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Ran Xin

Engineering Undergraduate
University of Cambridge
rx233[at]cam.ac.uk


About Me

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge, interested in the field of robotics engineering, with expertise in mechanical design, software implementation, and machine learning. I was the mechanical design leader for my high school’s FIRST Robotics Team, where I led the development and implementation of diverse mechanical design projects and oversaw the development, testing, and validation of control algorithms. I was an undergraduate researcher at the University of Cambridge’s Bio-Inspired Robotics Lab in 2023. Currently, I am an Product Design Engineer Intern@Apple.

Beyond my aforementioned experiences, I am passionate about applying machine learning to enhance intelligent robotics systems, particularly by optimizing sensor feedback readings and bridging the gap between mechanics and electrical systems.

Skills

Research Interests

Project Experiences

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Unibots Robotics Competition 2024

I led a team to compete in the competition, focusing on a sustainable design. I utilized FDM printing and laser-cut MDF, guided by Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA), to minimize environmental impact and streamline assembly. Through Solidworks simulations, I and my team perfected the designs, ensuring the robot was both efficient and eco-friendly.

unibots24


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Robotics Manipulator Design

I developed an affordable and user-friendly 3D-printed PLA gripper for robotic arms, capable of handling a wide range of objects, from soft to hard, using a standard-sized servo and Arduino UNO R3 for power and control.

gripper


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Unibots Robotics Competition 2023

I served as the lead mechanical designer for the Unibots project, specializing in ball intake and maneuvering mechanisms. Additionally, I oversaw the robot's characterization and localization design and implementation.

unibots


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Vending Machine Lego Project

In collaboration with my team, we created a prototype vending machine for demonstration purposes. My contribution involved utilizing an infrared sensor to illuminate and detect the reflective light wavelengths, allowing us to identify coupons of varying colors.

lego


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FIRST Robotics Competition 2022

In collaboration with the mechanical design team, I integrated swerve modules into the chassis, designed telescoping arms for the climbing structure, incorporated a pneumatic multi-speed gearbox, and created an adjustable hooded shooter. We also employed vision and point cloud cameras for localization and auto-aiming capabilities.

frc2022


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FIRST Robotics Competition 2021

As the sole robot designer, I employed a conventional pneumatic switchable multi-speed gearbox for the tank drive chassis. I also implemented a serial design to align balls, enhancing shooting speed. Additionally, a vision camera was integrated to estimate the target's distance and direction, automatically adjusting the shooting speed and hooded shooter angle.

frc2021


Research Experiences

Educational Background


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