Qualifications

Academic Career

2024

Robotics

The University of Sheffield

Master of Science (MSc) – Honours

📅 2023 – 2024

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Mechanical Engineering

The University of Sheffield

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) – Honours

📅 2020 – 2023

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2023

2020

A Level Diploma

GEMS FirstPoint School

📅 2018 – 2020

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IGCSEs

Deira International School

📅 2016 – 2018

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2018

2024

Maths Mentor

Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sheffield

Part Time University Job

📅 January 2024 – June 2024 (5 Months)

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Robotics Intern

Insigneo Institute of Insilico, The University of Sheffield

Development of Soft Robotics Implant for Short Bowel Syndrome

📅 July 2022 – September 2022 (8 Weeks)

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2022

Engineering You're Hired

The University of Sheffield

Transitioning to Renewable Energy in Aviation

📅 February 2022 (1 Week)

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Global Engineering Challenge

The University of Sheffield

Water Management in Lobitos and Piedritas

📅 January 2021 – February 2021 (1 Week)

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2021

MATLAB Onramp Certificate of Completion

FutureLearn Technical Report Writing for Engineers

Skills

Technical Competence

Robotics & Simulation: Robot Operating System (ROS), RVIZ, Gazebo, CProg, Webots

CAD, Modelling, Simulation & Analysis: Autodesk Fusion 360, Solidworkds, Blender, Ansys, Abaqus, ParaView

Machine/Deep Learning: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-Learn, Jupyter, MATLAB, OpenCV, YOLO

Game & Graphics Engines: Unity, Unreal Engine, Hammer World Editor

Web & Application Development: Google SketchUp, Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Lightroom, Animate, Character Animator), Microsoft Office Suite, VirtualBox

Other: ITK-Snap, Bonemat

Robotics: Control Systems Analysis & Design, Manipulator Robotics (Kinematics, Dynamics), Safety in Robotics, Swarm Robotics

Enigneering Analysis: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Project Design & Execution: 3D Modelling, Project Management, Mechatronics & Robotics Design (Circuits, Fabrication, Assembly, Control)

Sensing & Perception: Sensors & Actuators in Robotics, Multisensor & Decision Systems (Systems Integration, EKF, Evolutionary Algorithms, NSGA-II), Machine Vision (Image Segmentationn, Object Tracking, Deep Learning & its Applications)

Autonomous Systems, Mechatronics & Hardware Design: Planning Algorithms (Dijkstra, A*), Sensor Data Fusion, State Estimation, Autonomous Navigation (e.g., TurtleBot3, e-puck2, etc.), Robot Design & Programming (e.g., Autonomous Mecanum-Wheeled Robot)

High-Performance Computing: Bessemer, Sharc

Software Development Tools: Git/GitHub, Linux

Visualisaton: Virtual Machine (VM VirtualBox), Basic User Interface Design

Technical Communication: Technical Report Writing, Website Development (Simple CSS/HTML, Advanced WordPress/CMS)

Python, MATLAB, C++, C, Arduino (subset of C++)

Deep Learning: Convolutional Networks, RNN, GANs, Deep Reinforcement Learning

Data Analysis & ML:  Machine Learning Fundamentals, Principal Component Analysis, Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, Time Series Analysis

Manufacturing Techniques: 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Sanding, Drilling, Soldering

Read more in the Education and Projects section

Projects

Academic & Personal Projects

The Robot Challenge

Autonomous Mecanum-Wheeled Robot for Precision Navigation and Drawing
4 Member Team
Mechatronics Module Project
The University of Sheffield
📅 October 2023 – December 2023

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Make or Break 2022

Structure Capable of Supporting 18 kg Load
Design of Structures, Machines, and Systems Module
5 Member Mechanial Engineer Team
The University of Sheffield
📅 February 2022 – May 2022

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Autonomous Vehicles

When and How Will Computers Take Over Humans in the Transportation Industry?
Independent Research Project
Extended Project Qualification
A Level – GEMS FirstPoint School
📅 September 2019 – June 2020

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Other Relevant Work

Machine Vision & Deep Learning Labs
Arduino Integration & Mover6 Lab
Water Bottle Rocket 2021
TurboJet Wren80i Engine Disassembly
University Engineering Showcase Day 2022

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Contact Me

Get in Touch

mafaz.syed@outlook.com

United Kingdom

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Mafaz Syed

Portfolio

© 2023 Mafaz Syed. All rights reserved.

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About Me

Introduction

Passionate Mechatronics and Machine Learning Engineer with a solid Mechanical Engineering background and hands-on robotics experience. Earned an MSc in Robotics (First-Class Honours), specializing in machine vision, mobile robotics, and deep learning.

Worked on projects ranging from soft robotics in medical applications to autonomous navigation systems and advanced control algorithms. Enthusiastic about merging robotics, AI, and human-machine interaction to create impactful, innovative solutions.

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Master of Science (MSc) - Honours

Robotics

The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

September 2023 - September 2024

Robot Ethics, Mathematics for Robotics, Systems Modelling & Simulation, Control Systems Analysis & Design, Programming in MATLAB & C++

Adaptive Control Strategies & Programming for e-puck2 Robot Obstacle Avoidance & Tracking

Safety in Robotics, Kinematics (Forward, Inverse, Differential, & Inverse Differential), Closed Kinematics Lab (Pantograph Robot Lab), Dynamics (Advanced & Trajectory Planning), Robot Operating System (ROS) + Mover6 Lab (RVIZ, ROS, MATLAB Robot Systems Toolbox, CProg), Sensors & Actuators in Robotics

Mechatronic Components, Sensors, Microcontrollers, Actuators, Fabrication (Circuits), Wheeled Systems Control, Labs (Mechanical & Electronics Design, Design, Fabrication, Assembly, & Control)

The Robot Challenge – Autonomous Mecanum-Wheeled Robot for Precision Navigation and Drawing

Scikit-learn, Jupyter, Logistic Regression, Linear Regression, k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Perceptron Algorithm, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLSDA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Neural Networks, Basis Functions, K-Means Clustering, Regularisation, Cross Validation, Time Series Data

kNN, LR, SVM, & PLSDA Models to Corss Validate & Predict Biodegradibility of Chemicals from Quantitative-Structure-Activity Relations (QSAR) Data

Machine Learning Fundamentals, Deep Feedforward Networks, Optimisation & Regularisation Techniques, Convolutional Netwrokds for Computer VIsion, Hyperarameter Tuning, RNN & Gated-RNN, NLP with RNNs, Transformer Architectures, Deep Reinforcement Learning (DQN & PPO Techniques), GANs, Tensorflow, PyTorch

Designing, Implementing, & Evaluating ASR Model using Deep Learning Methods

Pixel Operations in Images, Morphological & Geometric Operations, Image Restoration & Optical Flow Methods, Machine Vision for Autonomous Object Detection, Image Segmentation Techniques, Object Tracking in Video, Image Registration & Fusion, Advanced Feature Transform & Image Classification, Visial Feature Descriptors & Convolutional Neural Networks, Deep Learning Applications in Machine Vision (Semantic Segmentation & Object Detection), Machine Vision for AR & VR

Part I (Multisensor):

Probability Theory & Dynamical Systems, Sensor Signal/State Estimaion Techniques (Classical & Bayesian Estimation, Sequential Estiamtion, Kalman & EK Filters), Detection Methods (Statistical Decision Theory, Change Detection Techniques – Mean, Variance, CUSUM Test), Sensor Fusion for Dynamical Systems

Integrating GPS, IMU, & Air-Data Systems for Accurate Aircraft State Estimation & Fault Detection

Part II (Decision):

Decision Systems for Engineering Design, Sampling Plans, Multi-Objective Optimisation Techniques (Evolutionary Algorithms, Pareto-Based & Decomposition Methods)

Optimising PI Controller Settings for Electric Vehicles Using NSGA-II Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm

Swarm Robotics, Networked Robotics, Planning Algorithms for Robotics (Sequential Decision Making, Path Planning & Trajectory Navigation), Sensing & Estimation (Sensor Data Fusion, State Estimation Techniques), Biologically Inspired Robotics (Evolutionary Algorithms & Swarm Intelligence), ROS, Gazebo

TurtleBot3 Autonomous Arena Navigation & Exploration

Investigative Project (Thesis): Multimodal Emotion and Physiological State Recognition for Humanoid Robots 

Maths Mentor at the Faculty of Engineering

Overall Grade: Distinction (All Modules)

Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) - Honours

Mechanical Engineering

The University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

September 2020 - June 2023

Academic Highlights
  • Mechanics of Deformable Solids: 86%
  • Mathematics for Engineering Modelling: 80%
  • Design of Structures, Machines, and Systems: 80%
  • Fluids Engineering: 79%
  • Matter, FLow, and Energy: 79%
  • Electric Circuits: 78%
  • Essential Mathematical Skills & Techniques
  • Mathematics for Engineering Modelling
  • Computational & Numerical Methods
  • Design and Manufacturing
  • Engineering Techniques & Manufacturing Technology
  • Design of Engineering Components
  • Design of Structures, Machines, & Systems
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Mechanics of Deformable Solids
  • Materials Under Stress
  • Materials Processing
Thermal and Fluids Engineering
  • Matter, Flow, & Energy
  • Fluids Engineering
  • Heat Transfer
  • Advanced Engineering Thermodynamic Cycles
  • Electric Circuits
  • Control Engineering for Mechanical Engineers
  • Robotic Systems
  • Managing Engineering Projects & Teams
  • The Professional Responsibility of Engineers
  • Global Engineering Challenge (GEC) 2021
  • Engineering You’re Hired (EYH) 2022
  • Sustainaibility Skills and Education Programme (SusSEd), 2020 – 2021

Investigative Project (Thesis): Verification of Bone Strength Pipeline in Abaqus

Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE): Affiliate Member, September 2021 – Present

Overall Grade: 2.1

A Levels

GEMS FirstPoint School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

September 2018 - June 2020

IGCSEs

Deira International School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

September 2016 - June 2018

  • Business Studies
  • Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)
  • Design and Technology – LED Wood, Concrete, and Acrylic Lamp
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • First Language English
  • Literature (English)
  • Arabic

1st and 2nd Year Engineering Students

Maths Mentor

Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sheffield

January 2024 - June 2024 (5 Months)

  • Supported 1st and 2nd year engineering students, improving their confidence and skills in mathematics and statistics, crucial for their academic success.

 

  • Conducted one-to-one sessions with mentees, providing personalised support suited to individual needs.

Development of Soft Robotics Implant for Short Bowel Syndrome

Summer Internship

Insigneo Institute, The University of Sheffield

July 2022 - September 2022 (8 Weeks)

  • Executed a thorough literature review of 30+ articles on soft robotic implants, specifically on treating Short Bowel Syndrome, gaining insights into the syndrome’s aetiology, symptoms, risks, diagnoses, and impacts.

 

  • Acquired practical skills and expert training on soft robotics implants, such as the use of medical-grade silicone for development, operating a Shimadzu tensile tester for strain measurement, utilising vacuum chambers for silicone de-bubbling, 3D printing for implant mould production, and oven curing of moulded silicone implants.

 

  • Engineered, designed, and produced 5+ bespoke implant prototypes in compliance with specific clinical requirements; developed 3+ design variations for statistical comparison to determine the most efficient design that minimally affects other apertures when one (or more) hole is pressurised.

 

  • Performed an in-depth evaluation of prototype performance using measures like elongation capacity and force output, implemented a hardware control system with closed-loop control for enhanced efficiency, and produced a project summary poster, briefing the overall findings and developments of the project.

Transitioning to Renewable Energy in Aviation

Engineering You're Hired 2022

The University of Sheffield

February 2022 (1 Week)

  • Collaborated with 5 multidisciplinary engineers to address sustainability challenges in aviation by reducing fossil fuel usage; proposed integration of an electric version of ATR 72-600 into the fleet by 2050.

 

  • Awarded distinction (1 of 5 out of 48) and 2nd place out of 8 groups.

 

  • Prepared technical bid report evaluating 7 factors including power choice, safety, and infrastructure modifications by allocating 9 tasks among 5 members based on their interests and technical expertise.

 

  • Received excellent feedback from 5 industry experts.

 

  • Conducted research on aviation battery requirements, feasible charging methods, and energy density needs to conclude that Lithium-Air batteries are ‘best in class’ for electric aviation.
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Water Management in Lobitos and Piedritas

Global Enigineering Challenge 2021

The University of Sheffield

January 2021 - February 2021 (1 Week)

  • Led 5 cross-faculty students to conduct STEEPLE analysis, develop and evaluate 4 engineering designs, and perform 6 in-depth calculations to increase water supply reliability by 150% (6 hrs/wk to 15 hrs/wk). 

 

  • Achieved 75% cost savings over traditional methods.

 

  • Devised a weighted scoring matrix with 8 criteria to assess the commercial and engineering feasibility of 4 solutions; prioritized sustainability and cost to select a solution for the detailed design phase.

 

  • Identified 5 critical risks out of 8 potential risks by constructing a probability and severity matrix; developed risk mitigation strategy to minimise the overall risk impact score for the selected solution.

 

  • Engaged with 4 academic experts to achieve 2 opportunities in the project resulting in 10% cost-savings.

 

  • Attained 100% satisfaction rate from the team for organising 2 daily check-in meetings to track progress, identify bottlenecks and prioritize tasks on critical path; successfully completed project within the 1-week deadline. 
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