During my internship at Seatrec, an underwater robotics startup, I was deeply involved in the hands-on design and development of a demonstration handheld device that showcased the same core technology used in the company’s full-scale underwater robots. A key part of my role was using 3D printing and rapid prototyping to speed up the development of custom parts. By quickly designing, printing, and iterating components, I helped reduce turnaround time for testing and allowed the team to evaluate multiple design ideas efficiently. One specific contribution was the design of a custom battery holder that balanced compactness, structural stability, and ease of assembly for the demo unit.
In addition to mechanical design, I gained exposure to electrical and systems engineering through close collaboration with team members. Under guidance from Robin, I learned the fundamentals of PCB design and how electronic layout considerations influence mechanical packaging and system integration. I also worked closely with Michael, learning practical engineering skills related to system layout and performance, while contributing my own ideas to the design of the fluid manifold system. I helped brainstorm improvements to the existing manifold concept and ultimately designed my own manifold system tailored specifically for the demo handheld device. This experience taught me how mechanical, electrical, and fluid systems must work together in real products, and it reinforced my interest in multidisciplinary, applied engineering work.