Women in Engineering: Advancing Robotics with Alejandra Saldivar
Robotics can often feel intimidating, but Alejandra Saldivar is determined to change that perception. She is on a mission to make engineering and robotics more approachable, especially for women. Throughout her career, Alejandra has been dedicated to showing others what’s possible. She’s committed to breaking down barriers and misperceptions that might prevent others from entering engineering. Through her online courses, AS Robotics, she teaches “robotics simplified for everyone,” showing that anyone can create and innovate in robotics.
Alejandra is a mechatronics engineer, professor, and STEAM advocate focused on making a difference with technology. She is certified in mechanical design, leadership, project management, and robotics, with experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Object Recognition, 3D Design, and printed circuit board (PCB) development. She teaches robotics and engineering at Tec de Monterrey and PrepaTec, where her students participate in hands-on projects and collaborative problem-solving by applying technical knowledge in real-world situations. She also works with Keisuugiken, a Japanese company expanding products and services in robotics, AI, and virtual reality (VR).
Coding and Robotics
She discovered the joy of coding at the age of 10 when she started using HTML to create web pages for her interests (at that age, she was a member of Club Penguin). She became interested in engineering in high school after she joined a new robotics team at her school.
She was looking for an extracurricular activity and initially joined the programming team. After seeing how she could control a robot with coding, however, she was hooked. The robotics team taught her about using systems and technology as tools for improving performance. During her senior year of high school, Alejandra took on leadership roles on her robotics team and began mentoring others.
Engineering Education and Leadership
She received her bachelor’s degree in mechatronics engineering from Tec de Monterrey Campus in León, Mexico, where she participated in robotics competitions, social improvement projects, and mentorship programs. She learned Python and was able to be a facilitator and instructor at Beautiful Patterns, a program affiliated with MIT. She co-led initiatives like “Adopt a School,” which brought robotics lessons to under-resourced schools, and competed in robotics competitions internationally, where she received awards for her technical and social impact projects.
She won the Borrego de Oro award for transformative social leadership and student well-being. The Borrego de Oro is given to Tec de Monterrey students with the highest professional and community impact throughout their academic careers. “Borrego de Oro” means “Golden Ram,” referencing Tec de Monterrey’s school’s mascot, the Ram.
Robotics and Accessibility
After graduation, Alejandra continued to make an impact through robotics. She joined a team of engineers and researchers in the Emergent Future Technology Program (EMFUTECH) at the Mirai Innovation Research Institute in Japan under the guidance of Dr. Christian Peñaloza, an expert in neurotechnology and innovation, and Eng. Rafael Hernández, a roboticist. She worked on accessibility projects, including a robotic guide dog for the visually impaired.
The laboratory provided the robotic dog’s foundational structure, and Alejandra transformed it into an intelligent robot with AI-based object recognition that can understand and describe its surroundings and engage with users.
She created the components in SOLIDWORKS, including a head and support for the LiDAR sensor, which enables the robot to rotate its head for interaction and a wider field of view. She also determined the center of mass to help the robot maintain its balance during operation. The parts were produced with 3D printing. The robot helps enable greater independence for visually impaired users.
SOLIDWORKS Community
Alejandra attended 3DEXPERIENCE World virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic and finally in person in 2024. While at the 3DEXPERIENCE World Playground, she participated in Model Mania and met Yahya and Danute, who invited her to build droids with them. They kept mentioning the SOLIDWORKS User Group Network (SWUGN), which Alejandra was unfamiliar with. They introduced her to Jose, who encouraged her to start a SWUGN chapter in León, Guanajuato. She followed his advice and was able to start the group, lead it, meet people, build a community, and learn more about SOLIDWORKS.
Prioritizing Health
Alejandra’s career advice is prioritizing self-care, health, and well-being before any project. She has seen people get so interested in their work that they forget to eat or rest. If you take care of yourself and your health and happiness first, you will be more productive in work, relationships, and reaching your goals.
Engineering a More Inclusive Future
Alejandra’s parents always told her to dream big and pursue great things. She has had several female mentors who have shown her a path forward in engineering and inspired her to create change in the world.
As a result of these influences, a large part of her career has been dedicated to showing others what is possible with engineering and robotics. Her goal is to inspire confidence and build passion in others, helping them to envision a future where they can thrive in STEAM careers.
You can visit Alejandra’s portfolio to learn more about her work.
