About Work Info
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[ ABOUT ]

I design mechanisms, machine them, and put them to the test.

I'm a mechanical engineer at Columbia (Class of 2028) working at the intersection of rehabilitation robotics and precision manufacturing. Right now I'm researching soccer-header biomechanics in the ROAR Lab, leading the University wide Robotics Club, and working at the Columbia Makerspace.

Rehab Robotics Mill · Lathe · Wire EDM CAD Design Combat Robotics Precision Engineering

Selected Work

06 PROJECTS · TAP DETAILS TO FLIP
NO. 01
Soccer header motor assembly render

Soccer Header Robot

RESEARCH ONGOING

Reproducing the forces of real soccer headers to study — and reduce — the risk of brain injury. Built in Columbia's ROAR Lab.

ROLEUndergraduate Researcher LABColumbia ROAR Lab TIMEFRAMEAug 2025 – present
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NO. 01

Inside the build

A two-phase platform: (1) header categorization using a custom ball-dropper mechanism for repeatable, controlled impacts, and (2) VR neck-training driven by a 7-motor cable-actuated exoskeleton. I designed and tested new BLDC motors for the actuation system and built the ball dropper mechanism.

Soccer header test
BLDC motor design Ball dropper mechanism Cable-actuated exo
NO. 02
ROAR-E combat robot

Combat Robotics

CLUB COMPETITION

Custom combat robots designed, machined, and battled as Combat Robotics Lead of the Columbia University Robotics Club.

ROLEPresident & Combat Lead TEAMColumbia Robotics Club TIMEFRAMESept 2024 – present
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NO. 02

Full build cycle

I own the entire pipeline — CAD, CNC machining, assembly, and competition. Designed a custom all-aluminum four-wheel drivetrain and a high-speed vertical spinner, iterating between events through failure analysis.

Aluminum drivetrain Vertical spinner CNC machining
NO. 03
Machined part

Manufacturing

MACHINING FABRICATION

Precision parts made on the Haas CNC mini mill, Haas ST20Y 4-axis lathe, and Mitsubishi Wire EDM.

ROLEMachinist & Designer LOCATIONColumbia Makerspace MACHINESCNC Mill · Lathe · Wire EDM
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NO. 03

More parts

From combat robot components to research hardware — designed in CAD and machined to tolerance on the shop floor.

Machined part 1
Machined part 2
Haas CNC mill Wire EDM 4-axis lathe
NO. 04
Connect 4 robot CAD render
Self-Playing Connect 4 robot

Self-Playing Connect 4

CLASS PROJECT

An autonomous robot that plays Connect 4 against a human — Custom python program for move selection, a solver engine, and a gantry that drops the pieces.

ROLEDesigner & Builder CONTEXTColumbia course project STACKCAD · Python · Mechatronics
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NO. 04

How it plays

Combines a minimax-style move engine, and a custom mechanical dispenser + gantry to physically place pieces against a human opponent.

github.com/Hudson-1/Connect4Robot ↗
NO. 05

Beach Bots — FTC

AWARD CLUB

Competition robot for Beach Bots, the independent FIRST Tech Challenge team I founded. Winner of the 2021 MTI competition.

ROLEFounder & Captain TEAMBeach Bots (FTC) TIMEFRAME2020 – 2024
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NO. 05

Founding a team

Led CAD, manufacturing, assembly, programming, and outreach. Mentored by engineers from SpaceX, Snap, Disney Imagineering, and Unlimited Tomorrow. Also a FIRST Leadership Award Finalist — one of 165 honored worldwide.

NO. 06
opTake CAD render

Open Source

OPEN SOURCE FTC TOOLS

Customizable intake and slide systems I built and published for FIRST Tech Challenge teams — downloaded by 10,000+ users across 40 states and 10 countries.

ROLEFounder & Maintainer SINCENov 2021 – present REACH40 states · 10 countries
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NO. 06

The toolkit

Plug-and-play CAD systems for FTC drivetrains and manipulators — each documented, parametric, and free to remix. Built out of real competition needs and shared back to the community.

opTake
Active intake system
7,000+ uses
opSpool
Compact spool / winch
1,600+ uses
opInsert
Linear slide insert
1,600+ uses
github.com/Hudson-1/opLibrary ↗
[ CONTACT ]

Let's build something.

Open to internships and collaborations in robotics, mechanism design, and precision manufacturing.

© 2026 HUDSON AIBEL · MECHANICAL ENGINEERING · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY