University of Guelph Robotics Team (UGRT)

The University of Guelph Robotics Team develops rover platforms for robotics competitions, like the Canadian International Rover Challange. I contributed to the rover’s development across multiple subsystems, beginning with mechanical design and integration before expanding into electronics, where I worked on embedded hardware and control systems supporting the rover’s drive and sensor architecture.

2025 Rover

As a part of UGRT I had a large role in getting the team's 2025 rover built. While the rover was far from perfect, it still provided valuable experience to both myself and the rest of the team.

UGRT Wheel V1.5

This was my first big project for the team. The system allowed the rover to position each wheel independently, steer like a traditional system, or translate the rover without rotating it.

Servo Robotic Arm

This arm was intended to be something shown at events the team either hosts or is invited to. The arm did not meet the original plan due to very tight time constraints and having to study for classes, but it was functional prior to its first event, 2 weeks after starting the design.

Temperature Control Board

As a collaboration between myself and another subteam lead on the team, this board was able to detect 8 temperatures (4 pairs), process that data, and drive the rovers fans at a certain speed based on the detected temperature.

2025 Arm

Originally the team was not planning on having an arm during the 2025 year as a lot time was spent on the rover's drive system. But between myself and the other mechanical lead on the team, we were able to design and assemble this arm during the final month before the competition.

BMS

This BMS is designed for 2 6S LIPOs, monitor each cells voltage, the pack current, switch each pack, and report this info back to the main computer. It also handled the E-Stop and power button for the rover. As not all supporting systems were finished on time, some features were cut prior to the competition.

Nvidia Jetson TX2 Case

This was my first project for the team, its simple, but maintains access to every port or connection on the device and also allowing the power and reset button to be pressed from the top of the device.

Justin Michaud