Marthens Hakizimana

Hello, I'm Marthens — a Robotics and Control Engineer in Training, currently a PhD student in Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University and BCIT, with a research focus on Physical AI and robotic welding systems.

My work sits at the intersection of embedded systems, motion control, and artificial intelligence. From building in-pipe welding robotic arms with custom embedded controllers, to integrating LLMs and VLMs into live robotic welding loops, I'm driven by the challenge of making machines smarter, safer, and more capable. I believe the next frontier isn't just writing code — it's teaching robots to think.

What sets my approach apart is end-to-end, full-stack hardware-software experience. I've worked across the entire stack — from electrical wiring and drive-stage integration alongside the PCB designer, to embedded firmware on DSPs and ARM MCUs, all the way up to high-level control algorithms and software interfaces. This gives me a distinct edge when designing and optimizing control algorithms: I understand the hardware constraints first-hand — actuator dynamics, sensor noise floors, communication latencies, and computational limits — and use that knowledge to make smarter implementation decisions rather than treating the hardware as a black box.

Beyond the lab, I'm an athlete at heart. I love football, running (marathons included), and hiking above the cloud line. Whether I'm tuning a position controller or racing along the Vancouver seawall, I bring the same mindset: precision, persistence, and a passion for pushing limits.