LIFTLABS
Electrical, software and control systems for an autonomous solar-powered blimp.
FOSTER BEARD
Electrical and computer engineer building hardware, robotics and AI systems.
Graduating April 2027. Open to full-time roles from Spring 2027.
ABOUT
I’m a fifth-year Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Western University, with a dual degree in AI Systems Engineering. I take projects from concept to working hardware, from an autonomous solar-powered blimp to a tethered window-washing drone.
Photo to come
- Studying
- BESc, Electrical & Computer Engineering and AI Systems Engineering (dual degree), Western University
- Graduating
- April 2027
- Looking for
- Full-time engineering roles starting Spring 2027
- Based in
- Ontario (GTA / London)
FEATURED WORK
Seven boards, from an airship to an app. Each one opens onto the full story.
TETHERED DRONE
A tethered hexacopter that cleans windows up to 12 storeys, fed with power and water from the ground.
SPOT WELDER
A high-current power supply on a custom PCB, with ESP32-based closed-loop current control.
SMART HOME
A Raspberry Pi 5 home automation hub with integrated sensors and computer vision facial recognition.
VOLUME REMOTE
A wireless remote that physically turns a surround sound receiver’s volume knob.
COPYROOM
A Canadian online marketplace where teachers buy and sell classroom resources.
UNIT CONVERTER
A unit converter app for Apple Watch, written in SwiftUI.
TOOLBOX
-
Embedded
- ESP32
- Raspberry Pi
- Arduino
- Embedded C and C++
- RTOS and real-time scheduling
- Interrupt-driven firmware
- Motor control
- Sensor integration and calibration
-
PCB design and power
- Custom PCB design
- Autodesk Eagle
- SolidWorks Electrical
- Power electronics
- Closed-loop current control
- Solar charge controllers
- Three-phase power
- SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Onshape
-
Controls
- Control systems
- Data-driven control
- Flight control
- Robot kinematics
- ROS 2
- MATLAB and Simulink
- PLC ladder logic
- Signal processing
-
Machine learning
- PyTorch
- TensorFlow
- scikit-learn
- OpenCV
- Computer vision
- Neural network design
- Vertex AI and AutoML
- Local LLMs
-
Software
- Python
- C and C++
- Java
- Swift and SwiftUI
- SQL
- Git and GitHub
- Stripe API
- Claude Code
EXPERIENCE
Read it like a timing diagram. Each line goes high while that role was running.
-
Beekeeper
Kawartha Lakes Honey
Jan 2020 to June 2023, Bobcaygeon, ON
Maintained healthy colonies, and built and repaired beekeeping equipment in the woodshop, often working independently.
-
Bee Research Technician
University of Guelph
June 2022 to June 2023, Bobcaygeon, ON
Fabricated an alternative method for overwintering queens and colonies that improved survival rates, and collected data for a PhD research project.
-
BESc, Electrical & Computer Engineering and AI Systems Engineering
Western University
Sept 2022 to April 2027 (expected), London, ON
Dual degree. Coursework includes real-time and embedded systems, robotics, power systems and data-driven control.
-
Lock and Bridge Operator
Parks Canada, Trent-Severn Waterway
June 2023 to present, seasonal, Gamebridge, ON
Operate canal locks and swing bridge equipment over four seasons, and monitor and maintain the mechanical and electrical lock equipment.
-
Electrical, Software and Controls Engineer
LiftLabs
Sept 2024 to present, London, ON
Custom PCBs, motor control firmware and aerodynamic models for an autonomous solar-powered blimp.
-
Co-Founder
Copyroom
2025 to present, Ontario, Canada
Co-founded and launched a two-sided marketplace for teachers, live since September 2026.
-
Full-time engineering role
From Spring 2027
- 2nd place, Western Engineering Competition, Senior Design: led development of a small-scale robot prototype
- Ivey Case Competition participant
- Olympic Spirit Award, Sturgeon Lake Thunder Minor Hockey Association
- Computer Science Award, I.E. Weldon Secondary School
RÉSUMÉ
The two-page version, with every project, role and tool.
GET IN TOUCH
I’m looking for full-time engineering roles starting Spring 2027, in hardware, robotics and AI systems.