Robotics Engineering
BOEING & NAVAIR Autonomous Robot
Software systems integration for IEEE SoutheastCon 2024
Aug 2023 - May 2024
1 year
Development duration
BOEING + NAVAIR
Industry sponsors
IEEE SoutheastCon
Competition
Overview
One year capstone project building an Autonomous Robot under the supervision of The BOEING Company and US Naval Air Systems (NAVAIR). As part of Virginia Tech ECE Senior Design Team, developed an autonomous navigation system for the IEEE Southeast Con 2024 Autonomous Robot competition, focusing on computer vision, path planning, and real-time decision making.
Challenge
Creating an autonomous robot capable of independent navigation, object recognition, and task execution for competition requirements under aerospace industry standards.
Solution
Integrated computer vision, sensor fusion, path planning algorithms, and real-time decision making with robust hardware integration.
In action
Key features
Autonomous Navigation System
Real-time path planning and obstacle avoidance using sensor fusion and computer vision
Computer Vision Integration
Intel RealSense depth camera for object recognition and spatial awareness
Hardware & Software Integration
Arduino microcontrollers with NVIDIA Jetson for edge computing and real-time processing
CAD Design & Prototyping
AutoCAD modeling for mechanical design and 3D printing of custom components
Cross-functional Team Leadership
Led interdisciplinary team coordination with engineers, managing project timelines and deliverables
Industry Supervision
Direct mentorship from BOEING and NAVAIR engineers providing real-world aerospace insights
How it's built
Hardware Architecture
Integrated Arduino microcontrollers for low-level motor control and sensor interfacing with NVIDIA Jetson for high-level computer vision processing and decision making algorithms.
Software Development
Developed control algorithms in Python and C++ for real-time navigation, implemented computer vision pipelines using RealSense SDK, and created robust communication protocols between hardware components.
Project Management & Competition
Managed year-long development timeline with stakeholder meetings, technical reviews, and delivered competition-ready autonomous robot for IEEE Southeast Con 2024 representing Virginia Tech.