Sidney Nimako

I'm a second year masters student in robotics at Carnegie Mellon University.

I am interested in building human-centered robotic systems focusing on: search and rescue systems, assistive robotics, and safe pHRI

Currently: I'm currently working with
Dr. Zeynep Temel and Dr. Melisa Orta Martinez
on miniature-robotics for search and rescue.
Previously @: CMU Robomechanics Lab, DoorDash Labs, Meta FAIR


Blog Linkedin Contact Me Resume CV Files Icon GitHub

For more information please visit this site on a computer or checkout my resume or CV

Heterogenous Collaboration: A new approach for search and rescue operations

2024 IEEE SSRR (Symposium on Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics)

Publication

DoorDash Labs

DoorDash Labs Logo

Hardware Engineering Intern | 2022 + 2023

Electromechanical design and controls for a four quadrant dynamometer using a BLDC, customized C firmware and MATLAB.

Internship

CMU Robomechanics Lab

Robomechanics Lab Logo

Undergraduate Research Assistant | 2022 - 2023

Simulations and models to understand the costs and controls of spined quadruped robots.

Co-Curricular

Robotics Research Intern

Meta AI Logo

Meta AI Research | 2021

Contributed to the development of "D'Manus", a three-digit dexterous robotic hand. Focused on sensor redesigns, detailed documentation, and tribology testing for soft capacitive sensors.

Internship

Biomotivate

Biomotivate Logo

VR Development Intern | 2020

Worked with a Pittsburgh-based startup on VR experiences for those in addiction recovery. Developed a data acquisition platform to analyse user interactions for research purposes.

Internship

Toss Jugging In-Sim (and On Hardware)

Mechanics of Manipulation | Fall 2023

Created a custom simulation of a toss juggling robot in MuJoCo and learned a DDPG policy. I also applied the co-design method to design a hardware system to embody the policy.

Class Project

Trajectory Optimization for Constrained Dynamical Systems

Mathematical Foundations for Robotics | Fall 2023

Implemented a model predictive controller for a spine quadruped robot, which I also applied to a ballbot driving a wheelchair.

Class Project

Phlebot

Mechatronic Design | Spring 2023

Prototyped an autnonomous venipuncture robot using custom mechanical and electrical systems. Led electromechanical integration and co-led mechanism design.

Class Project

Brevis

Spring 2023

Fully custom macropad created as a precursor to a full-sized keyboard and to explore electronics development.

Personal Project