The Austin Python Meetup

This event is hosted and sponsored by Skyways. Join us for a first hand look at some incredible drone technology!

Important Notice: Due to security restrictions, this event will be in-person only and will not be streamed online. Additionally, we kindly ask all attendees to refrain from taking photos or videos during the event. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us respect our host's security policies!

Address:
SKYWAYS - 500 Center Ridge Dr #200, Austin, TX 78753

Talk: Joseph “Guz” Guzman - Boresights and Bitmaps: Synchronizing Python, OpenCV, and 6-Axis Robotics for Orbital Space Domain Awareness

Talk description: In this session, we explore the development of Project SCADR (Space Cowboy Active Debris Remediation), an initiative focused on the autonomous detection and tracking of small-scale orbital debris. We will dive into the "Guz Strategy," a Python-driven operational protocol that synchronizes a Dobot CR5 6-axis robotic arm with high-speed Allied Vision Mako sensors. Attendees will see how we moved beyond static pixel-to-degree gains toward a dynamic 3D Cartesian mapping system, using Python as the connective tissue to translate raw computer vision telemetry into precision robotic maneuvers.

The talk will also pull back the curtain on the "messy" side of sensor fusion and synthetic data generation. We will discuss the architectural hurdles of building a digital twin pipeline, including a deep dive into the "81-Meter Phantom"—a classic coordinate scaling mismatch that taught us the importance of statistical normalization in Blender’s Python API (`bpy`). From implementing OpenCV "Sledgehammer Fixes" for Mono8 imaging to using ORB feature matching for 3D reconstruction, this presentation offers a look at how Python is being used to solve the very real, very physical challenges of keeping our orbits safe.

Bio: Joseph “Guz” Guzman is the Founder and CEO of Space Cowboy ADR, a company dedicated to the critical mission of active debris remediation in Low Earth Orbit. A retired U.S. Army Colonel with 26 years of service, Guz spent much of his career as a Space Operations Officer, navigating the complexities of orbital environments and national strategic studies. A graduate of West Point with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he holds three Master’s degrees—including an MBA and an MS in Space Systems Operations Management—providing him with a unique vantage point that blends high-level strategy with "first-principles" engineering.
Transitioning from the military to the cutting edge of commercial space tech, Guz now leads Space Cowboy ADR and co-founded Project Chimera, a simulation platform for future commercial space operations. In his lab, he spends his time "fighting physics" by integrating Python, OpenCV, and 6-axis robotics to solve the problem of tracking 1-10cm space debris. Beyond the tech, Guz is a leader in the space community, previously serving as the Vice President for the Central Region of the Space Force Association and currently co-leading use-case development within the COSMIC consortium.

SPONSOR:
Skyways provides long-range, heavy-payload, autonomous drone solutions for the harshest environments. Unlike traditional logistics methods that are slow, inflexible and costly, Skyways' solutions are fast, flexible and cost-effective.