Benjamin Santos
About Me
Hailing from Santa Clarita, CA, I received my Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Francisco State University (SFSU), CA in 2020 and my Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in robotics and control systems from Columbia University, NY in 2023.
Below are a few projects I am most proud of with references and further descriptions linked.
Contact me at:
Phone #: (661) 373-3344
email: benjamin.santos661@gmail.com
Resume: https://bit.ly/4cTPZ04
Walkberto -
the Walking Robot
Columbia U Robotics Studio Project
In Progress! Next step is reinforcement learning. In the mean time, here is a video showing my progress thus far:
Programmatically-Designed Tealight Lampshade
Columbia U Digital Manufacturing Project
Designed using OpenSCAD, which uses a modified version of C++ to code shapes and patterns.
Presentation: bit.ly/3Mo8YnO
Printed-Food Spirograph
Columbia U Digital Manufacturing Project
Team leader of 3, directing all design, material, and programming operations. Taught the usage and application of gcode commands to achieve creative results. Created a python script to output the gcode file to use in the food printer.
Presentation: bit.ly/3OEMtOj
Training an Arm With a Model Predictive Controller
Columbia U Robot Learning Project
A small project using Pytorch to train a hypothetical 2-link robotic arm in forward kinematics using an MPC, then applying the MPC to have the trained model reach a randomized goal position.
The main objective is to have the end-effector reach within 0.2 units of a randomized position in under 2.5 seconds and 250 time steps, while having a final velocity under 0.5 units/s at the end of that time frame.
Overshoot is due to having time-to-target carry a greater weight than having stability in the loss function.
Furniture Topology Optimization
Columbia U Digital Manufacturing Project
Created using nTopology software for entire shaping process of chair+desk combo to be hypothetically printed in nylon.
Presentation: bit.ly/3WuSkYo
Plant Incubator
SFSU Senior Design Project
Oversaw programming operations for a group of 3, aided in sensor-to-microcontroller testing of plant soil pH levels and air moisture, and collaborated in machining and construction of system’s exterior finish.
Final Presentation: bit.ly/425WXt0
Image + Video Gallery: bit.ly/3JyCV11
Easy Jack Car-Lift Concept
SFSU Mechanical Design Final Project
Analyzed impact of static forces on system, lead research on electric subsystems, and assisted in final Solidworks design.
Report: bit.ly/369QbvC
