Michael Skupien

As part of a team of 5, we created a microphone attachment for a DSLR that allows you to selectively adjust the sound captured for each person in frame. I developed the software architecture, data pipeline and image processing stack for tracking humans in video with AI and digitally steering an array of microphones to each human.

​I worked at Uber ATG, developing self-driving cars for 2 4 month internships. I shipped many diverse projects contributing to the vehicle platform such as a wireless communications module or a simulated and tuned control system for a lidar sensor’s rotation controller.

​I created product scope and engineering requirements for a team of 4 while independently developed the software autonomy stack, running on an android phone using cameras to see, plan and control the vehicle.

​​I was the Eng/Product Lead of the University of Waterloo's Formula Electric team (FSAE). I lead the engineering efforts of the 2018 vehicle, worked toward establishing a new team culture, and contributed to many diverse projects around hardware and software.

I developed a robot localization system in ROS and simulated it's use. Its a particle filter based localization system, using a Kalman filter on state change and ICP from LiDAR data for movement prediction and particle resampling.

When learning more about modern control theory, I wanted to try a more challenging project that I had wanted to design for a while.  Using Simulink, I designed a simulation along with an LQR controller to balance a double pendulum even when subjected to noise. 

​I designed the smallest PCB I could for use in a small, homemade low speed radio control plane. The board uses a wireless receiver module and an Atmel ATtiny85 to control the speed of only two motors (no servos) which is enough for fully controlled flight.

April 2016 - Jan 2017

I pivoted my previous company, Varden Labs in May 2016 to develop self-driving for commercial big rigs.  I led the design of the embedded system that interfaced with the vehicle and its actuators as well as performed vehicle controls. Additionally, I led all safety processes which analyzed the functional safety of the system as well as testing and verification of the implementation.  Upon leaving at the beginning of 2017, Embark was worth an estimated $50 million and had a prototype ready to begin testing on public roads.

Jan 2015 - Apr 2016

What first started as a summer project quickly became a company my friend and I started. We intended on commercializing low speed transportation shuttles requiring no driver to be used on privately owned campuses such as universities. Our first prototype was a self-driving golf cart that became the first self-driving vehicle on Canadian roads when it 100% autonomously drove a lap around the University of Waterloo's "ring road" in July of 2015.

This page details the development that I did of the hardware, low level embedded software and safety related systems of my company, Varden Lab's self-driving shuttle bus. This includes the system architecture design, PCB design and embedded programming.

For my company, Varden Labs, I designed custom drive-by-wire actuators to be used on a self-driving electric vehicle. This included a proportionally controlled brake, a fail-safe emergency brake and a steering system to allow for computer control of the vehicle. 

I designed this wireless e-stop for my startup, Varden Labs. It allowed us to operate a self-driving golf cart safely without anyone in the vehicle.  With two forms of redundancy, this device and the system around it allowed us to stop the vehicle should anything go wrong.

This project was part of the 2016 First Robotics Competition and was a perfect example of a "moonshot" project. The design was unlike anything any of the other 4000+ teams had seen and was superior than anything else that had been developed.

Winter 2013, 2014, 2015

This page outlines only my most recent 3 year's involvement with the First Robotics Competition (FRC). In my last two years, I mentored a world renowned  team (1114) and made it to the world finals both years in a pool of 4000+ teams worldwide.

I designed my own high end 3D printer instead of buying one for my own projects. My design featured many innovative features that I developed through significant research and testing allowing for unmatched print stability and consistency.

I did a 4 month internship at Thalmic Labs where I designed various tools, jigs, equipment and processes to aid in the manufacturing of their first product, the Myo armband. I increased yeild from 60% to 98%. My main project was to design a process around pressing together 8 plastic pods that formed the mechanical structure of the product, this led to the design of a few tools including a specialized pneumatic press.

Fall 2013

I made and programmed this CNC mill with a friend. It is almost entirely made out of lego and uses the lego robotics system (mindstorms NXT). It reads industry standard G-code and cuts out the desired shapes in soft floral foam using a spinning drill bit. Pictured are some of its milled creations.

Although this is my oldest documented project and took place when I was 16, it is one that I am still very proud of to this day. I self-taught myself digital logic and processor design and built an 8-bit computer from only NOT and OR gates in a simulated video game.