Autonomous Mobile Robot
Building a prototype Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) to apply ROS 2 and SLAM concepts in a real-world environment.
Peter Wallhead
Embedded systems developer, hardware hacker and tech industry enthusiast.
Drive-by-wire Crazy Cart
A rideable electric vehicle built from off-the-shelf parts with custom firmware.
3D Printed RC Planes
Designing simple 3D printable brackets to get a plane airborne as quickly as possible.
Wireless Powered Lamp
An Arduino controlled orb LED lamp with IR remote control. Featured by Hackster.
Skills & Experience
Reach out to me on LinkedIn for more information.
Skip to: Personal Experience | Professional Experience
Skills
Hardware & Product Development
OpenSCAD
Fusion 360
KiCad EDA
3D Printing
DFM
Firmware Development
Arduino / C++
C
ROS 2
micro-ROS
FreeRTOS
Software Development
Python
OpenCV
PIL
pygame
pipenv
virtualenv
pytest
Web & App Development
JavaScript
NodeJS
React.js
Django
Flask
FastAPI
Cloud Deployment & Operations
Heroku
Cloudflare
Boto3
AWS S3
Digital Ocean VPS
Personal Experience
2025
Began focussing primarily on ROS 2 in Python, running on a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B on a custom built AMR. Developed a ROS 2 node in C to publish encoder ticks from an ESP-WROOM-32 over the Serial transport layer.
2024
Started using Autodesk Fusion 360. Purchased a RPLidar DTOF LiDAR 360° Laser Range Scanner to begin learning SLAM concepts and started revisiting design ideas for an Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR). Started designing 3D printed components for a fixed wing RC plane.
2023
Experiments with low performance MCU (Leonardo Tiny ATMEL MEGA32U4-MU) light following mobile robots.
2022
First apps written in C and compiled with STM32CubeIDE. First Raspberry Pi Pico and Nucleo-F446RE (STM32F446RE) development board purchased.
2021
Started the qbEVK project. First buck converter circuit designed and built. More experiments with Digi Xbee modules and GPS modules for short-range location tracking.
2020
First PCB designed using the KiCad EDA. First 3D prints on a personal FDM printer (RC drone components).
2019
First ESP-WROOM-32 bare chip purchased. Revisited earlier work with gyros and accelerometers, and started experimenting with home built RC drones. Developed an understanding of wheel encoders for mobile robots.
2018
First 3D printable part designed in OpenSCAD. Built a Drive-by-wire Crazy Cart (Arduino with commercial motor controllers, Python with pygame). Experimented with low voltage power transfer and Arduino compatible GPS modules. Started learning OpenCV.
2017
Experiments with wireless control of wheeled robots (Digi Xbee modules with Arduino and WiFi using an onboard Raspberry Pi Zero W). More experiments with ultrasonic PING sensor arrays to build interactive web GUIs. Participated in the Hobart GovHack competition (won the Spirit of GovHack awards for Hobart and Tasmania, and our team won the Best Use of Tasmanian Local Council Data - Tasmania award).
2016
First line of Python written. First Flask app built to control a robot arm through a web browser running on Raspberry Pi 1 Model B. More advanced projects using ultrasonic PING sensors (Human-robot interaction with a robot arm).
2015
First experiments with compass sensors (magnetometers), ultrasonic PING sensors, and motor driver boards with Arduino.
2014
Bought the Freetronics "Eleven" R3 (Arduino Uno compatible) board. First experiments with PWM control, and gyro and accelerometer reading in Arduino.
2013
Created a GitHub account. Began using JavaScript canvas to generate 3D fractal terrain simulations.
Pre-2013
Rebuilt my school's website during work experience week in Year 10 (anyone else remember Macromedia Dreamweaver?). Participated in multiple Tasmanian and National model solar car events and RoboCup Junior Australia soccer competitions. Member of my afterschool Model Aircraft Club.
Professional Experience
Hardware Developer - Rennix - late 2023 to Present
Working remotely from Melbourne, Australia
- Worked with the development team to build an Express Checkout touch screen application integrated with an RFID reader and barcode/QR code reader for scanning tagged products.
- Worked with the development team to build an interactive product discovery Connected Hub touch screen application integrated with an RFID reader for scanning tagged products.
- Designed and built a custom embedded hardware module enabling wireless operation of cash drawers and receipt printers through a web browser.
- Developed an embedded hardware system for the automated return of ski hire equipment using RFID technology, now deployed in 10 retail locations across Australia and the US.
- Engineered a weatherproof QR scanner and a purpose-built control module for mobile access control for the Gymetrix gym management platform, currently in use at 9 fitness facilities nationwide.
Embedded Systems Developer - InnerTelligence Pty Ltd - 2018-2023
Moved to Melbourne, Australia- Tested concepts for using Long Range UHF (RFID) readers for towel inventory control with automated dispensers and return bins.
- Began developing a custom locker system, from PCB design through to a Python-powered management dashboard.
- Tested integrating a tailgate reporting system into an existing speed gate (turnstile).
- Tested integrating a QR code reader into an existing speed gate (turnstile) for faster mobile access to facilities.
- Developed an outdoor rated weatherproof All-in-one RFID multiformat and QR code reader, and integrated it into the existing security panels.
- Developed a Message Centre device for gyms to integrate with existing security panels to interrupt their music system and play timely emergency and notification messages.
- Developed 2 revisions of a people counting camera-based tailgate detection system and integrated it with the Inner Range Inception, Integriti and Concept 4000 panels.
Software Developer - Zap Fitness - 2017-2018
Head Office in Hobart, Tasmania- Worked as part of a team to maintain the 24/7 access control systems at 37 gyms around Australia.
- Began work to modernise and upgrade the access control system before the company was acquired in late 2017.
Web Developer - Beacon Foundation - 2016
Hobart, Tasmania (4 month contract)- Developed the WordPress marketing website for the eBeacon platform.
- Integrated with the platform's Django and Wagtail APIs to build a member activity reporting dashboard.
Web Developer - Wilderness Society Australia - 2013-2015
Head Office in Hobart, Tasmania- Managed the online systems for donations and supporter data collection.
- Responsible for updating the existing Drupal website and building custom campaign donation forms.
Freelance Web Development - 2008 to Present
- Initially developing WordPress custom plug-ins and then more advanced e-commerce websites with PHP.
- Switched to Python with Django from 2016, and then later to Flask and FastAPI.
Hobbies & Interests
Researching, designing and building robotics and aerospace related projects. Reading non-fiction books from an early age. Magic tricks and juggling. Travelling to new places (Japan, New Zealand and the UK were the best so far).