What this is: We’re retrofitting a standard 24V electric walkie pallet truck into an autonomous
unit. The autonomy software is already written and runs in simulation — your job is the hardware
bring-up: drive-by-wire, sensors, and getting it driving itself in a cordoned area. This is
integration and fabrication, not writing an autonomy stack from scratch.
Location: On-site, Los Angeles (90021). Full-time for the contract.
Duration: 1–2 weeks, start ASAP this week. Extension likely — this is unit one of a fleet.
You will, in order:
1. Bring up an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano: Ubuntu, ROS 2 Humble, Nav2, slam_toolbox.
2. Drive-by-wire: interface a Teensy to the walkie’s motor controller (throttle injection or
CANopen), command traction and lift, read a wheel encoder.
3. Fabricate and mount a steering actuator on the tiller column (the main mechanical task).
4. Wire a manual e-stop that hard-cuts traction power, independent of software.
5. Tele-op it, then map a cordoned area and bring up Nav2 goal-to-goal with obstacle stop.
6. Integrate our control code (provided) so the unit takes tasks over VDA5050.
Must have:
- ROS 2 + Nav2 (mapping, localization, planning).
- Hands-on drive-by-wire on real vehicles or AMRs — motor controllers, CAN, throttle/steer actuation.
- Mechanical fabrication: brackets, actuator mounts, 24V wiring, fusing.
- Safety-first instinct around powered industrial equipment.
Nice to have: forklift / AGV / AMR experience, VDA5050 familiarity, ANSI B56.5 awareness.
We provide the vehicle, all parts, the autonomy software, the build spec, and the workspace.
You bring skills and tools.
Deliverable: the unit drives itself point-to-point in a cordoned, people-free area and takes a goal
from our system. (Pallet picking and shared-floor safety are a later, separate phase.)
To apply, reply with: (1) the closest thing you’ve built to a self-driving vehicle or AMR — one
paragraph, what was specifically yours; (2) your availability this week; (3) your rate.