Wheeled Platforms & Lifting Systems
Emeryville, California | Internship
Proposed base compensation. Final terms are subject to Astera’s hiring process.
About Astera
Astera Institute is a private foundation supporting ambitious work in science and technology through grants, investments, and in-house research. Its research programs combine the pace and autonomy of a startup with the freedom to pursue difficult scientific questions. Learn more about Astera’s mission at astera.org/vision.
About the Robotics Lab
We are building a frontier robotics lab at Astera Institute. We believe neuroscience and AI will converge in embodied intelligence: animals and robots face shared challenges of perceiving their surroundings, navigating, manipulating objects, and using memory and reasoning to accomplish tasks in the physical world. Robotics provides a powerful testbed for investigating how biological neural circuits solve these challenges and for developing AI systems that turn perception, learning, and cognition into effective action.
Our strategy starts with making robots useful, while developing a mechanistic understanding of how neural circuits can generate intelligent behavior. We aim to continually expand the repertoire of behaviors a robot can perform reliably in real environments, while improving its ability to learn new skills, adapt to changing conditions, and recover from failure. These practical capabilities provide both measurable outcomes and a foundation for investigating deeper principles of intelligence.
Wheeled robotic platforms are one of the embodiments we use to test neural-circuit models and AI systems as we work toward general embodied intelligence. We have already demonstrated indoor navigation on a simple differential-drive platform. We are now expanding this work to evaluate other wheel and drivetrain configurations, along with lifting systems that allow robots to adjust their working height.
Position Summary
Help us build and compare the systems that allow robots to move and adjust their working height. Under engineering mentorship, you will prototype wheeled mobile bases and lifting platforms, run hands-on experiments, and evaluate how different designs perform under realistic operating conditions.
Starting with our existing hoverboard hub motors and other motorized wheel hardware, you will help explore different wheel and drivetrain configurations. You will also help develop and evaluate lifting platforms, comparing commercially available mechanisms and custom prototypes. Your work will help the team select practical designs based on measured performance, reliability, cost, and ease of integration.
Core Responsibilities
Evaluate wheeled platforms. Assemble and modify mobile bases using hoverboard hub motors, hub motor wheels, and conventional motor-driven wheel assemblies. Help design and fabricate chassis, mounts, and supporting components. Compare navigation performance of different systems.
Compare wheel and drivetrain configurations. Develop repeatable tests to evaluate maneuverability, low-speed motion, traction, payload handling, power consumption, steerability and general performance across relevant floor surfaces.
Prototype lifting platforms. Help assemble, adapt, and test different lifting mechanisms, such as scissor lifts and telescoping lifting columns. Integrate actuators, guides, mounts, and supporting structures.
Evaluate lifting performance. Compare lifting range, speed, positioning repeatability, rigidity, and stability under defined loads. Investigate vibration, mechanical play, and other issues that affect reliable operation.
Integrate controls and measurements. Configure motor controllers, connect position and speed feedback, and develop simple control and data-collection scripts. Help implement travel limits, homing, and coordinated motion under engineering supervision.
Document comparisons and improve designs. Maintain CAD files, wiring diagrams, parts lists, and test records. Summarize tradeoffs and work with engineers to refine promising designs.
Keep experimental hardware ready. Organize components, tools, and spares; maintain prototypes and test fixtures; and assist with equipment inspections, repairs, and experiment setup.
Required Qualifications
Coursework, projects, or practical experience in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, mechatronics, or a related discipline.
Experience building and troubleshooting a physical system through coursework, research, student teams, or personal projects.
Basic familiarity with mechanical assembly, electrical wiring, motors, and sensors.
Interest in hands-on prototyping and systematic testing, including careful measurement and documentation.
Comfort working with an engineering mentor and contributing to the upkeep of a shared robotics lab.
Preferred Experience
CAD, 3D printing, machining, or fabrication of mechanical prototypes.
BLDC motors, motor controllers, encoders, wheeled robots, or drivetrain design.
Linear actuators, screw drives, scissor lifts, lifting columns, or other positioning mechanisms.
Python, C/C++, microcontrollers, or basic feedback control.
Building test fixtures, collecting experimental data, or comparing hardware designs.
Prior experience with every technology listed is not expected. We value curiosity, practical problem-solving, and an interest in understanding how different mechanical systems perform through real experiments.