UC Santa Cruz · Slugbotics
Meet the people building SOMARS — one subteam at a time.
Structure
Autonomous drones span mechanical engineering, electronics, real-time software, computer vision, and simulation. Subteams let members specialize deeply while collaborating across the entire platform.
Each subteam owns a core layer of the drone stack, working in parallel so progress moves fast across the entire system.
Subteams
Airframe design, carbon fiber fabrication, payload systems, and structural testing.
Flight controllers, firmware, companion computers, and autonomous controls.
Computer vision pipelines for target detection and autonomous navigation.
Gazebo-based simulation of flight behaviors before real-world testing.
FAQ
Not necessarily. Most members focus on one subteam first to build depth, then branch out once they're comfortable.
Yes — talk with the subteam leads and we'll help you transition. People switch when their interests evolve or they want a new challenge.
No prior drone or robotics experience required. Curiosity and consistency matter far more than what you already know.
All majors. We need mechanical engineers, computer scientists, electrical engineers, and anyone excited about autonomous systems.
Join Us
Most of our work happens in SlugWorks (BE-49). Complete the safety training Canvas module and join our Discord to stay in the loop on meetings and announcements.
Check meeting times on each subteam page. If times don't work, reach out — we reschedule at the start of every quarter to fit everyone.
Once you've explored, pick a primary subteam and start taking on tasks — CAD, firmware, vision code, simulation scripts, whatever the group needs.