Rover Works

Modular Automated Guided Vehicle | Purdue Senior Design

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The Project

Rover Works addresses the critical gap in the market for affordable warehouse automation. While existing industrial solutions often cost upwards of $30,000, our Modular Automated Guided Vehicle (MAGV) targets a disruptive retail price point near $2,000, making advanced automation accessible for small-to-medium facilities.

The base unit is a robust 12V system designed to carry payloads of 30 lbs at speeds up to 4 MPH. Its defining feature is a unique interchangeable top-module system that allows operators to swap between a Conveyor Module and a Pin Docking Unit in under 60 seconds, offering unprecedented versatility.

Navigation is controlled via a sophisticated sensor array and a custom-built AGV Planner Interface. This system enables precise line following, intelligent obstacle detection via sonar, and logic-based routing, proving that low-cost modular automation is both practical and economically attractive.

System Demonstration
Final Design Poster

Explore our detailed engineering analysis, structural validation, and full system architecture.

View / Download Poster (PDF)
The Team
Carlos Serrano

Carlos Serrano

Chief Engineer & Manufacturing Manager
Born in Mexico with Colombian heritage, Carlos served as the Chief Engineer for Rover Works. He brings high-volume production experience from Tesla (Body in White Line) and Dana Inc., where he specialized in process simulation, tooling design, and maximizing production output. He also served as the Manufacturing Lead for EPICS.
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Borja Echevarria

Borja Echevarria

Mechanical Engineering Lead
Born in Spain, Borja led the mechanical design and vehicle dynamics analysis. With professional experience at Cummins (Drivetrain) and ArcelorMittal, he specializes in failure analysis and fixture design. He previously served as a Vehicle Dynamics Engineer for Purdue Electric Racing and a Financial Analyst for the Purdue Trading Club.
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Daniel Purcell

Daniel Purcell

Project Manager & Analysis Lead
Born in Puerto Rico, Daniel served as the Project Manager. He brings aerospace expertise from Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin), where he worked on Black Hawk airframe structures, and Pratt & Whitney. His focus includes structural integrity analysis, component design, and overseeing complex system integration.
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Carles Pascuet

Carles Pascuet

Controls Lead
Born in Andorra, Carles led the controls and logic systems. He has extensive operations experience from Amazon, where he managed transshipment optimization projects, and Talgo as a Systems Engineer. He specializes in operational efficiency, logic-based routing, and systems reliability.
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Samuel Zapata

Samuel Zapata

Electrical Lead
Born in Colombia, Samuel served as the Electrical Lead. His background includes Manufacturing Engineering at Amazon, focusing on automated conveyance, and Mechanical Engineering at Kiewit. He specializes in PLC logic, electrical systems integration, continuous improvement, and reliability engineering.
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