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[ ]Nathan Nguyen
All Skills
Robotics

Pneumatics

I design pneumatic subsystems for VEX robots, including actuated wings, docking mechanisms, locking devices, and over-center linkage claws. My work focuses on packaging cylinders cleanly, routing tubing, selecting mounting geometry, and creating mechanisms that actuate reliably while holding position under load

Applied in

Related Projects

Projects that use this skill.

Completed
RoboticsFeb 2026 - Apr 2026

Sally & Cruz · Push Back Gamma Robots

I led the design and build of Sally and Cruz, KUdos VEX-U's 24" and 15" Gamma robots for Push Back. The redesign introduced a higher-ceiling holonomic architecture, but a four-week fabrication-through-tuning schedule did not leave enough time to fully develop the completed robots before Worlds.

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignRapid Prototyping
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Completed
RoboticsJul 2025 - Apr 2026

Luigi & Guido · Push Back Competition Robots

I led the design and season-long development of Luigi and Guido, KUdos VEX-U's 24" and 15" Push Back robots. Built for Skills qualification and later upgraded to Beta+ for VEX Worlds, the pair combined high-capacity Block scoring, deployable wings, and a custom Pinpoint and Limelight localization stack.

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignRapid Prototyping
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/projects/rafiki-and-simba/rafiki-and-simba-gamma-competition-worlds-day3-6.webp
Completed
RoboticsJul 2024 - Jun 2025

Rafiki & Simba · High Stakes Competition Robots

I led the design and build of Rafiki and Simba, KUdos VEX-U's docked 24" and 15" High Stakes robots. The pair became the first across middle school, high school, and college competition to score the High Stake and complete a Tier 3 Climb, earning four Innovate Awards and the VEX AI Excellence and Energy Awards.

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignPneumatics
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/projects/chip-and-dale/chip-and-dale-worlds-match-action-closeup.webp
Completed
RoboticsFeb 2024 - May 2024

Chip & Dale · Beta Competition Robots

I led the development of Chip and Dale, KUdos VEX-U's 24" and 15" Worlds robots for Over Under. The near-identical robots used pneumatic non-parallel 4-bar intakes, PTO-driven 4-stage linear-slide climbers, and over-center claws tested to hold 90 lbs.

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignPneumatics
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/projects/encore/hero.webp
Completed
RoboticsJan 2021 - Jan 2022

Encore · Publicity T-Shirt Cannon Robot

Led and designed Encore, FRC Team 4079's off-season publicity robot built around a 10-barrel pneumatic t-shirt launcher, 6-wheel pneumatic drivetrain, Geneva-indexed articulating barrel assembly, airhorns, and lights for school and district events.

SolidWorksRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignElectrical & Wiring
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Used at

Related Experience

Roles where this skill was applied.

KUdos Team Captain · Lead Designer · Founding Member

KUdos VEX-UAug 2022 - PresentFlint, Michigan

Lead mechanical design, fabrication, strategy, and team operations for Kettering’s VEX U robotics team, with work across CAD, prototyping, 3D printing, CNC manufacturing, robot assembly, and competition preparation

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignPneumaticsRapid PrototypingFDM 3D PrintingCNC RoutingTechnical DocumentationMedia ProductionTeam LeadershipProject Management