Hiya! I'm

Vela Benedicto

Electrical Engineering · UC San Diego · vbenedicto@ucsd.edu

I love learning and collaborating with driven people! Feel free to reach out :D

Email Me! LinkedIn

Skills

Hardware Altium, EasyEDA, Soldering, KiCAD, PCB Design

Coding Arduino, Python, Java, C

Mechanical Autodesk Inventor, Fusion 360, Onshape, 3D Printing

Tools Google Sheets, Google Colab, Excel

Ongoing

Research Position

Integrated Systems Neuroengineering (ISN) Lab

Undergrad Research Assistant Dec 2025 – Present
  • Designing PCBs in Altium integrating data acquisition from 5 sensors (EEG, PPG, temp, IMU) for an in-ear biosensor
  • Using Autodesk Inventor to create mechanical model for the PCB
Media coming soon
Research Position

Advanced Robotics and Controls (ARC) Lab

Undergrad Researcher Apr 2026 – Present
  • Project: Portable Haptic Assisted Bimanual System (PHABS) --> aim for paper submission in Sept 2026
  • Modeled electronics rig in Fusion 360
  • Calibrating AD4058B encoder, GM2280B motor, SimpleFOC motor driver w/ Arduino Mega
Media coming soon
Engineering Org

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

Avionics Member Oct 2025 – Present
  • Responsible for design, validation, and assembly of PCBs and hardware for Riptide — aiming to be the world's first soft-landing, reusable vehicle at the collegiate level
  • Currently designing next PCB using Altium, Autodesk Inventor, and Fusion 360 to house controls sensors
SEDS project image 1
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Engineering Org

Triton Robotics

Electronics Apprentice Oct 2025 – Present
  • Designing PCBs and overseeing wiring/component management among 3 robots (autonomous and driver-controlled) in the annual RoboMaster North America competition
  • Created slip ring breakout board to connect 6 power wires and 11-12 signals wires for each robot
  • Designing Nucleo Breakout board for embedded integration
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Paid Job

Qualcomm Institute Makerspace

Makerspace Intern Mar 2025 – Present
  • Wired and drilled 3-phase contactor, current sensor, Fabman onto vertical bandsaw
  • Mentor and guide students in using fabrication tools, electronics equipment, and workshop resources
  • Manage and maintain equipment (reflow oven, digital magnifiers, solder stations, etc.), 3D printers (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa), laser cutters, CNC routers, heavy power machinery
Qualcomm Institute Makerspace
Qualcomm Institute Makerspace 2
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Projects

1st Place — MLH Hard Hacks @ UCSD · Advanced Track: Security

The Vault

January 2025 · UCSD Hard Hacks

4-layer encrypted safe focused on hardware implementation and software integration. Built with a 4×4 membrane keypad, fingerprint scanner, camera, Odin1 LiDAR (facial recognition), Arduino Mega 2560, 24V–12V buck converter, and Intel NUC. All 3D components modeled in Autodesk Inventor; assembled in-house.

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1st Place — UCSD IEEE Fall Quarterly Projects

Armillary Sphere

September – November 2025

Select a celestial object on an LCD display and a laser automatically rotates to point in its direction. Used Autodesk Inventor to integrate hardware and software; all parts 3D printed and assembled in-house.

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1st Place Nationals — SkillsUSA · Published in CSUN

C.A.S.E. Air Quality Monitor

September 2022 – June 2023

1st at SkillsUSA Nationals (top 1 of 6,000+ state champions), $1,750 grant, and published in CSUN's Journal of Student Research Abstracts. Low-cost touchscreen air quality monitor using MQ2, DHT11, and PMS1003 sensors with custom 3D prints. Achieved 40% lower cost than commercial models while meeting EPA AQI standards.

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Experience

2x Worlds Qualifying

FIRST Robotics Comp: 589 Falkon Robotics

Design Co-Lead & Electronics Lead Jan 2022 – May 2025
  • Produced full CAD in Autodesk Inventor and directed subsystem integration and season progress
  • Modeled custom components: sensor casings, brackets, and electronics belly pan using Bambu, Prusa, and CNC
  • Implemented and maintained robot electronics architecture (power distribution, sensors, CAN, wiring reliability)
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Research Presentation

Caltech SEAL (Sustainable Energy Activity Lab)

Co-President, Secretary, Member Sep 2021 – May 2025 Pasadena, CA
  • Directed a 15-member student research team investigating optimal MFC electrode materials through weekly experiments, peer discussion, and data analysis under two Ph.D graduates
  • Determined platinum-coated carbon produced peak power (273 μW) compared to copper and carbon
  • Delivered annual research presentations at the Beckman Institute to Caltech faculty, graduates, and students
Research Presentation

UC Santa Cruz COSMOS

Research Student Jul – Aug 2024 Santa Cruz, CA
  • Applied principles of quantum physics/chemistry to analyze semiconductor behavior and presented to 300+ people
  • Research: Analyzing Depletion Layer Thickness in Concentrated Photovoltaics — used Oghma Nano simulations to model how varied layer thickness influences recombination time and efficiency in multijunction solar cells
Research Presentation

USC SHINE Summer Research Program

Summer Research Intern Jul – Aug 2023 Los Angeles, CA
  • Collaborated with two graduate students under Dr. Bogdan in the Cyber-Physical Systems Lab
  • Research: Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Mutations Through Deep Learning Algorithms and Z Descriptor Properties
Paid Job

Mathnasium

Mathematics Instructor Oct 2023 – Jun 2025 La Crescenta, CA
  • Provided personalized (1-on-1 or groups of 4) math explanations and learning strategies tailored to students' grade level and abilities
  • Explained grades K–12 math concepts to develop student understanding
  • Strengthened students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills through targeted exercises

Awards & Recognition