Project Highlights
My work is driven by the intersection of hardware efficiency, digital sovereignty, and educational accessibility. Here are the key initiatives I have led and developed.
1. The Circular Manufacturing Ecosystem (Ongoing)
Focus: Sustainability, Hardware Enablement, & Localized Production
To solve the "low-equilibrium trap" in Pakistan’s startup scene, I am developing a Hardware Enablement Platform.
- The Challenge: High costs of imported 3D printing filament (PLA) stifle student innovation.
- The Solution: Building a low-cost Filament Extruder that processes local plastic waste (scrap) into usable 3D printing material.
- Innovation: Utilizing "Jugaad" engineering—such as modifying wood auger bits for shear heating—to bypass expensive imported industrial screws.
- Goal: To deploy Micro-Factories in universities, providing students with a "business-in-a-box" model to modernize traditional local industries.
- Shutterstock
2. F1 in Schools: Pakistan’s National Debut
Role: Team Leader & Lead Engineer
I led the first-ever Pakistani team to compete in the international F1 in Schools competition, coordinated through NUST.
- Technical Execution: Designed a miniature F1 car using SOLIDWORKS and conducted high-level Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Ansys to optimize aerodynamics.
- Manufacturing: Managed a hybrid production pipeline using CNC machining for the main chassis and 3D printing for intricate aerodynamic components like wings and tires.
- Impact: Pioneered a framework for Pakistani students to engage in world-class aerodynamic research and rapid prototyping.
3. Industrial Robotics Research (Habib University)
Role: Research Intern
Collaborated with industry leaders like Toyota and Dawlance to automate manufacturing chains through advanced robotics.
- Scope: Conducted Degrees of Freedom (DoF) analysis and workspace optimization for industrial-scale robotic arms.
- Design: Spearheaded actuator and gearbox selection, balancing torque requirements with local procurement limitations.
- Outcome: Finalized a theoretical design integrating hardware, electronics, and motion control ready for iterative testing via laser-cut and 3D-printed prototypes.
4. Self-Hosted Infrastructure & The "Database Saga"
Focus: DevOps, Data Privacy, & Cloud Engineering
I built a robust, private cloud environment on a VPS to maintain total control over my digital assets and data.
- Infrastructure: Deployed a stack using Docker, Dockge, and Caddy as a reverse proxy with automated SSL.
- The Ghost Migration: Successfully migrated a Ghost 5.x deployment from SQLite to MySQL 8 to ensure enterprise-grade stability.
- Communication: Configured an eturnal (TURN) server with specific UDP firewall rules to bypass P2P limitations, enabling seamless video calls through Nextcloud Talk.
- Services: Manages Nextcloud (storage), Trilium (knowledge management), and Kavita (digital library).
5. Astro Spark: Dynamic Publishing Platform (Paid Project)
Focus: Web Development & Community Engagement
Developed www.astrospark.site (closed), a dynamic article and newsletter platform built on the Ghost CMS (Node.js).
- Features: Integrated a secure membership system, newsletter subscriptions, and a customized Instagram feed API.
- Impact: Created a space for streamlined content delivery, fostering a sense of community through exclusive member-only content and intuitive onboarding.
6. CRP: Programming & Game Development Curriculum
Role: Instructor (Heuser & Cedar College)
Designed and delivered project-based curricula for students transitioning from zero knowledge to applied proficiency.
- Pedagogy: Moved away from "step-by-step" tutorials in favor of story-driven scenarios and open-ended problem decomposition.
- Outcome: Mentored students through the development of eight complete 2D/3D games using Python, C, and the raylib graphics library, emphasizing computational thinking over rote memorization.