About Me
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Nykin Leskiw Portfolio
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Electrical Engineering Student | University of Waterloo
Passionate about robotics, embedded systems, and hardware design.
Electro-Mechanical Pinball Machine
Electro-Mechanical Pinball Machine
Circuit design | Mechanical Design | Coding
Circuit design | Mechanical Design | Coding
Used CAD to design and fabricate mechanical components for the cabinet, 3D-printed guides, prototype flippers, & drop targets, ensuring precise alignment/mounting of electronics, & reliable operation of gameplay mechanisms
Built a custom power delivery system with AC–DC conversion, boost/buck converters, MOSFET-driven solenoids with PWM & flyback diodes to reliably operate high-current actuators while ensuring component longevity and thermal safety
Developed non-blocking control software in C on a Raspberry Pi to process real-time sensor inputs and coordinate servo, stepper, and solenoid actuation, achieving smooth and responsive gameplay-component interactions
Self-directed AI-driven learning
18V Line Test
Calculated required amps to step 12V to 18V for 2 solenoids
Conducted load calculations on power supply
Tested AC-DC 12v power supply into boost converters sending 18V to solenoids (no MOSFETs)
Tuned boost voltage to control flipper power
Adding MOSFETs
Learned how to use MOSFETs (N vs P-channel)
Conducted small-scale wiring & code logic test turning on LED using 9V battery, MOSFET, and 3.3V GPIO from Raspberry Pi
Implemented tested concept for 18V and solenoid control
PWM & Flyback Diode
Flippers only need initial 18V kick, then can hold at a lower voltage
Incorporated PWM on MOSFET gate GPIO after kick to allow constant solenoid engagement without overheating
adjusted for 18v kick, 2V hold
Added flyback diode for component protection against inductive load switching
5V Line Tests
Added Buck converters to power Pi, 3 servo motors, stepper motor, and IR sensors
wired servo motors and limit switches from drop targets to PI to control reset & granting points
Configured GPIO buttons as active-low inputs
wired GPIO for 3.3V gate MOSFET activation
Mechanical Design
Started with concept drawings
Transitioned to a scale drawing of the playing area
CAD modeled each part individually
CAD assembly to make sure parts fit
4+ days of print time
All parts were 3D printed or wood
Flipper Mechanism
2 iterations of flipper mechanism
Conducted tests on stroke length vs angle of rotation of bat
Pre-tested mounting solenoids on scrap wood before installation
Solenoid plunger pushes paddle, rotating pinball bat above
Drop Targets
Designed targets in CAD with mounting holes for limit switch, rubber band tension, and servo motor reset
Tested cutting slots for targets before installation
Case
Cut using tablesaw to house electronics
designed to hold pinball playing field, but also allow for easy removal/repair
holds playing field at a consistent 6.5 degree angle for gameplay
University of Calgary Research Project
University of Calgary Research Project
Machine Learning | Python
Machine Learning | Python
Brain Imaging Team
Tuned Random Forest regressor (depth/estimators sweep) across 900+ trials; reduced test MAE to 2.23 years for brain-age prediction
Learned and conducted a GWAS to find significant SNPs associated with a large age gap estimation. Recorded significant SNPs on a Manhattan plot to be incorporated back into the regression model
ubox2.mp4
ubox1.mp4Arduino "Useless Machine"
Arduino "Useless Machine"
Circuit design | Mechanical Design | Coding
Circuit design | Mechanical Design | Coding
Built a Useless Box using an Arduino mini
Powered by rechargeable AA batteries, using 2 servo motors to control the manipulation of the box lid and switch.
Concept design drawings were then prototyped in cardboard and MDF. Final project completed in hardwood oak.
Light Following Robot
Light Following Robot
PCB Design | Mass Manufacturing
PCB Design | Mass Manufacturing
Designed a new PCB for a light following robot kit to reduce program costs.
Milled 60 circuit boards for the year's incoming class.
Mass-manufactured 200+ light-following PCBs for future use.
Troubleshot mass manufacturing challenges.
Streamlined assembly with prepared component kits and mentored junior lab assistants to sustain future production.
Created with GameMaker 2025-10-05 21-35-54.mp4
Game Design
Game Design
Coding | Problem Solving | Game Play
Coding |Problem solving |Game Play
Designed and developed an original game concept using GML, a high-level, C-style scripting language using object-oriented logic (objects, events, scripts, etc.).
Created all artwork, animations, and sound assets.
Programmed core gameplay mechanics and synchronized music and sound FX with player actions.
Implemented full game functionality through iterative testing and problem-solving.
VEX Robotics - Competitive Team -3 Years
VEX Robotics - Competitive Team -3 Years
Circuit Design | Mechanical Design | Coding | Sensors
Circuit Design | Mechanical Design | Coding | Sensors
Team Captain & Lead Mechanical Designer | VEX Robotics Sep 2022 - May 2025
Led the development of key systems for the competition robot (drivetrain, intake, & climbing subsystems)
Incorporated a PTO system into the drive train to transfer motor power to the climbing mechanism
Coordinated design, build, and programming efforts to integrate mechanical and software subsystems under strict competition timelines
Designed and built multiple drivetrain–intake iterations, applying friction analysis and iterative prototyping to maximize sensor efficiency and minimize drift, which contributed to consistent autonomous performance & top autonomous score in Alberta
Directed teams of 6 - 12 over 3 years - First in the school's history to earn an invitation to Vex Worlds.
Achieved 1st place at Alberta Provincial Championship & 4th in the World Championships Research Division (2025)
World Robotics Research Division - Create Award for innovative, creative engineering design and game play strategies.
Digital Dice
Digital Dice
PCB design, manufacturing, and assembly skills were used to make an electronic dice circuit.
Used 555 and 4017 IC chips to cycle between diodes controlling dice outputs
Used PCB design software (Express PCB) and CNC mill to design & manufacture circuit board.
LED Design
LED Design
Designed and manufactured my own LED display.
Used ExpressPCB for layout
Used a CNC mill to drill component holes and cut paths.
Design inspired by the Legend of Zelda.
Creative 3-D Print and Paint
Creative 3-D Print and Paint
Creative Conductivity Tester
Creative Conductivity Tester
3D Design | Mechanical Design
3D Design | Mechanical Design
3D Design | Circuit Design
Designed and 3D printed a case to house a circuit board I created.
Designed CAD model in Autodesk Inventor to house a 9V battery, homemade conductivity tester PCB, and routing for wiring both to the battery and out the bottom of the pineapple.
Features a screw top for easy removal of battery. Used black "test prints" for tolerance testing; parts are pressure-fitted together & can be fully disassembled.
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