Welcome! I'm Sean Donohoe, Ph.D.—a research engineer specializing in robotics, AI, and mechatronic systems for agriculture, infrastructure, and sustainability. With over 15 years of experience developing field-ready solutions, I combine hands-on prototyping with advanced sensing and machine learning to solve real-world problems.
This site features a selection of my projects, publications, and tools developed through academic research, industry partnerships, and my own independent endeavors. Whether you're here to explore robotic cleaning systems, AI based sensing, or mechatronics, I hope you'll find something that sparks curiosity or inspires collaboration.
Click above image for demo video: I created a VR camera platform (or a robotic head) using a RaspberryPi 4, PCA9685 board, level shiftier, servos, stereo camera, and an Android phone. I wrote the code runing on the PI in Python and the code on the phone in Java. The orange parts are all modeled in 3D and 3D printed with ball bearings pressed into critical areas.
I founded startup company and designed the first product whcih was tested with the public. Plastic parts designed for injection molding, prototypes used pressurized resin casting.
Re-designed a robotic End-effector to improve manufacturability, reduce cost, and move some components to in house manufacturing. Designed a new master-slave hydraulic control system including a new hydraulic manifold. Final product attaches to a robotic vacuum and collects tumbleweeds.
Preformed a detailed comparison between a diesel-powered metal halide lighting trailer and a novel hydrogen fuel cell powered plasma lamp trailer. Testing drove development of new LED luminaire as alternative to plasma lamps. Collected field measurements and generated isoilluminance grids, calculated uniformity, and calculated veiling luminance ratio. click here for more images
Paper available: click for reference
Developed a robotic system with a large workspace capability for the application of removing graffiti from large signs or walls. Designed an innovative mechatronics system consisting of a servo winch system with movable pulley arms together with distributed control using an Android phone as the main computer. click here for more images
Paper available: click for reference
Founded startup company and designed the first product which was presented to the public. The product solved tissue paper accessibility issues by allowing for quick access and refill using practically any type of toilet paper. Integrated flashlight and emergency whistle. Components were 3D printed and used to make molds for pressurized resin casting. These castings served to test the viability of injection molding the parts.
A preliminary patent in the USA was granted.
Developed a TensorFlow AI machine vision system concept for traffic management. System can detect vehicles and license plates. License plates can be matched as they pass by key points to ensure that every vehicle that entered an area successfully left the area. Using Tensoflow Lite, this could be run on simple android phones. click here for more images
Developed TensorFlow based object detection using state of the art Deep Learning models to detect longitudinal cracks in the road. Vision system was used as one component of a larger mechatronic system worked on by a team of engineers to develop visual servoing control that could physically trace cracks.
Programmed a VR environment using solid models and GODOT open source software to run on an Android phone. The VR environment was designed to visualize large outdoor work plans without having to setup the real test.
Developing a low cost mechatronics based Humanoid Robotic System using a RaspberryPI, an Android phone, stero cameras, absolute orientation sensors, and many servos. The system requires coordinated motion of 16 or more servo systems. The head provides stereo vision to VR glasses. The robot can be remote controlled over WiFi.
Applications: Education tool in mechatronics and/or robotics instrumentation, hobby applications, etc.
Demonstration Teaching Videos: here
Developed a VR camera platform using a RaspberryPi 4, a PCA9685 board, a level shiftier, and an Android phone. The PI is running my custom python code and the Android phone is running an app I wrote in Java. I designed the orange components in 3D and 3D printed them with an FDM printer.
Demo Operation Video: here