We are happy to sponsor the Waterloo Robotics Team from the University of Waterloo, Canada, for another year.
A passionate group of students dedicated to advancing robotics technology and solving real-world challenges. Kenesto has played a vital role in enabling their team to design, iterate, and innovate with confidence and efficiency.
A Year of Remarkable Progress
Over the past season, the UW Robotics Team achieved impressive milestones:
– Completed significant design upgrades to their 6-DoF robotic arm.
– Expanded from under 15 to over 40 active members, demonstrating incredible growth.
– Successfully integrated their full rover system and submitted a compelling competition entry video.
Looking ahead, they are preparing for an exciting 2025–2026 season, with plans to compete at the Canadian International Rover Challenge (CIRC) in Niagara Falls this winter. They also aim to refine their systems further in anticipation of the 2026 University Rover Challenge (URC), showcasing their unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence.
How Kenesto Supports Their Mission
Founded in 2009, the University of Waterloo Robotics Team strives to provide students with opportunities to develop technical skills while exploring the evolving landscape of robotics. Their mission is to create practical solutions for global challenges, designing and building advanced systems such as their Mars Rover, which includes subsystems like the drivetrain, arm, science, gimbal, and drone.
Before partnering with Kenesto, they relied on GrabCAD Workbench for file management. Currently, they use SolidWorks for CAD modeling, leveraging Kenesto’s centralized platform to facilitate a top-down design approach—allowing efficient updates and consistent specifications across their complex projects. Kenesto also stores essential files, including configurations and templates, crucial for onboarding new members seamlessly.
The platform enhances collaboration, enabling the team to develop multi-physics and FEA simulations via software like SimulationX and Ansys—all from a single source, streamlining workflows and supporting their iterative design process.
First Encounter and Experience
The team first heard about Kenesto through fellow student teams and competitors in the University Rover Challenge who were already utilizing the platform. Their experience has been overwhelmingly positive:
“Kenesto has greatly supported our team in the ideation, design, and organization of our mechanical subsystems. It has been an invaluable tool for training new members and managing our wide range of projects. We’ve implemented a clear file structure that the Kenesto SolidWorks Add-In makes incredibly easy to follow. Kenesto Drive stores both our latest builds and legacy design files, enabling seamless reference throughout our product’s life cycle. Through the Vaulted Builds folder, we efficiently track revisions and support collaboration across the mechanical team.”
— Saheed Quadri, Mechanical Lead / Electrical Member
The Power of Partnership
Kenesto is honored to serve as a Mission Control sponsor for the UW Robotics Team. Their journey exemplifies how innovative tools and collaborative platforms can empower students to push the boundaries of technology. We are excited to continue supporting their endeavors, helping bring their ambitious projects to life and fostering the next generation of engineering leaders.