About Us

Our Mission

Inspiring students to build robots.

Building robots to inspire students.

Team Before Machine (TBM)

At McGill Robotics, our motto is "Team Before Machine." We prioritize the well-being and growth of our members above all else, believing that their success is fundamental to our overall achievements.

To foster a strong sense of community, we organize weekly activities outside the workshop. These events, designed and led by our members, provide valuable opportunities to connect and build relationships beyond the academic setting.

Our Achievements

  • Our AUV team successfully qualified for the 2024 Robosub competition. During the competition, the team was able to perform and qualify for the semifinals where they faced off against the best teams from all around the world. They ranked 9th for overall design and documentation.

  • The drone team placed 4th out of 69 teams in the mission demonstration. In addition, they were awarded the Dawn Jaeger Tenacity Award for their team spirit during the competition.

  • Our rover team successfully operated a fully functioning robot scoring points in every task and placing 12th overall.

Community & Outreach at McGill Robotics

McGill Robotics mission is to inspire students to build robots and to build robots that inspire students. We believe it is important to give back to the community which is why we are an organization that advances the field of robotics but also nurtures a community that values sustainability, collaboration, and education.

About Us

Our Story

Co-Founded by Michael Elliot King and Nick Speal in 2013, McGill Robotics began with only the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle project and has expanded to include a Mars Rover and Drone project. As the largest engineering design team at McGill, we pride ourselves on giving students a platform to accelerate their technical and team-building skills and work in a fast-paced innovative environment.

— Racha Slaoui, PM at Google and Team Alumn

“MR gave me more confidence in my ability to tackle technical problems leading me to take on more technical roles earlier in my career which paid dividends in the long run. The interpersonal skills I also developed helped my career growth significantly, by being comfortable presenting and defending my ideas in front of leadership from the onset of my career, distinguishing myself from peers.”

More about what we do:

Unlike the typical engineering curriculum, our members develop industry-ready skillsets. It’s no wonder why the majority of our alumni in the past 10 years have gone on to start their own businesses or work for Fortune 100 technology companies. While the average tenure on our team is around two years, the experiences and friendships students make while at McGill Robotics will last them a lifetime. This year, we’re proud to be competing in competitions for all our projects. The first will be in June at the SUAS international drone competition in Maryland. In July we will be attending the annual RoboSub Autonomy Challenge in San Diego, California and in August the CIRC in Drumheller, Alberta.

Our Advisors

  • Dr. Meyer Nahon

    Professor of Mechanical Engineerig & Team Supervisor

  • Dr. Gregory Dudek

    James McGill Professor, VP Research Samsung AI Center

  • Colin Gallacher

    Co-Founder and President of Haply Robotics

  • Dr. James Forbes

    Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering