 2009.
• Haibei Jiang, Luis F. Rodriguez, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp “Reconfigurable Control System Design for Future Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 08ICES-0192, 2008.
• Haibei Jiang, Luis F. Rodriguez, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp, and Francisco Capristan “Prediction of Reliability and Cost for Environmental Control and Life Support Systems,” in AIAA Space 2008 Conference, AIAA-2008-7818, 2008.
• Haibei Jiang, Kaustubh Bhalerao, Luis F. Rodríguez, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp, and Alfred Soboyejo “Modeling Stochastic Performance and Random Failure,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 07ICES-237, 2007.
• Luis F. Rodriguez, Haibei Jiang, Scott Bell, and David Kortenkamp “Testing Heuristic Tools for Life Support System Analysis,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 07ICES-240, 2007.
• Luis Rodriguez, Haibei Jiang, Kirsten Stark, Scott Bell, David Kortenkamp “Validation of Heuristic Techniques for Design of Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI), 2007.
• Luis Rodriguez, Haibei Jiang, Scott Bell, Kirsten Stark and David Kortenkamp, Validation of Heuristic Techniques for Design of Life Support Systems,” in Conference on Systems Engineering Research, 2007.
• Luis Rodriguez, Scott Bell and David Kortenkamp, Use of Genetic Algorithms and Transient Models for Life Support Systems Analysis,” in AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 43, No. 6, 2006.
• Scott Bell, Luis Rodriguez and David Kortenkamp “Using Dynamic Simulations and Automated Decision Tools to Design Lunar Habitats,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, SAE Paper Number 2005-01-2962, 2005.
• David Kortenkamp, Scott Bell and Luis Rodriguez, “Simulating Lunar Habitats and Activities to Derive System Requirements,” in Proceedings 1st AIAA Space Exploration Conference, 2005.
• David Kortenkamp and Scott Bell, “Using AI and simulations to design and control space habitats,” poster paper in Proceedings International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI), 2005.
• Gautam Biswas, Pete Bonasso, Sherif Abdelwahed, E.J. Manders, David Kortenkamp, Jian Wu and Scott Bell “Requirements for an Autonomous Control Architecture for Advanced Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, SAE Paper Number 2005-01-3010, 2005.
• Nicola Musettola, David Kortenkamp, Chuck Fry and Scott Bell “Planner-Based Control of Advanced Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, SAE Paper Number 2005-01-2961, 2005.
• Eric-Jan Manders, Scott Bell, Gautam Biswas and David Kortenkamp “Multi-scale Modeling of Advanced Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings 35th International Conference on Environmental Systems, SAE Paper Number 2005-01-2962, 2005.
• Theresa Klein, Devika Subramanian, David Kortenkamp and Scott Bell, “Using Reinforcement Learning to Control Life Support Systems,” in Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2004.
• David Kortenkamp and Scott Bell, “Simulating advanced life support systems for integrated controls research,” in Proceedings 33rd International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), July 2003.
• David Kortenkamp and Scott Bell, “BioSim: An Integrated Simulation of an Advanced Life Support System for Intelligent Control Research,” in The 7th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space (i-SAIRAS-03), 2003.