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[ ]Nathan Nguyen
All Skills
CAD & Design

Rapid Prototyping

I use rapid prototyping to build fast, fail faster, and improve designs through short iteration cycles instead of gambling on one large prototype. My process follows the engineering design cycle of identifying the problem, brainstorming, selecting an idea, CAD, prototyping, testing, and repeating. I use CAD to test packaging and geometry early, then physically prototype the critical parts that need real-world validation

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/big-blue/big-blue-competition-front-view-extended.webp
Completed
RoboticsJul 2023 - Feb 2024

Big Blue · Alpha Competition Robot

I led the development of Big Blue, KUdos VEX-U's 24" alpha robot for Over Under. My third robot used an over-the-frame non-parallel 4-bar intake, slip-gear catapult, pneumatic pushing wings, and a six-motor drivetrain.

OnshapeRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignProject Management
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/projects/ascent/ascent-hero1.webp
Completed
RoboticsJan 2022 - Apr 2022

Ascent · 2022 Competition Robot

Led Ascent, FRC Team 4079's 2022 Rapid React competition robot, as Project Lead and FRC Captain. Ascent was my second major robot project and my first full-season FRC competition robot, built around Upper Hub shooting, Cargo collection, and a continuously improved climb system that evolved into a powered Traversal Rung climb.

SolidWorksRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignElectrical & Wiring
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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

Team Captain · Head of Technical and Systems

FRC Team 4079 - Quantum LeapAug 2016 - May 2022Cypress, California

Led a 60+ student FIRST Robotics program across robot design, fabrication, electrical systems, team operations, business, outreach, and competition preparation while helping expand the program through a junior varsity FTC team

SolidWorksRobot Design & FabricationMechanism DesignElectrical & WiringRapid PrototypingCNC RoutingTeam LeadershipProject ManagementEvent CoordinationGraphic Design

Intern, Medical Innovation, Research & Entrepreneurship

University Lab PartnersOct 2020 - Dec 2020Irvine, California

Developed a pediatric medical product concept while learning about medical device commercialization, entrepreneurship, and early-stage product development

Rapid PrototypingProject Management