Ricardo Fritzke has experience in electronics system design, packaging, and reverse engineering. Some of his roles and projects include: - Reworking wiring and designing minimal electronics packaging for a Formula SAE race car to reduce weight and lower the center of mass. - Dimensioning and reverse engineering injection molded plastic parts and IR sensor assemblies during an internship to support documentation, prototyping, and production. - Designing and assembling high voltage test boxes to ensure functionality of repaired aircraft components. - Providing engineering consultation to a children's home through problem definition, solution evaluation, and recommending increased maintenance to address a failing pool cover issue.

1. Ricardo Fritzke
Engineering Portfolio
Columbia University | New York, NY
360.224.9118
raf2186@columbia.edu

2. Electronic Systems Design
I am currently the electronics system head for the Columbia chapter of Formula SAE. This
position includes:
• Reworking all of the wiring on the dynamometer to accommodate a new engine and
new ECU
• Designing electronics packaging to reduce weight, lower center of mass, and conceal
for aesthetic purposes while remaining accessible
• Wiring engine, sensors, and displays in a minimal and concealed system within the car
Formula SAE | Columbia University | New York, NY

3. Electronics Packaging
The focus for electronics this year was to reduce the overall weight and lower the center of
the mass of the car. To accomplish this, I designed an electronics package that fit underneath
the driver’s knees with the smallest profile possible. This was done by dividing the
electronics into two independent, low profile boxes, allowing them to fit within the chassis.
Fuse and Relay Box Ignition Module Box
Formula SAE | Columbia University | New York, NY

4. Reverse Engineering
During my internship with Absolute Aviation, I was able to dimension and reverse
engineer several components for documentation, prototyping, and production purposes.
On the left is an injection molded plastic tab used to tighten a pilot’s emergency oxygen
mask by shifting air flow. Accurate measurements of several complex geometries were
required as the part file was created with the purpose of prototyping and production.
On the right is an IR sensor assembly used in airplane lavatories. An in-house 3D scanner
was used to import geometries of the lid, as there were no flat surfaces to begin
conventional dimensioning. This drawing was only used for documentation purposes.
Absolute Aviation | Spokane, WA

5. Building High Voltage Test Boxes
Absolute Aviation | Spokane, WA
I assembled three high voltage test boxes used to ensure that repaired
components were fully functional. I designed and manufactured the
enclosure, as well as assembling all interior electrical components.

6. Engineering Consulting
Whitworth University | Spokane, WA
The final project for our engineering orientation course
was to provide our “client”, a local children’s home, with a
solution for their failing pool cover. In order to provide a
through consultation, our group:
• Ranked objectives
• Recognized constraints
• Defined metrics
• Evaluated all possible solutions and alternatives
It was only after a lot of research and deliberation, an anti-
climactic solution of increased maintenance was realized
and suggested. It turned out they had never done any
maintenance (cleaning or oiling of rails) after years of use,
which we mistakenly assumed was regularly done.
This experience taught me that in engineering:
• Early assumptions can have long term negative effects
• Thoroughly defining problem and exploring every
possible root cause is essential