Robotics · Research · Engineering

Andy Nguyen

I’m a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of Michigan pursuing B.S. degrees in Robotics and Computer Science, expected May 2027.

Currently applying to MS/PhD programs in Robotics.

Publications

In prep

Deceptive Table Tennis Using Reinforcement Learning on Contact-Implicit MPC

David Nguyen, Annika Marschner, Andrew Nguyen, Sangbae Kim

Under review

Steerable and Reactive Grasping Through Modular Design with a Three-Point Interface

Andrew Nguyen, Yonghyeon Lee^†, Sangbae Kim^†

† Co-corresponding authors

Paper (coming soon) Video (coming soon) Website

Wall-climbing robot carrying a payload up a vertical surface

ICRA 2026 · Vienna

A High-Payload Wall-Climbing Robot Using Passive Bistable Suction Cups

Andrew Nguyen, Mingyuan Li, Daniel Bruder

Paper Video Website

Experience

FREE Lab

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Aug 2023 – Present

Developed a simulation and control stack for interconnected fixed-wing UAV formations, implementing Circle/Flying-V and waypoint-following controllers.
Designed a passive bistable-suction wall-climbing robot that carried an 8 kg payload on plaster and glass; first author of an ICRA 2026 paper and inventor on a 2025 U.S. provisional patent application.

Biomimetic Robotics Lab, MIT

Visiting Student

May – Aug. 2026

Developed a three-finger grasping framework combining geometry-based affordances, reactive reaching, and tactile/proprioceptive RL, with hardware demonstrations on seen and unseen objects; first author of a 2027 ICRA paper (under review).
Implemented 220 Hz YOLO-based ball localization for a table-tennis-playing robot and assisted in MPC controller hardware integration and testing.

ROAHM / ARCAD Lab (Schaeffler project)

Robotics Simulation Engineer

Sep. 2025 – May 2026

Integrated actuator dynamics and a reinforcement-learning locomotion policy into a MuJoCo humanoid simulation, validated against hardware dynamometer data.
Evaluated humanoid tasks with trajectory optimization and whole-body control; developed hybrid analytical-neural actuator models.

RAI Institute (formerly Boston Dynamics AI Institute)

Hardware Intern

May – Aug. 2024 and 2025

Built an automated Python motor-dynamometer test suite and analyzed actuator friction and torque-velocity behavior.
Designed a 1-DOF camera mount and assembled 40 quasi-direct-drive actuators using custom test fixtures.

The Brainstormers

Team Captain · Head Robot Designer · Software Lead

2012 – 2023

Projects

Sep. 2022 – Apr. 2023

2023 FTC Robot

2023 Chesapeake Winning Alliance Captain
2023 World Championship Innovate Award 2nd Place
2023 Asia Pacific Open Winning Alliance
Unofficially ranked #2 in the world

Video

Sep. 2021 – Apr. 2022

2022 FTC Robot

2022 Arkansas State Championship Winning Alliance Captain
2022 Arkansas State Championship Inspire Award
2022 World Championship Finalist Alliance (2nd Place)
2022 World Championship Control Award Finalist
Unofficially ranked #1 in the world

Video

Sep. 2020 – Apr. 2021

2021 FTC Robot

2021 Massachusetts State Championship Top Ranked
2021 Massachusetts State Championship Design Award 2nd Place
2021 Vermont State Championship Top Ranked
2021 Vermont State Championship Control Award
Unofficially ranked #1 in the world (COVID)

Video

Sep. 2019 - Apr. 2020

2020 FTC Robot

2020 Massachusetts State Championship Winning Alliance Captain
2020 Vermont State Championship Motivate Award
Unofficially ranked #2 in the world (COVID)

Video