Experience

Myron Kayton, PhD, P.E.

[ Home page ]

Select a field to view details:

FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, AUTOMOTIVE

     - Analysis of failure modes of automobile electronic control modules for Texas, Florida and Georgia law firms. Deposed. One won at trial. 1997-2002.
     - Analysis of failure modes of automobile ignition switch for Rhode Island, Delaware and San Diego law firms. Analysis of failure modes of motorcycle ignition switch for California law firm. 
     - Analysis and measurement of airbag systems for a score of insurance companies and California law firms. Consultations for more than ten other law firms, nationwide.
     - Analysis of power drain for Florida law firm, 2001.
     - Analysis of failure mechanism of automobile security system for Glendale law firm, 1997 -98. Settled.
     - Analysis and test of damaged automobile wiring as cause of engine stall, 2001.
     - Inspection and analysis of after-market security system in automobile for Los Angeles car dealer, 2000.
     - Inspection and analysis of fuel system on tractor-trailer for Liberty Mutual Insurance. Pending.
     - Automobile and truck electric wiring inspections and analysis for Los Angeles law firm. Both settled before trial. 
     - Inspection and analysis of the cause of a vehicle fire for Allstate Insurance Company, 1996.
     - Inspection and analysis of electric-wiring fire in a large truck, for local law firm. Settled before trial. 
     - Analyzed electrical and mechanical safety provisions on large paving truck, for California law firm. Deposed. Settled by arbitration, 1995.
     - Evaluated design of highway paving machine for local lawyer in connection with business dispute. 
     - Recreational vehicle electric wiring inspection and analysis, for Ventura law firm. Settled before trial.
     - Analyzed wiring problem in mobile home that caused an electrocution, for local law firm. Settled before trial.


FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, MACHINERY

     - Tests and analysis of air conditioning system for electric shock hazard, 2000. Settled before trial.
     - Tests and analysis of heating system as potential cause of fire, 1999-2000. 
     - Analysis of 2-vat process at tire plant for Georgia law firm, 2000.
     - Tests and analysis of controls and safety system on injection molding machine that caused fatal accident, 2000. Partly won and partly lost.
     - Failure of safety logic on stamping machine, for Los Angeles law firm. Settled before trial.
     - Analysis and inspection of computer -controlled greenhouse for Fresno law firm, 2001.
     - Analysis of cause of farm machinery accident, for Tustin law firm, 1999-2000. Settled before trial.
     - Analyzed damage to equipment and wiring due to power-line over-voltage. 
     - Resolved dispute involving inadequate ducts for ventilating system, for Ventura Law firm.
     - Inspection and analysis of samples from heat-treating plant regarding contamination by dust, 1999.
     - Tests and analysis of household appliance that caused a death, 2001.

FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, ELECTRONICS

     - Testing and analysis of building-security system as a possible cause of fire for Los Angeles law firm, 2001. Deposed and testified.
     - Analyze heat and electrical paths in overloaded digital multimeter for San Francisco law firm, 2001. Settled before trial.
     - Analyze circuit board and connectors for San Francisco law firm, for patent dispute, 2000.
     - Reverse engineering, failure analysis and testing of smoke detector, for Las Vegas law firm. Deposed and testified.
     - Advised San Bernardino County on dispute involving a building fire protection system. Settled before trial.
     - Analysis of in-flight power failure on helicopter for insurance company, 1999. Circuit board damage.
SEE ALSO FORENSIC ENGINEERING, MACHINERY
FORENSIC ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION 
FORENSIC ENGINEERING, DOORS AND GATES


FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, ELECTRIC POWER

     - Inspection and analysis of electric current flow in television newsvan in connection with severe electric shock, 2001.
     - Analysis of grounding problems at 480-volt building site for southern California school district.
     - Measurement and analysis of grounding integrity at a tank farm in Los Angeles, 2000.
     - Measurement and analysis of underground current flow that caused gas main fire, for two California law firms. Deposed.
     - Failure analysis of 16,000-volt oil-filled switch, for Santa Barbara law firm. Settled.
     - Analyzed 20-kV circuit-breaker explosion at a refinery, for Long Beach law firm and labor union 1995. Settled before trial.
     - Analysis and inspection of electric wiring in automated greenhouse as possible cause of electric shock, 2001.
     - Analyzed cause of damage in portable generator due to lightning strike for Fireman's Fund Insurance. Settled.
     - Analyzed damage to portable generator for Scottsdale Insurance Company. Settled.
     - Analyzed backup diesel generator and electrical switchover logic for hotel, 1996-8. Settled.
     - Analyzed wiring problem in high-voltage sign that caused electrocution, for Los Angeles law firm. Settled.
     - Electric power generating system tax dispute, for State of Arkansas (2 cases). Major assistance in case preparation. Deposed and testified. 
     - Analyzed cause of electrical fire at a biochemical plant.  Evaluated and proposed a new design for fault-tolerant 480-volt electric distribution system, for Canadian Insurance Company.
     - Analyzed cause of short circuit in household appliance, for Aetna Insurance Company. Pending.

FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, TRANSPORTATION

     - Consultations on failure of thrust reverser in Embraer for New York law firm, 2001. Settled.
     - Inspection and analysis of in-flight aircraft fire for Alaskan law firm, 1999.
     - Analysis of in-flight power failure on helicopter for insurance company, 1999. Circuit board damage.
     - Misuse of inventions from joint-venture on aircraft electronics, for Los Angeles law firm. Major assistance in case preparation. Deposed. Settled before trial.
     - Evaluated radar interference problem for Washington, DC law firm for Loral/IBM, 1994. Settled by arbitration.
     - Patent infringement on telemetry receiver -transmitter, for Westlake law firm. Settled before deposition and trial. 
SEE ALSO FORENSIC ENGINEERING, AUTOMOBILE

FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, DOORS AND GATES

     - Tested and analyzed circuit-board for garage-door controller for San Francisco law firm, 2001.
     - Analyzed and tested electronically-controlled gates for Ventura law firm, 1997, and Riverside firm, 1998. Prepared court exhibits.
     - Analyzed electric crossing gate for Union Pacific, 1997, for patent dispute. 
     - Analyzed and tested apartment-entry system for patent dispute, for Door King, 1998.
     - Analyzed and tested telephone-operated gate opener for gate manufacturer, 1998-99.
     - Analyzed and tested high-speed industrial door for Orange County law firm, 1999.


AUTOMOTIVE EXPERIENCE OF KAYTON ENGINEERING COMPANY

SEE ALSO FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, AUTOMOBILE
     - Created designs for fault-tolerant electric power in a van carrying a satellite terminal, for Magnavox, 1994.
     - Design, analysis, and tests of land navigator for Toyota Motors, USA, 1990. 
     - Design review and recommendations for tank navigator for General Dynamics, 1988-89. 
     - Designed electronic system for mobile chemical laboratory for TRW, 1989. Included sensors, map displays, map software. Also defined system engineering tasks and costs.
     - Analysis of failure modes of automobile electronic control modules at chip level for Texas, Florida, and Georgia law firms.
     - Consultant for novel automobile cellular radio system.
     - Organized and lectured at one-week UCLA summer course, Land Navigation, 1988.

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND ELECTRIC POWER EXPERIENCE
PLANT AUTOMATION

     - Test and analysis of digital controls and safety provisions for injection molding machine, for Barber Colman and Promax, 2000-2001.
     - Safety analysis of moving-base simulators for Los Angeles Seattle, and San Francisco law firms. Determined facts and played key role in settling one case. Estimation of refurbishment costs
of old simulator for Enumclaw Mutual. 
     - Analyzed cause of electrical fire at a biochemical plant. Evaluated and proposed a new design for fault-tolerant 480-volt electric distribution system, for Canadian Insurance Company.
     - Chairman of several conference sessions on "Reliable Process Controls" for National Bureau of Standards/IEEE, 1983.  Published results in IEEE Computer, 1984.
     - Analysis of damage due to lightning strike on portable electrical equipment, for Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.
     - Patent infringement on telemetry receiver -transmitter, for local lawyer. Settled before deposition and trial. 
     - Designed fault-tolerant control systems for a wind tunnel for Arnold Engineering Center, 1982-83.
SEE ALSO FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, MACHINERY
FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, ELECTRIC POWER
FORENSIC ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE, DOORS AND GATES
ENERGY SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE

LARGE-SCALE SYSTEM ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

     - System Engineer for Space Shuttle electronics at TRW.  Created 4-computer system architecture as it was built (diverse fifth added later), 1969-72.
     - Study Manager for design and analysis of power -plant data  bus system for TRW/Electric Power Research Institute, 1976-77.  This study introduced multiplexing to the utility industry.
     - Deputy Manager for Lunar Module electronics at NASA, 1965 -68.
     - System design of wind-tunnel controls for testing jet engines, 1982-83.
     - System design of numerous avionic systems, see Aircraft Experience.
     - System design for nuclear power -plant control system including effects of energy usage, wiring, floor space, etc.
     - System design of SRAM missile electronics and launch electronics for Litton, 1964 -5. Operational for many years.  Designed portions of F-104 aircraft inertial navigator. System was operational for more than 20 years.
     - Created availability model for multi -hundred computer network for an aircraft, 1986.
     - Conceived and proposed satellite communications for U.S. utility industry, at TRW.
     - Consultant for two security system developments for nuclear generating plant and reprocessing plant, at TRW.
     - Frequent lecturer on System Engineering, world-wide
     - Member of Software Change Control Board, NASA, 1966-68.
     - Member of a dozen design review boards for systems, hardware and software, 1970-1990.
     - Innovated ideas and directed many proposals, in whole or in part for TRW.
     - Design reviews for multi-use spacecraft, F-20 avionics, FAA Advanced air-traffic control system, Space Station, guided bomb.

ELECTRONICS EXPERIENCE

     - Circuit board manufacturing design work for Leica and Magnavox, for automotive navigation products.
     - Preparation of second-source procurement package for a digital radio receiver, for a German camera company, 1992-1993.
     - Design review of high-velocity impact recorder for Northrop, 1993.
     - Conceptual design and detailed analysis of innovative low-cost land navigator for Magnavox, 1986. Assisted in selecting vendors. In production.
     - Test and analysis of building security system as a possible cause of fire, 2001.
     - Test and analysis of door opener as possible cause of fire, 2001.
     - Test and reverse engineering of smoke detector to determine cause of a fire, for Nevada law firm.
     - Designed and built digital furnace controller, 1981.
     - Principal Investigator for redundant computer research at TRW, 1977-1981.
     - Arbitrate a dispute between IBM and a customer involving aircraft electronics equipment, for Crowell and Moring. Settled before trial.
     - Misuse of inventions from joint-venture on aircraft electronics, for local law firm. Major assistance in case preparation. Deposed. Settled before trial.
     - Disc drive technical and investment analysis for Indian company.
     - Consultant for novel automobile cellular radio system.
SEE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE


ENERGY SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE

     - Design and economic analysis of four plant-wide multiplex systems for the control of nuclear and fossil-fuel power plants for EPRI, at TRW. Introduced multiplexing into generating stations.
     - Control room and multiplexer analysis for Clinch River Breeder reactor, at TRW.
     - Directed development of mathematical model of Ocean Thermal Power Plant at TRW. Analyzed dynamic effects unique to ocean-based plant. To have been used for scale-up of prototype plants, which
were never built.
     - Developed simulation plan for GE Company for advanced fast breeders.
     - Conceived and proposed satellite communications for U.S. utility industry, at TRW.
     - Designed and built digital furnace controller, 1981.
     - Designed and built energy meter for Gehrig-Neotherm, 1982.
     - Organized and lectured at "Power Plant Simulation" 2-week class at UCLA for six years.

AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE

     - Design of C -17 avionics and flight control systems for Teledyne/Douglas. Creation and comparative analysis of several system designs, including computers, data buses, navigation, flight controls, and communications. 1983 -84. 
     - Extensive design review of F-18 and F-20 avionics for Northrop, 1984-86. Communications, navigation, failure detection, flight control, weapon delivery, displays, computing, data busing, engine interface, power management, simulations. 
     - System design of avionics for F-23 for Teledyne, 1984. Data bus traffic estimates, execution speed and timing estimates. Placement of equipment in remote bays. Creation and comparison of alternative architectures.
     - Conceptual design of radar terrain -following and map-matching navigation system for B-2, TRW.
     - Consulting Engineer for B-2 avionics for Northrop, early 1980s.
     - Consulting Engineer for electronics of stealthy cruise missile for Northrop, 1992-94.
     - System design of SRAM missile electronics and launch electronics for Litton, 1964-5. Operational for many years.
     - Designed portions of F-104 aircraft inertial navigator.  System was operational for more than 20 years.
     - Conceptual design of radar terrain-following and map-matching navigation system for B-2, TRW. Similar project for Northrop, 1993 -1994.
     - System design of SRAM missile electronics and launch electronics for Litton, 1964-5. Operational for many years. Designed portions of F-104 aircraft inertial navigator. System was operational for more than 20 years.
     - Arbitrated a dispute between IBM and a customer involving aircraft electronics equipment, for Crowell and Moring. Settled before trial.
     - Technical expert for misuse of inventions from joint-venture on aircraft electronics, for local law firm. Major assistance in case preparation. Deposed. Settled before trial.
     - Organized and lectured at one-week UCLA course on "Multi-Sensor Navigation", 1970.

SPACECRAFT EXPERIENCE

     - Propulsion and guidance subcontractor for Space Defense Interceptor, Litton Guidance and Control Division, 1985-87. Vehicle-system and guidance -system design.
     - Detailed design of avionics for 3 TRW upper-stage spacecraft, 1985-6. System design, attitude control, navigation, trajectory shaping, engine interface, communications, performance analysis, software requirements, some vendor specifications. 
     - Head of System Engineering for Space Shuttle electronics,  TRW/NASA, 1969-72. System is operational.
     - Project Manager for Phase B design of inertial upper stage avionics with pair-and-spare computer redundancy for TRW/Boeing, 1975-76. System is operational.
     - Chief Engineer for Spacelab avionics, for TRW in Europe. 1973-75. System flew successfully from 1983 until 1998.
     - Responsible for technical direction of $200 million of electronics and software for Lunar Module at NASA, 1965-69. Two inertial guidance systems, flight controls, two radars, displays. Member of Software Change Control Board. System flew successfully.
     - Propulsion and guidance subcontractor for Space Defense Interceptor, Litton Guidance and Control Division, 1985-87. Vehicle-system and guidance-system design.
     - Space Station system engineering for TRW, 1987. Directed space assembly and satellite-servicing studies.
     - Managed mission-support contract to NASA for Gemini and Apollo for TRW. Trajectory designs, alternate mission designs. (employee)
     - Directed BAMBI boost-phase intercept study and SAINT satellite intercept study for TRW, early 1960s (employee).
     - Design of neutral-beam experiment for Spacecomm/Scott Sciences, 1985.
     - Conducted system analysis of and design of spacebased high-energy lasers including extensive performance modeling and simulation for TRW, 1975-85 (employee)

SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE

     - Safety analysis of moving-base simulators for Los Angeles Seattle, and San Francisco law firms. Determined facts and played key role in settling one case. Estimation of refurbishment costs of old simulator for Enumclaw Mutual. 
     - Directed development of mathematical model of ocean thermal power plant at TRW, late 1970s.
     - Developed simulation plan for General Electric advanced fast breeder.
     - Created system design of KC-135 manned simulator for TRW/U.S. Air Force.
     - Design of ship communication simulator for TRW/U.S. Navy.  Grew to $15 million contract.
     - Design and economic analysis of Spacelab software development simulator for TRW/NASA.
     - Design of two man-machine engineering simulators for Space Shuttle, early 1970s.
     - Established requirements for all Lunar module simulations at NASA, 1965-1968.
     - Design and installation of pneumatic simulator at AVCO.  Analog computer simulation of control system, 1958.
     - Wrote analog simulation of entry-vehicle attitude-control system at AVCO, 1956.
     - Many hours of simulator time in Link trainers, F-111, F-18, F-20 military aircraft, Lunar Module, and Fokker F-100.

ENGINEERING COST ANALYSIS EXPERIENCE

     - Cost analysis of many engineering projects such as electronics for Space Shuttle, Lunar Module, Spacelab, Inertial Upper Stage spacecraft.
     - Pioneer in life-cycle costing for developmental projects at TRW, 1972-1980.
     - Responsible for $200 million budget of Lunar Module electronics at NASA, 1965-1968.
     - Did cost analysis of FAA air traffic control communication links for TRW.
     - Established design-to-cost system for satellite receiver at Magnavox.
     - Created critical materials inventory for TRW Corporation, 1980s. Calculated effect of reduced supplies on company sales and profits.
     - Investment analysis of bit-slice computer, signal processor, FORTRAN product, energy system, hard disk drive, communication system for various clients, 1981-84.
     - Cost analysis of new radio receiver for Magnavox, 1983.
     - Cost analysis of coal-fired power plant for State of Arkansas, 1982.
     - Cost analysis of power-plant controls for Electric Power Research Institute and Department of Energy, 1976-1981. 
     - Served on Board of Directors of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Electronic Conventions, Inc.; Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society; Harvard Club of Southern California.
     - As President of Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society, reversed catastrophic financial situation and restored Society to fiscal health. Reduced publications intervals, unbundled publications, eliminated other expenses until financial health restored. 
     - Analyzed electric car for investment group, 1981.     
     - Audit of costs and preparation of second-source procurement package for a digital radio receiver, for a German camera company, 1992 -93. Equipment is in production.
     - Manage financial affairs of Kayton Engineering Company, 1981-present.

Return to home page