mathcsam@gmail.com | linkedin | github.com/MattSamster | 778-928-5891

Skills

Work Experience

Firmware Engineer | Sanctuary AI | Nov 2023 - Present

• Audio System Development for Humanoid Robot:

  • Designed and executed comprehensive test plans for system characterization and performance benchmarking, leveraging signal processing techniques

  • Authored commissioning and validation documentation to support production deployment and ensure system reliability.

  • Contributed to the development of GStreamer pipelines for audio streaming, recording, and processing

  • Developed and optimized embedded firmware for audio applications, enhancing system performance

• Developed application for publishing humanoid robot’s perception system telemetry, utilizing IceOryx and Prometheus for real-time monitoring

• Engineered API for remote firmware flashing on dual-core ARM microcontrollers, integrating a custom bootloader to streamline updates

• Implemented interprocess communication (IPC) in a heterogeneous multi-core embedded system using custom solutions and OpenAMP for efficient data exchange

• Led the proactive upgrade of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test platforms, anticipating and addressing cross-team testing requirements and enhancing overall system integration

Software Engineering CO-OP | Sanctuary AI | May 2022 - August 2022

• Contributed to the implementation of the object placement pipeline of a humanoid robot utilizing ROS2 resulting in successful pick and place operations 

• Collaborated in developing a CI/CD pipeline resulting in a reduction in deployment time and a more efficient software development lifecycle 

• Assisted in the seamless migration and comprehensive reorganization of a complex and extensive codebase, contributing to improved code maintainability and system performance

• Created a simulation environment in Unreal Engine 5, resulting in a realistic environment for training AI models

ROBOTICS ENGINEERING CO-OP | LADYBUG ROBOTICS | SEPTEMBER 2021 – APRIL 2022

• Developed specialized pruning end effector and body of an autonomous mobile robot using Solidworks and 3D printing resulting in successful autonomous pruning tests

• Created a weatherproof cover for the robot’s body and arm allowing for successful field tests in harsh weather

• Conducted extensive field tests, meticulously capturing sensor data to serve as invaluable training datasets for AI models, ensuring data quality and relevance

• Designed and deployed a custom camera rig, demonstrating technical prowess in hardware development, to facilitate efficient and precise data collection for AI model training

• Developed a sophisticated pipeline utilizing Open3D, OpenCV, HIT-Net, U-Net, andPython to transform stereo image data into accurate segmented 3D point clouds

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CO-OP | LOWER MAINLAND BME | JUNE 2021 – AUGUST 2021

• Applied firmware updates to vital sign monitors 

• Conducted preventative maintenance on vital sign monitors using specialized testing equipment

• Interacted directly with healthcare professionals regarding medical devices 

Projects

TECHNICAL LEAD | UBC OPENROBOTICS | JUNE 2019 – April 2024

• Designing a BLDC Servo with a custom controller PCB, Closed-loop control, and CAN communication

• Crafted firmware in both C and C++ for STM32 and Arduino microcontrollers to control a 6 DoF robot arm, demonstrating expertise in embedded systems programming

• Spearheaded creation of new onboarding and education modules for robotics design, leading to enhanced team knowledge

• Led a dedicated sub-team responsible for the arm and gripper components of a domestic assistance robot, effectively coordinating efforts and achieving project milestones 

WHEELED BIPED ROBOT | PERSONAL PROJECT | MAY 2023 - PRESENT

• Engineered a wheeled biped robot using Onshape, combining creativity and precision in design

• Successfully executed the fabrication process by 3D printing a substantial portion of the robot, demonstrating hands-on technical expertise

• Employing firmware development techniques on an STM32 microcontroller, leveraging FreeRTOS, STM32 CubeIDE, and SEGGER to bring the robot to life, showcasing skills in embedded systems programming and real-time operating systems 

UMBRELLA HOLDING ROBOTIC ARM | PERSONAL PROJECT | DECEMBER 2020-  PRESENT

• Designing a 4 DoF robotic arm that will be mounted behind a shoulder to keep an umbrella level 

• 3D-modelling and printing of custom components 

• Implemented multi-thread-like performance on a Teensy microcontroller 

SCARA ROBOTIC ARM | COURSE PROJECT | JANUARY 2021 – APRIL 2021 

• Design and simulated a motor controller in Multisim/Simulink 

• Develop PCB from circuit parameters 

• Programmed firmware for simulated motor controller 

• Simulate mechanical stress using Solidworks and SimulationX

ELECTRIC BIKE CONVERSION | PERSONAL PROJECTS | MAY 2018 - MAY 2020

• Adapted a mountain bike into an electric bike

• Modified existing frames to accommodate a hub motor using power tools

• Soldered and troubleshooted electrical modifications

• Strengthened hands on skills

HEART RATE MONITOR | COURSE PROJECT | FEBRUARY 2020

• Deployed a heart rate monitor using an EFM8 8051-architecture microcontroller

• Programmed in embedded C utilizing timers, interrupts, and PWM

• Implemented data visualization of heart rate using UART serial communication and python

3D PRINTER | PERSONAL PROJECT | JUNE 2017 – JUNE 2018

• Assembled bare-bones Tevo-Tarantula 3D printer

• Debugged and compiled Marlin open-source 3d printer firmware

• Printed several upgrades for the printer including a fan mount

• Developed understanding of 3D printer firmware

MASQUE-TXT | HACKY BIRTHDAY 2020 HACKATHON | JULY 2020

• Won “Best Hardware Hack”

• Designed Solidworks models as well as atmega328p based LCD display

• Devpost for submission 

PATH PREDICTION OF A GIF | COURSE PROJECT | NOVEMBER 2020

• Implemented a path prediction algorithm for a black and white GIF in Python using the imageio module

• Using a heuristic based on number of times the direction had changed the path would be determined to be rectangular or triangular

• Developed theoretical foundation of image processing

Education

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING – BIOMEDICAL OPTION | UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA 

2019-Present