STEPS4GROWTH(S4G)- From Sudan to the U.S. by way of
Qatar, Abdullah Al-Mubarak has already lived a life full of global experience. But this
summer, the aspiring mechanical engineer added another milestone to his
journey—working hands-on with cutting-edge technology in North Carolina A&T’s
HAMMER Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).
Abdullah, traveled to the U.S. for this immersive research opportunity. His original plan
was to rotate through several labs during the program, but one project completely
captured his attention.“I started in Dr. Gokaraju’s lab working on autonomous vehicles, and I couldn’t put it
down,” he said. “Even after I rotated to other labs, I kept going back in my free time. I
just had to work on it.”
The project? Building a self-driving car capable of lane detection, obstacle avoidance,
and autonomous navigation using a Jetson board, LiDAR, and an integrated camera
system.
Although Abdullah entered the program with some experience in embedded systems,
the project pushed him into new territory.
“It was my first time using ROS, my first time working with a Jetson board—just
integrating everything into one system was a challenge,” he said. “But challenges are
what make a project exciting. If it’s not challenging, what’s the point?”
For Abdullah, engineering is more than just a discipline—it’s a mosaic of possibilities.
“In Arabic we say, ‘from every garden, there’s a rose.’ That’s what mechanical
engineering is to me. It’s a mix of electrical, chemical, mechanical—you get a little bit of
everything,” he explained. “That’s what drew me in.”
As he prepares to return to Qatar, Abdullah says the experience has reshaped how he
views his future. “I joined this program because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to
specialize in. I know I’m going to pursue my master’s and PhD, but I wanted to explore
first,” he shared. “Now, I’m even more interested in autonomous and electric
vehicles—and I’m hoping to take on more projects in this field.”
