The #teamTTPSC is full of talented individuals who excel at work and participate in inspiring projects outside of it. Darek, our Junior IoT Specialist, is a great example of how balancing work with involvement in student projects can shape not only professional skills, but also passions and interests. The interview was conducted by Milena Szymanska, Employer Branding Team Lead.
Darek, tell us about what you do at TT PSC.
I joined TT as a Junior IoT Specialist. I work on the Vimana project where I am responsible for writing and maintaining software enabling the acquisition and monitoring of parameters for numerically controlled machine tools. Due to close collaboration with clients, my experience in such a production environment, knowledge of CNC machine construction and operation principles, and even reading technical documentation to verify received data have proven to be useful. The field I operate in may seem relatively simple due to possible support from machine manufacturers and the long presence of machine tools on the market. However, this is far from the truth; I often encounter old or complete lack of documentation, and the very risk of affecting machine operation negatively, which could lead to accidents, increases the responsibility for the software I create. It requires anticipating many device operation scenarios or human-machine interactions. All these factors make me consider my project as one of the most interesting and demanding ones I’ve participated in.
What field of study did you complete and at which university?
I started my journey in the industry by enrolling in a mechatronics-focused technical high school, where, besides vocational qualifications, I obtained a certificate in programming and operating CNC machine tools. The next step was university studies. Due to my broad interest in robotics, I chose Automation and Robotics (later Automation and Robot Control) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Lodz University of Technology. During my studies, I participated in many internships, working both in maintenance departments and engineering positions optimizing production. One of the more interesting internships was in the LEAN department, where we were tasked with developing and implementing improvements to the production process. It was also when I started my involvement in the Student Scientific Circle of Robotics (SKaNeR) and joined the Raptors team building Mars rovers and drones.
What do you do in the scientific circle?
A tough question; within the competitive robotics section (a separate group), I am one of the technical organizers of the Sumo Challenge event held at the Lodz University of Technology campus. As part of the Raptors team, as one of the more senior active members, jokingly dubbed as the “golden hand,” I undertake any task. I specialize mainly in vision systems, both analyzing recordings and real-time data. In my engineering work, I developed a communication and remote control system for the robot, and in my master’s thesis, I used a thermal camera for material detection and surface defect detection. I’m responsible for team communication channels and collaborate with marketing to maintain the team’s website. Sometimes I also help colleagues working at a lower level. Currently, as a mentor, I support the programming section and supervise efforts to introduce autonomy to our robots. Of course, the scientific circle is not just work but also a lot of fun, laughter, and integration 😊
Tell us more about “Łazik” (Mars Rover) project you’re involved in.
Currently, about 50 people are involved in the project. We focus not only on robotics in terms of mechanics, electronics, and programming but also on biochemistry and marketing. Our main goal and the vision of the whole team is to construct a Mars rover (UGV) (as a curiosity, I can say we’re working on its new project). Additionally, the growing popularity of drones (UAVs) has pushed us to research their development and cooperation possibilities with land robots. Our greatest test of achievement is our presence at many international competitions over the years. They largely consist of a series of tasks or competitions where mobility, the ability to interact with the environment, and sometimes the pilot’s skills are evaluated. Navigation, environment mapping, and onboard vision systems are crucial. Achieving top positions motivates us for further development. We also operate in the public sphere; you can find us at many exhibitions, technology fairs, or even on television. Our marketing section works actively on social media, launching new channels that I highly recommend checking out and following 😊.
What is Sumo Challenge?
The competitive robotics section focuses on building robots for sumo battles or line followers. Sumo Challenge is a cornerstone event in the Polish robotics calendar. Last November, the 13th edition took place, with over 350 participants (including foreigners) and 280 registered robots across 15 competitions. During the event, you can observe robot battles in sumo categories divided by weight and dimensions, while simultaneously there are line follower races, micro mouse challenges, and other minor competitions.
Finally, tell us how you balance your work at TT PSC with your work in the scientific circle?
It’s definitely a challenge; working in the circle can be seen as an additional half-time job. Due to the inability to participate in foreign trips, sometimes it’s necessary to change the daily schedule to be active during late-night hours and support the team. As they say, you do anything for a hobby. The connection with work is certainly visible in how I currently conduct projects; they are much more organized and systematized. On the other hand, the circle allows me to experiment with new technologies and problem-solving capabilities, which, in the case of project work, could be too risky to implement.
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