Nathaniel Mailhot

Biography

Nathaniel Mailhot was recently granted his PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Ottawa. He has contributed work on aircraft dynamics simulation, flight controller software, online reinforcement learning on resource constrained hardware, and robotic systems design. As a great believer in the importance of advancing economic development through inventive entrepreneurship, he spent his graduate career immersed in work with high-tech R&D startups. This work has spanned diverse applied projects. Among the most notable are flight control designs for >100 kg UAVs, and steering lasers with MEMS mirrors for the wireless power and data delivery to a prosthetic retinal implant. His private work as a robotics engineering manager has led to the formation of a multinational drone-borne emissions monitoring consortium funded by Eurogia and NRC IRAP, as well as his successful nomination to the official ArduPilot developer team. Presently, he serves as a program coordinator for the NSERC CREATE UTILI administered by Carleton University. Through direct engagement with industry and government stakeholders, this program aims to address critical skills gaps by training scientists and engineers in the effective use of uninhabited aircraft systems to serve Canadian society.