Staines Rajith

Robotics & AI Engineer • MSc Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (Distinction)

Bridging physical systems, autonomous control, and modern machine learning. MSc graduate from Queen Mary University of London with international experience across the UK, Zambia, and India.

Email: stainesr.27@outlook.com • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stainesrajith • GitHub: github.com/Spades2002 • CV: Download Curriculum Vitae (PDF)

About Staines Rajith

As a Robotics and Artificial Intelligence MSc graduate from Queen Mary University of London (awarded with Distinction), with international experience across India, Zambia, and the UK, I bring a broad perspective shaped by diverse cultural and technical environments. Spending 15 years in Zambia taught me the value of practical, resourceful solutions, strengthening my passion for engineering with real-world impact.

My core technical expertise spans automation, robotics, and machine learning, supported by direct experience in industrial PLC programming (Siemens, CODESYS) and developing a novel photoelastic tactile sensor for an industrial robotic palm in collaboration with Shadow Robotics.

Education

Queen Mary University of London

MSc Robotics and Artificial Intelligence — Graduated with Distinction (Sep 2025 - Sep 2026)

Key Modules: Cognitive Robotics, Machine Learning & AI, Medical Robotics & Surgical Techniques, Deep Learning for Image Analysis.
Dissertation: Photoelastic tactile sensor for a robotic palm (collaboration with Shadow Robotics).

Loughborough University

BEng Robotics, Mechatronics & Control Engineering (Hons) (Oct 2021 - Jun 2024)

Key Modules: State Space Control, Manufacturing Automation, Circuit Design, Interfacing Mechatronics Systems.
Projects: Intra-Campus Monorail (WSP), Gymnastics Stamp-Bug Rover, Sagnac Optical Interferometer.

Work Experience

Control Engineering Intern • First Quantum Minerals Ltd

Solwezi, Zambia | Jul 2022 - Aug 2022
  • Optimised industrial equipment performance maintaining peak copper smelter efficiency.
  • Engineered a functional traffic light system using Siemens PLC and ladder logic automation.
  • Programmed in CODESYS using structured text and ladder logic to streamline industrial operations.

Teaching Assistant • Trident College

Solwezi, Zambia | Jan 2021 - Mar 2021
  • Delivered targeted one-to-one tutoring in A-level mathematics and physical sciences.
  • Designed and supervised physics and chemistry laboratory experiments under strict safety protocols.

Technical Team Assistant • First Quantum Minerals Ltd

Solwezi, Zambia | Nov 2018 - Dec 2018
  • Proactively monitored and maintained heavy smelting machinery, maintaining 98% equipment uptime.
  • Enhanced furnace performance by optimising air cooler functionality and airflow efficiency.

Key Engineering & AI Projects

Photoelastic Tactile Sensor for a Robotic Palm

Soft Robotics & AI • In collaboration with Shadow Robotics

Designed and built a compact photoelastic palm sensor addressing space constraints through folded optics. Automated indentation and synchronised data collection to evaluate four deep learning architectures, achieving normal-force MAE of 0.244 N and sub-millimetre localisation.

Keywords: Soft Robotics, Tactile Sensing, Computer Vision, Deep Learning, PyTorch

Few-Shot Medical Image Segmentation

Deep Learning & Healthcare

Implemented and evaluated supervised U-Net and Reptile meta-learning architectures for MRI segmentation with limited labelled data, applying compound Binary Cross-Entropy and Dice loss functions.

Keywords: Medical Imaging, U-Net, Meta-Learning, PyTorch, Few-Shot

UKSEDS Olympus Rover Trials (3rd Place Overall & Best CDR Award)

Space Robotics & Avionics • RAL Space Finals

Served as Vice Lead and Electrical Team Lead. Architected full power distribution bus, Raspberry Pi telemetry, and coordinated hardware integration for a planetary exploration rover.

Keywords: Raspberry Pi, Power Electronics, Electrical Debugging, System Integration

Modular Lunar Augmentation System

Space & Biomechatronics • Airbus Competition Finalist

Led engineering team to finals of an Airbus design competition with a modular mobility concept for astronaut augmentation and prosthetic support in low-gravity environments.

Keywords: Biomechatronics, Variable-Impedance Knee, Space Robotics, Feasibility Analysis

Real-Time Colour and Object Detection

Computer Vision & Robotics Perception

Fused YOLOv8 real-time object detection with custom KNN classifier trained on 865 named color shades, processing live webcam streams with OpenCV.

Keywords: OpenCV, YOLOv8, KNN, Video Stream Processing, Python

Roll-Angle Measurement Device (Sagnac Interferometer)

Optical Instrumentation & Sensors

Constructed a fibre-optic Sagnac interferometer to investigate roll-angle sensing. Developed numerical integration in MATLAB to derive angular displacement from optical velocity measurements.

Keywords: Fiber Optics, Interferometry, MATLAB, Digital Signal Processing

Gymnastics Stamp-Bug and Rover

Mechatronics & Control Systems

Designed responsive mechanical chassis in Siemens NX and implemented control algorithms synchronizing motor actuation with interactive LED matrices.

Keywords: Siemens NX, Closed-loop Actuation, Mechatronics, Embedded Controls

Eco-Friendly Intra-Campus Monorail System Design

Sustainable Infrastructure & CAD • WSP Brief

Led conceptual engineering for an energy-efficient campus monorail with accessible cabins and sustainable power distribution for engineering consultancy WSP.

Keywords: CAD, Transportation Infrastructure, Sustainable Engineering, Feasibility

Engineering Job Finder Platform

NLP Automation & Web Scraping

Built a Streamlit application using spaCy NLP to parse engineering CVs and query real-time SerpApi listings for matching UK engineering vacancies.

Keywords: Python, spaCy, NLP, Streamlit, SerpApi

Technical Skills

  • Robotics & Controls: Soft Robotics, Tactile Sensing, ROS / ROS 2, State Space Control, PLC Systems, Mechatronics, Feedback Control, Variable-Impedance Actuation.
  • AI & Machine Learning: PyTorch, YOLOv8, OpenCV, U-Net, Reptile Meta-Learning, Few-Shot Segmentation, spaCy NLP, KNN.
  • Programming & Automation: Python, C++, MATLAB & Simulink, Ladder Logic, Structured Text (ST), CODESYS, Siemens PLC, Arduino.
  • CAD & Simulation: Siemens NX, CATIA, AutoCAD 2D, Webots Simulator, Raspberry Pi.

Technical Certifications

  • Learning CATIA v5 — LinkedIn Learning
  • EV Engineering Advanced Job Simulation — Ford & Forage
  • Machine Learning at the Edge — Arm & edX
  • Programming with Python Professional Certificate — OpenEDG Python Institute
  • C++ Programming Professional Certificate — OpenEDG C++ Institute
  • C Programming for Embedded Applications — LinkedIn Learning
  • Career Essentials in Software Development — Microsoft & LinkedIn Learning