Carnegie Mellon University
M.S. Mechanical Engineering - Advanced Study in Robotic and Control Systems
Expected December 2026MECHANICAL & MECHATRONICS ENGINEER
Simba Gao
Designing and building
mechatronic systems.
Precision systems · Robotic manipulators · Motion control
I combine mechanical design, sensing, and control to develop precision hardware, robotic mechanisms, and automated equipment.
EDUCATION
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
B.S.E. Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering minor
01 / EXPERIENCE
Full experience & researchProfessional Experience
Aerotech
Mechatronic Engineering Intern
Electromagnetic modeling · Control-loop optimization
Origami Robotics
Robotics Intern
Robotic manipulators · Autonomous mobile base
CMU HackerFab
Teaching Assistant
ALD equipment · Process automation
ASML × UMich MDP
Mechanical Design Intern
Dynamic modeling · Motion control
STEALTH STARTUP
Robotics Startup
Product Development Intern
Medical robotic packaging · Prototype development
02 / SELECTED PROJECTS
View all projectsMechatronics: Precision Systems, Robotics, Control
01Eddy-current Modeling and Analysis
Predicting and mitigating eddy-current effects in precision actuators.
My contributionAnalytical and FEA models, geometry studies, and mitigation tools.
- Electromagnetic FEA
- Actuator modeling
- Controls
Design and Prototyping of 6-DOF Arm & Autonomous Mobile Base
A modular 6-DOF arm, custom transmission, and mobile ROS2 platform.
My contributionArm design and fabrication, gearbox development, and mobile-base integration.
- Robotic hardware
- Strain-wave gearing
- ROS2
03HackerFab Atomic Layer Deposition System
Integrating heat, vacuum, gas delivery, and automated process control.
My contributionThermal regulation, cycle automation, troubleshooting, and film characterization.
- Vacuum systems
- ALD
- Process automation
04Precision Hexapod Design & Optimization
Connecting a compact six-axis mechanism to a configurable geometry optimizer.
My contributionMechanical architecture, kinematics, structural analysis, and virtual calibration.
- Kinematics
- Structural FEA
- Calibration
05Diaphragm Flexure Fabrication and Testing
Turning a research flexure into an aligned, instrumented test assembly.
My contributionCAD refinement, fabrication planning, assembly, and stiffness testing.
- Flexure design
- Fabrication
- Metrology
06ASML DUV Stage Rolling Loop Test Rig
Characterizing rolling-loop behavior during rapid stage motion.
My contributionCrank-slider fixture design, construction, and integrated testing.
- Mechanism design
- Dynamic testing
- DAQ
03 / ENGINEERING APPROACHMechanics, sensing,
Mechanics, sensing,
and control.
I design hardware, model its behavior, and test it against measurements.
About meCONTACT