Caton focuses on developing advanced control systems and characterizing the performance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. He also has expertise in high accuracy airflow measurements using carbon-dioxide as a tracer.
Caton has completed studies on a number of energy saving technologies which include: switched reluctance motors, condenser-air pre-cooling, indirect evaporative cooling, retrofit radiant cooling systems with chilled water storage, hybrid air conditioners, and sub wet-bulb evaporative chillers. He also helped design and develop the UC Davis Solar Thermal Energy Enhancement Laboratory.
Caton holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from UC Davis and Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.