Robotics and automation
Robot mechanisms, kinematics, trajectory planning, actuator selection, workspace analysis, sensing, and system integration.
Graduate engineering portfolio
Johan van Tonder
Mechatronics engineering student at the University of Queensland, based in Brisbane, Australia. I am looking for graduate engineering roles in robotics, control systems, automation, and practical mechanical/electrical engineering.
- UQ
- mechatronics engineering
- BNE
- Brisbane, Australia
- 2026
- graduate role focus
Featured build Camshaft dyno control loop
Speed control VFD + Modbus
Position Optical encoder
Lift Laser ADC
I am most interested in complete working systems where mechanical hardware, electronics, firmware, control logic, and measured data all have to agree. My portfolio is built around practical projects that show I can design, build, test, and document real engineering systems.
Graduate role focus
Looking for robotics, controls, automation, and practical engineering roles.
I am open to graduate positions that value hands-on mechatronics: designing mechanisms, integrating sensors and actuators, writing embedded or analysis software, validating systems with data, and communicating engineering decisions clearly.
Control systems
Modelling, simulation, feedback control, motion control, test rigs, MATLAB/Simulink workflows, and measured system behaviour.
Mechanical and electrical engineering
CAD, electromechanical packaging, embedded hardware, PCB design, sensor integration, data acquisition, and practical build documentation.
RoboticsAutomationManufacturingMotorsport and testingEmbedded systemsMechanical designControl systemsIndustrial engineering
Industry experience
Two work-experience placements to document with engineering evidence.
These pages are set up as placeholders so each placement can later include your role, technical contribution, equipment context, non-confidential photos, diagrams, results, and related project links.
Camshaft manufacturing and performance engineering
Waggot Cams
Work experience involving camshaft-related engineering tools, CNC camshaft visualisation, and a Spintron/camshaft dyno concept.
Open placeholder ->
Food manufacturing and industrial systems
Marquis Macadamias
Engineering Intern placement supporting plant engineering and maintenance through colour sorter integration, support-structure fit-up, hopper, chute and conveyor interfaces, replacement chute work, shaker grader, air knife and bucket elevator component design, fabrication drawings, BOMs, and plant-floor measurements.
Open placeholder ->
Featured work
Practical projects with robotics, controls, embedded, CAD, and DAQ depth.
Each project is written around the real engineering problem: what was being measured or controlled, what hardware or software was involved, and which design trade-offs mattered.
Waggot Cams View ->
Spintron / Camshaft Dyno
Waggot Cams work-experience concept for a high-speed camshaft test rig using VFD speed control, encoder feedback, laser displacement sensing, and STM32 data acquisition.
Designed around synchronized RPM, cam angle, and valve-lift capture Personal project View ->
6DOF Robot Arm
Design and simulation of a six-axis robotic arm using CAD, MATLAB/Simulink, Simscape Multibody, inverse kinematics, trajectory planning, and workspace analysis.
Tested a smooth 5 second Cartesian trajectory in simulation Embedded design View ->
Custom Micro Servo PCB
Compact embedded servo controller concept with STM32 control, DRV8313 motor drive, TMR magnetic angle sensing, and manufacturable PCB layout planning.
Focused on closed-loop motion in a tight footprint Waggot Cams View ->
CNC Camshaft Visualiser
Waggot Cams tooling using Python and browser-based visualisation to parse CNC camshaft motion data and inspect lobe geometry and grinding paths.
Turns raw machine motion into readable engineering plotsCapabilities
Engineering range built around working electromechanical systems.
Test rigs and data acquisition
Sensor selection, signal conditioning, encoder capture, ADC sampling, DAQ architecture, and repeatable measurement workflows.
Robotics and control systems
Kinematics, trajectory planning, Simulink models, motor control concepts, feedback loops, and workspace analysis.
Embedded electronics
STM32 development, PCB design constraints, motor-driver integration, communication buses, firmware structure, and hardware bring-up planning.
CAD and manufacturing tools
Mechanical design, assembly thinking, CNC data interpretation, visual inspection tools, BOM awareness, and clear engineering documentation.
Tool stack
Tools selected for modelling, building, measuring, and communicating.
The stack reflects my project direction: CAD for mechanism design, MATLAB and Simulink for modelling and controls, STM32 for embedded control, and Python or browser tooling for analysis and visualisation.
MATLABSimulinkPythonAstroHTML/CSS/JSSTM32Embedded CInventor CADPCB CADRS-485RS-422ModbusVFDsEncodersLaser displacementData logging
About
Practical mechatronics with a design-build-test mindset.
I am completing my engineering degree at the University of Queensland and building a portfolio focused on robotics, embedded systems, control systems, mechanical design, CAD, and data acquisition. I am especially interested in projects that combine mechanical hardware, electronics, firmware, and data visualisation into a complete working system.
Contact
Graduate engineering opportunities, project discussions, and practical systems work.
I am currently looking for graduate roles in robotics, control systems, automation, and general mechanical/electrical engineering. The best contact point is email.