Octavio Echeverría
Electromechanical engineer with several years of experience, I have gained expertise in designing, developing, and testing robotic systems. I am passionate about solving complex technical challenges and have a strong foundation in robotics, control systems, and programming languages. I am always eager to learn new skills and collaborate with others to achieve project goals. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work, I am confident in my ability to contribute to the success of any robotics project.
London, UK
Education
MSc. Advanced Robotics
Currently finishing my last semester and working on my research project on Inflatable Robotics.
2022 - 2023
BSc. Electromechanical Engineering
2014 - 2019
Experience
Head of Electrical Engineering
As the leader responsible for the redesign of power and electronics subsystems and implementation of new software programming, I collaborated closely with other team heads in mechanical design to create a high-performance, competitive pod for upcoming international conferences. Throughout the project, I maintained a focus on ensuring safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness while optimizing performance across all subsystems.
2022 - Now
Co-Founder
Co-founded Meliora Robotics with a group of engineers and won a call for innovation grant to develop a minimum viable product of an commercial omni-directional swerve drive robot. Successfully led a team of engineers and engineering students in designing and fabricating the robot, sourcing components, and programming both high-level and low-level software. Oversaw the development of the mechanical design and fabrication, and tested the robot in various fields with different loads. Minimized production costs while improving reliability and performance. Applications for the robot include healthcare, logistics, agriculture, search and rescue, and hazardous environments.
2020 - Now
Research Assistant
Worked on multiple robotics-oriented academic research projects focused on mobile robotics, manipulation, and path planning. As lead electrical designer and programmer, designed and developed electrical systems, hardware and software components for robotics platforms. Developed skills in robotics hardware design, programming and control systems, and software development. Collaborated with team members and gained experience in managing complex research projects.
2020 - 2022
Electrical Engineer / Staff
As a consultant, I evaluated the viability of new projects proposed by entrepreneurs, provided design solutions, and trained new staff members. My proficiency in electrical design, programming, and mechanical design allowed me to contribute to the development of complex projects. I had the opportunity to lead a small team of engineers on emergency healthcare projects commissioned by the Ministry of Health, including the development of an emergency medical ventilator and an emergency medical high-flow humidifier. Through these projects, I developed project management, coordination, and regulatory compliance skills, ensuring that projects were completed on time, within budget, and met safety standards.
2019 - 2022
Electrical Engineer
As an on-site engineering inspector and manager for multiple construction projects, I managed personnel, purchases, quotes, and budget planning to ensure successful project completion. Throughout my work, I developed skills in project management, personnel management, budget planning, and vendor and supplier relations. My experience has provided me with a deep understanding of the construction process and technical requirements for successful project completion.
2019- 2020
Research & Projects
Hyperloop Pod 2023
Hyperlink Hyperloop
Hyperlink’s 2023 pod has undergone a significant redesign from last year’s model, with a focus on safety and improved performance. The power and electronics subsystems are now capable of handling 4kW 3 phase power, and the programming was done using Python, C++, C, and ROS. To ensure safety, various redundancies and failsafes were implemented, and microcontrollers from the STM32 family and an embedded Linux computer were used to support the system’s software. Overall, the redesign was comprehensive, resulting in a significantly improved design that meets high standards for safety and performance.
2022 - Now
Meliora Robotics
The project involves building an omni-directional swerve drive robot that is highly maneuverable and versatile. The robot is programmed using ROS, C++, and Python, and uses custom PCBs and microcontrollers from the STM32 family. The robot runs Linux, making it highly customizable and flexible. The aluminum profile and threaded holes allow users to easily add actuators and sensors. The robot is designed to be modular, with easily detachable and replaceable wheels. It has a payload capacity of 75kg, making it suitable for a variety of applications.
2022 - Now
Autonomous Fleet of Disinfection Robots
LEADS UTP
The project involved creating a fleet of five autonomous disinfection robots, which were designed and fabricated in-house. The robots were programmed mainly in Python and used the ROS framework and a navigation stack to navigate autonomously, create maps, localize themselves, and avoid obstacles. Each robot was equipped with a disinfectant fogging machine and a 2 degree of freedom arm to hold the nozzle for agile disinfection. The robots were tested in a major market in Panama City, demonstrating their ability to disinfect large areas quickly and effectively.
2020 - 2021
HINTEDIS - Sustainable Building Design Tool
LEADS UTP
The project involves the creation of a tool that helps architects and engineers design sustainable buildings. The tool has a user-friendly web interface and allows users to test ideas quickly. It calculates the solar energy potential of a building using a unique and optimized algorithm developed by us. The tool uses two simulation engines, NREL’s EnergyPlus and OpenStudio, to enable accurate building energy modeling and analysis. The back-end was built using Django, while the front-end was built using React.
2020 - 2022
COVID19 Emergency Equipment
Fab Lab UTP
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health requested the creation of two emergency medical devices: a high-flow humidifier and an emergency medical ventilator. The devices were designed and manufactured on a tight budget, using in-house designed electronics and firmware programming. The microcontroller used was from the STM32 family. The team created a Flutter app on an Android tablet that functioned as the graphical interface for the ventilator. The devices underwent rigorous testing and passed all the requirements set forth by the Ministry of Health, making them approved for use in emergency medical situations.