Robson Forensic photogrammetry expert, Steven Becker appeared on the Nancy Grace show on May 16, 2016 to help viewers understand what kind of information analysts can hope to glean from the…
Steven is a vehicle engineer with more than thirty years of experience and has worked directly for automotive manufacturers and tier 1 automotive parts suppliers. He provides investigations, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of litigation involving vehicle crashes, fires, and other losses. In the course of his casework, Steven commonly investigates matters involving crash reconstruction, claims of deficient maintenance/repair, and vehicle design defects.
As a vehicle engineer, Steven was involved in computer aided design and crash modeling, and physical testing and data analysis for durability and performance; he specialized in noise and vibration engineering. In this role he was responsible for designing vehicle systems, identifying, diagnosing, and remediating noise and vibration throughout entire vehicles. This process involved Steven in the design and engineering of nearly every aspect of the vehicle, from bumpers and occupant protection structures, to engine, drivetrain, and suspension components, and vehicle electronic systems. Steven provided vehicle analyses on the Viper, Sebring, Neon, PT Cruiser and Grand Cherokee vehicle lines while working at Chrysler. He acquired experience with a broad range of vehicle manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, Honda, Land Rover, Nissan, Porsche, and Toyota, Volkswagen during his years at Magna Powertrain.
Steven is a degreed Mechanical Engineer as well as a Certified Inspection Mechanic. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has firsthand experience with the quality assurance programs utilized by the auto industry including Six Sigma, Shainin, Taguchi and Root Cause. Steven carries his passion for vehicles into his personal life as an avid Off-Roader. He has built various recreational vehicles including a modified Jeep as well as a dune buggy.
In addition to his vehicle engineering practice, Steven also extends his experience towards cases involving river rafting, kayaking, and canoeing. Steve has been involved in river running for more than twenty years in recreational and leadership roles. As a white water enthusiast, Steve has paddled rivers up and down the eastern seaboard, as well as rivers in Colorado and Canada. Steve was also actively involved in the Syracuse University Outing Club as a kayaking instructor and later a founding member of the Whitewater Kayaking Club. Steve has taught various safety techniques related to river running, including defensive swimming, aggressive swimming, and a variety of rescue techniques.
Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony towards the resolution of litigation involving product liability, accident reconstruction, mechanical engineering, and photogrammetric/video analysis.
Motor Vehicle Design, Development and Testing – from requirements, concept through validation field-testing of complete vehicles, including manufacturing. Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) for products & process; DVP&R development; as well as writing trouble shooting and service procedures. Testing pre-production and production vehicles in extreme environments at or above rated capabilities.
Motor Vehicle System Design, Development and Testing – conventional and anti-lock brakes; restraints; powertrain; throttle-by-wire; seat; gear shift; transmission; 4WD and drivetrain systems (axle, shafts, PTUs); vehicle control modules testing; suspension; steering; tires; electrical; climate control; frames; bumpers; and structures.
Motor Vehicle Failures – seat belt; seat retention, air bag; structural; suspension; axle, spindle failure and separation; wheel and bearing failure; transmission or transfer-case failure; sudden acceleration; steering; frame and unibody; steering; ABS; off-road utility vehicles (ATV and UTV), golf cart, car, light truck and medium truck brakes; trailer hitches; throttle by wire; electronic throttle and vehicle systems control.
Motor Vehicle Repair – diagnosis and repair of engine, transmission, transfer case, differential and final drive, suspension and steering systems, conventional and anti-lock brake systems, stability/traction control, fuel system, emissions systems, climate control, video, network, multiplexing, primary and supplemental restraint systems, lighting/ electrical, interior/exterior components and systems, interaction of dealers and manufacturers, and Safety Recall repairs. Proper use of service repair tools and equipment, repair procedures and shop operations.
Manufacturing Process and Equipment – Gear processing and heat treatment, pneumatic and DC powered tools, hand tools, torque verification means and methods, Six-Sigma and Statistical Process Control (SPC), Mistake and Error proofing, operator protection means and methods, operator ergonomics, operator lift assists, end-of-line verification machines and testing.
Vehicle Accident Reconstruction – inspection of damaged vehicle and components; CDR/EDR “black box” data retrieval and analysis; Site inspection; Review of police report, witness statements, scene photos and other documents. Computational simulation of the accident using facts and scientifically accepted methodology to determine how the crash occurred, including the resulting severity. Pedestrian knockdowns and their kinematics and interaction with vehicles, roadways, and surfaces.
Digital Forensics – Photogrammetry, Video, and Data Analysis making measurements from images used to identify people, vehicle models, speeds, and geometry changes. Evaluation of video surveillance systems, Dash-cam data analysis, photographs, computer aided drawings (CAD), animations, and simulations related to vehicles, pedestrians, and other scalable objects.
Associate
2009 to presentAssociate
2009 to presentEngineering Test Services Manager 1999-2009
Quality Engineer 1997-1999
Sci Lab Engineer from Modern Engineering
1994 to 1997Product Engineer from CDI Corporation
1993 to 1994Computer Network Engineer
1989 to 1991River rafting, kayaking, and canoeing, on whitewater rivers and on flat, moving rivers. Outfitting and guiding river trips.
Have organized and supervised many recreational rivers trips in the United States and Canada, (New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Ottawa, Ontario) using rafts, kayaks, canoes. 1990-present.
v. 05/1/23
Robson Forensic photogrammetry expert, Steven Becker appeared on the Nancy Grace show on May 16, 2016 to help viewers understand what kind of information analysts can hope to glean from the…
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