Engineering Portfolio · University of Toronto
Open to internships · May 2027 – Sept 2028
Hi, I'm
Ruodi Yuan
I am a mechanical engineering student at the University of Toronto pursuing minors in Bioengineering and Mechatronics & Robotics, who is passionate about racing cars 🏎️, aerospace systems, and biomedical device design.
ruodi.yuan@mail.utoronto.ca
Work / Portfolio
Selected Projects
Mechanical design, simulation, and build work spanning Formula SAE racing, aerospace systems, and hackathon builds.
All projects 10
Dual Cooling Loop System Simulation
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
Developed a physics-based MATLAB/Simulink thermal model of a dual-inverter cooling loop to predict motor temperatures under endurance race conditions, digitizing the Fischer motor's power-efficiency map into a high-resolution lookup table to establish the system's thermal boundary condition. The simulated endurance run returned a mean motor efficiency of 95.84% (ranging 86.09%–97.97%), corresponding to an average thermal loss of ~5.5 kW that the cooling system was sized to reject. The model was validated against historical endurance-run telemetry and used to evaluate cooling performance across varying vehicle speeds and thermal loads.
Dual Series Cooling Loop
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
Designed, built, and tested a full dual cooling loop system for an electric powertrain, integrating CAD design, fabrication, and real-world validation. The project included tubing assembly, sensor integration, pump priming, and bench testing to ensure reliable thermal performance under race conditions.
UT26 Drivetrain System
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
Contributed to the design, manufacturing, and assembly of the UT26 in-hub AWD drivetrain system, engineered against corner-level targets of <40 kg mass, <0.25 kg·m² moment of inertia, and <3 h assembly time, ultimately achieving a 22.304 kg unsprung mass and 0.197 kg·m² mass moment of inertia. Supported integration of motors, gearbox components, and drivetrain hardware, including FEA-validated components such as the inboard motor mount (9.24 MPa max von Mises stress, safety factor >15). The project involved hands-on manufacturing, fixture design, and assembly process development to improve reliability and ease of installation.
UT26 MAPLE — Structures
University of Toronto Aerospace Team — UAS
Worked on the structures team for a UAS aircraft, responsible for manufacturing and assembly of the fuselage and landing gear systems. This included fabrication planning, composite integration, and hands-on assembly of airframe components to ensure structural integrity and flight readiness.
UT26 Nose Landing Gear Integration
University of Toronto Aerospace Team — UAS
Redesigned the nose landing gear system to convert it from a fuselage-integrated structure into a modular, independent subassembly to improve maintainability and manufacturability. This redesign significantly simplified maintenance procedures and reduced system integration and repair complexity.
UT26 MAPLE — Arming Housing Design
University of Toronto Aerospace Team — UAS
Designed and manufactured a modular arming housing system for a UAS platform, enabling safe and efficient electrical system activation and integration. The design was 3D printed and iteratively improved through multiple design cycles in collaboration with other subteams.
Red Lamp — Companion Robot
UofTHacks 13
A companion robot that detects student emotion during solo study sessions and provides encouragement against isolation and burnout.
Planet Shafts Redesign
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
Redesigned the planet shaft component within the drivetrain's 11.97:1 compound planetary gearbox to improve manufacturability and serviceability, validating the new geometry against peak planetary-stage torque using FEA — achieving a maximum von Mises stress of 77.99 MPa with a minimum safety factor of 15 — before machining to tight tolerances. Gearbox-wide webbing optimization contributed to a 14% weight reduction (830.7 g → 711.49 g) while maintaining a predicted gearbox fatigue life of 580 hours.
P&G Marketing Campaign
2025 Engineering Business Future Case Competition
Worked in a team of four to develop a marketing strategy for Vicks Early Defense Nasal Spray, targeting increased household penetration using Porter's Five Forces and PESTLE, and delivered a clear, evidence-based presentation praised for its clarity and feasibility.
Autonomous Face-Tracking Robot
MakeUofT Hackathon 2026
Autonomous robot with real-time face detection and navigation, integrating computer vision, motor control, and a 3D-printed structure.
More Coming Soon
🐾🐾🐾
Tinah is working hard...
Roles / Teams
Leadership & Experience 🏁
Leadership and team experience behind the projects — across Formula SAE Racing and the UofT Aerospace Team.
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
- Led vehicle dynamics simulation and performance optimization using VI-CarRealTime, MATLAB, Dil and Adams Car, analyzing lap-time sensitivity, vehicle response, and handling performance across multiple vehicle configurations.
- Developed a vehicle performance envelope using simulation data to characterize acceleration, braking, cornering, and tire-force limits across representative operating conditions.
- Performed mass sensitivity analysis and established vehicle mass targets projected to reduce lap time by approximately 3% relative to the previous-year vehicle.
- Developed and maintained vehicle dynamics analysis workflows in MATLAB, including automated simulation post-processing, parameter sweeps, and performance visualization to support setup and design decisions.
- Performed suspension, and steering analysis, including suspension-link load correlation between Adams Car simulations and vehicle dynamics models within 20% difference to validate predicted loads.
- Supported DIL testing and validation, coordinating test parameters, and maintaining test workflows
- Maintained and compiled vehicle dynamics software PRs, supporting integration, validation, and deployment of simulation and testing updates.
University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing
- Co-led drivetrain architecture development for the team's first AWD Formula SAE EV race car and performed PM motor assembly.
- Designed a custom rotor alignment tool to enable safe, precise, and repeatable installation given strong magnetic attraction forces.
- Produced GD&T-compliant drawings, cost analysis, and manufacturing documentation for the inboard motor mount, planet shafts, and motor bearing.
- Designed and validated a dual inverter cooling system in Simulink and ANSYS, sized from a digitized motor efficiency map.
- Presented drivetrain architecture and engineering decisions to industry judges at Formula SAE Michigan 2026.
University of Toronto Aerospace Team
- Leads the design of an autonomous moving payload for the SAE Aero Design Advanced Class mission, focused on lightweight, reliable mechanisms.
- Developing navigation, capture, and release mechanisms through CAD, rapid prototyping, and engineering trade studies.
University of Toronto Aerospace Team
- Designed and iteratively refined payload pickup/release mechanisms for a hybrid V/STOL aircraft, validated through 3D-printed prototypes.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with control and avionics teams to align mechanical design with mission requirements.
- Contributed to landing gear design and fuselage structural integration, designing for maintenance accessibility.
Behind every role
See the projects that came out of these teams →
Recognition
Honors & Awards 🏆
Engineering competitions, academic excellence, and math olympiad recognition — spanning hackathons, case competitions, and university honours.
UofTHacks 13 · January 2026
2nd Place — Hack the Human–Robot Experience
Built Red Lamp, a companion robot for students tackling isolation and burnout — awarded 2nd place out of all teams competing in the Human-Robot Experience track. Integrated Raspberry Pi, Arduino, sensors, LEDs, and custom 3D-printed parts under a 24-hour hackathon constraint.
Waterloo Euclid Contest
Top 25%
Centre for Education in Mathematics · 2024
Canadian Open Math Competition
Distinction
COMC · 2023
Waterloo Fermat
Top 25%
Centre for Education in Mathematics · 2023
Waterloo Hypatia
Top 25%
Centre for Education in Mathematics · 2023
Curious what these led to?
Explore the projects behind the wins →
Capabilities
Skills & Tools ⚙️
From thermal simulation and FEA to embedded robotics and full-stack web — here's what I work with, and how confidently.
Software
Hardware
Systems
Analysis
Engineering Software
Programming
Fabrication & Manufacturing
Embedded & Hardware
Data & Analysis
Certifications & Languages
Certified 3DEXPERIENCE Mechanical & Shape Designer - CATIA Associate
View CredentialDassault Systèmes · July 2026
Basic Machining — Lathe, Mill, Drill Press
George Brown College · Oct 2025
CPR & First Aid
Canadian Red Cross · Sept 2024
See it all in action
These skills power every project →
Background
About Me
Mechanical Engineering student at UofT — with minors in Bioengineering and Mechatronics & Robotics. I transferred from Life Sciences and I think that matters.
I'm Ruodi Yuan, a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Toronto St. George, pursuing a Certificate in Engineering Business and a minor in Bioengineering and Robotics & Mechatronics. I transferred into engineering from Life Sciences, and I believe that cross-disciplinary background gives me a unique perspective — blending biological intuition with rigorous mechanical and systems thinking. I'm proficient in industry-standard tools including SolidWorks (Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate), MATLAB, Simulink, ANSYS FEA, and Catia, which I apply regularly to real-world design and simulation challenges.
As Vehicle Dynamics Lead, and previously Drivetrain Lead, for the University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing team, I oversee mechanical design, manufacturing documentation, and thermal system simulation, including developing a standalone cooling loop model and working on motor assembly with permanent magnets. My work extends well beyond the computer — I'm actively involved in hands-on machining and manufacturing, coordinating fabrication processes and ensuring designs translate effectively from CAD to physical components. I also lead payload design for the UofT Aerospace team's SAE Aero Design entry, building on prior work designing arming housings and a modular nose landing gear subassembly for a hybrid V/STOL aircraft. Beyond hardware, I have strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, JavaScript, HTML, and MySQL, with experience in machine learning, data preprocessing, and web application development through both academic competitions and professional work.
Want to know more?
Dig into the work or get in touch →
Open to opportunities
Let's build something
interesting together.
I'm seeking engineering internships for May – Sept 2027. Whether it's mechanical design, thermal systems, robotics, or anything that involves making things go fast — I'd love to chat.
Reach me at
What I love working on
Typically responds within 24 hours — unless I'm in the shop or on the track 🏁
Project
Overview
Project Overview
Gallery
Photo Gallery
Highlights
Key Features
Process