Projects

Spookey — a humanoid robot, built solo

My biggest project so far: an independently designed humanoid robot, started in April 2025 to understand what it actually takes to build a humanoid, not just study robotics in isolated pieces.

Spookey is a roughly 4.5-foot humanoid platform with articulated joints, built with the long-term goal of stable bipedal movement using sensor feedback for balance and motion correction. I've worked on the mechanical structure, CAD, 3D-printed components, electronics, power distribution, wiring, motor and servo control, sensors, software architecture, AI, and motion systems myself.

Software

The software is built around ROS 2, with the system split into separate nodes for motion, sensing, behaviors, and higher-level control, so the robot can eventually perceive its surroundings, interpret commands, and respond through physical movement. I've experimented with Raspberry Pi-based computing, servo and motor control, IMU feedback, computer vision, and local AI / language-model interpretation as part of the control stack.

Electronics & power

As the robot got more complex, temporary breadboard wiring and loose connections became unreliable, so I taught myself PCB design to replace them, learning KiCad and working through grounding, connector placement, trace widths, power distribution, decoupling, and manufacturing along the way. Electrical distribution and PCB design were both areas I knew very little about before this project forced me to learn them.

How I approach it

I don't need to already know how to build something before starting it. I learn the concepts required to make it work, apply them, find the problems, and iterate. That's been the process for basically every part of Spookey, and it's how I approach engineering in general.

Other work

I've also worked on a robotic arm mounted to a four-wheeled mobile platform as part of a team, contributing to CAD modeling, mechanical assembly, electrical layout, motor-driver integration, power distribution, alignment, testing, and team coordination. Beyond that, I've designed a range of 3D-printable parts, including humanoid components, rover structures, and custom mechanical pieces, with design files shared on my GitHub.