Nathaniel's Portfolio
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About Me
I'm Nathaniel Neo, a Year 2 Design & Artificial Intelligence undergraduate at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). I build computational systems that bring together mathematics, engineering, and human-centred design, turning complex ideas into things that feel intuitive and genuinely useful.
My path wasn't a straight line: from struggling in school, to graduating ITE as valedictorian, then Temasek Polytechnic, and now SUTD. That journey taught me resilience and humility, and a belief that good technology should reach people, not stay trapped behind a screen.
Beyond building, I've served as Chairman of the Teck Ghee Youth Network for 9+ years, leading community and social-impact work. I'm happiest making something that works beautifully and leaves the people around it better off.
Projects
Tap a project to read the full story.
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SUTD × LionsBot Singapore · Product Design Studio
Over a four-month industry design studio with LionsBot Singapore, I co-designed Keeper, a fully motorised housekeeping trolley that takes the physical strain out of hotel housekeeping. Working under a Double Diamond framework, we tackled labour constraints, inventory tracking and ergonomics in commercial hospitality.
- Integrated load-cells for automatic linen weighing & live inventory tracking
- Power-assisted motorised drive that removes pushing strain
- Active UV sterilisation built into the workflow
- Human-centred, zero-strain housekeeping experience
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Biomedical Engineering & 3D Printing · Temasek Polytechnic
An adaptive prosthetic hand driven by EMG muscle sensors. I reverse-engineered the finger kinematics and 3D-printed lightweight compliance-mechanism joints, so the hand flexes and grips naturally rather than rigidly.
- EMG muscle-sensor control
- Reverse-engineered finger kinematics
- 3D-printed compliant (compliance-mechanism) joints
- Lightweight, low-cost build
🏆 1st Place, Forevertrust Projects Prize 2022
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Design Thinking & Computer Vision · SUTD
A low-cost smart classroom whiteboard that turns an ordinary surface into a collaborative canvas. It combines hand-tracking OpenCV computer vision, custom PCB electronics, and ergonomic 3D-printed modular pen holders.
- OpenCV hand / gesture computer vision
- Custom PCB electronics
- 3D-printed modular, ergonomic pen holders
- Affordable and classroom-ready
★ Voted a top academic project among 500+ SUTD freshmores
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Robotics & Hardware · Singapore International Robo Expo · ITE
A custom self-driving car built from the ground up to represent ITE at the Singapore International Robo Expo. I coded the real-time routing logic and designed the hardware that carries it.
- Real-time pathfinding & automated vehicle routing
- Customised electrical wiring layouts
- Infrared sensor arrays & sensor management
- Custom hardware housing / chassis
★ Selected to represent ITE at the Singapore International Robo Expo
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Entrepreneurship & Growth · SUTD TIIDE Program · Hangzhou, China
During the SUTD TIIDE program in Hangzhou, China, I built business models and retention designs across two ventures, with industry visits (including Alibaba) and a final pitch on-stage at Zhejiang University (ZJU).
- Rune-X: member-retention systems & AI retention models
- MirrorSoul: software product & repositories
- Pitched on-stage at Zhejiang University (ZJU)
Accomplishments
- 01 ITE College Central Valedictorian: perfect 4.0 GPA, Course Gold Medalist & IES Engineering Award.
- 02 Forevertrust International Prize (1st): Temasek Polytechnic biomedical design, 2022.
- 03 SUTD: 4.43 GPA, TIIDE Innovation Scholar & Singapore Industry Scholarship (SgIS) recipient.
- 04 What The Hack: Best Hack (1st), SUTD Hackathon 2024; Baby Shark Prototyping Fund 2025.
- 05 Chairman, Teck Ghee Youth Network: 9+ years of grassroots & civic leadership.
- 06 Featured by Lianhe Zaobao, Wanbao & The New Paper: community work and a PSLE-to-valedictorian turnaround.
Contact
The fastest ways to reach me live here.