Sonika Gadgil

Aspiring Mechanical & Robotics Engineer

Palo Alto, California | Engineering Portfolio

Education

Palo Alto High School — Class of 2028

• GPA: 4.00/4.00 Unweighted | 4.214 Weighted (through Grade 10)
• SAT: 1540 (Math: 790 | Reading & Writing: 750)

Engineering Projects

FRC 2026 Robot — Flip-Up Intake Redesign

Summer Robotics Design Project — FRC Team 8 | July–August 2026

• Redesigned a flip-up intake mechanism for the 2026 FRC competition robot using SolidWorks.
• Developed a mechanical assembly incorporating gearbox reduction, chain-driven actuation, and packaging constraints.
• Evaluated design decisions through engineering calculations, mechanical layout analysis, and iterative CAD development.
• Participated in fabrication and assembly; identified integration challenges that ultimately prevented deployment.
• Documenting design decisions, engineering challenges, and lessons learned in a technical case study.

[View Engineering Project →]

Robotics Experience & Leadership

FIRST Robotics Competition — Team 8, Paly Robotics

Design Project Manager — Design Subteam
August 2026 – Present

• Developing a structured SolidWorks CAD training curriculum to introduce incoming team members to mechanical design principles and CAD workflows.
• Creating reusable instructional resources and progressive design exercises to support sustainable student-led CAD education.
• Providing CAD instruction and mentorship to newer robotics team members.

Robot Design & Hardware Lead — Paly Robotics Summer Camp
June 2026

• Led robot design and hardware activities for students entering grades 6–9.
• Designed robotics game challenges and supervised hands-on mechanical design and hardware sessions.
• Supported the team's STEM outreach initiative by introducing younger students to robotics engineering and collaborative problem-solving.

Mechanical Design & Fabrication Member — Design Subteam
August 2024 – May 2026

• Assisted with fabrication and mechanical assembly of robot components.
• Developed exploratory SolidWorks CAD models of gearboxes and elevator mechanisms to understand mechanical power transmission and linear motion.
• Contributed to construction of practice fields and test structures for robotics activities.

Community Service & Mentorship

Palo Alto High School — Peer Math Tutor

August 2026 – Present | Palo Alto High School

• Provide need-based, after-school mathematics tutoring to fellow high school students in Geometry, Algebra/Trigonometry, and Calculus.
• Support approximately 1–2 students per week with coursework, homework, and conceptual understanding, adapting explanations to individual learning needs.

Pathwise — Volunteer Math Tutor & Mentor

August 2024 – Present | JLS Middle School

• Provide after-school mathematics tutoring and academic mentorship to middle school students, primarily in algebra.
• Help students strengthen foundational mathematical concepts, complete assignments, and develop problem-solving skills.

Technical Skills

CAD & Mechanical Design: SolidWorks, 3D part modeling, assembly design, gearboxes, chain-driven mechanisms, mechanical linkages

Fabrication & Assembly: Basic milling, drilling, tapping, mechanical assembly

Programming: Python, Java, object-oriented programming fundamentals

Engineering Practices: Mechanical design iteration, basic engineering calculations, prototype development, mechanical integration

Certifications & Additional Learning

Python Programming Foundations — Data Structures & Object-Oriented Programming
January 2026

Stanford University — Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
Summer 2026 | Two-week program

Completed an introductory program exploring mechanical engineering concepts, design principles, and engineering applications.