Skip to content
[ ]Nathan Nguyen
All Skills
Robotics

Robot Design & Fabrication

I design and build competition robots by letting strategy dictate design. My process starts with game analysis, scoring priorities, and robot requirements before moving into master sketches, full-robot CAD, prototyping, fabrication, assembly, and testing. I have led robot design and integration across FRC and VEX-U, including drivetrains, intakes, shooters, lifts, packaging, and custom mechanisms built for performance, serviceability, and repairability

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
View Project
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
View Project
/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
View Project
/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
View Project
/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
View Project
/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
View Project
/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
View Project
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

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