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Peter
van der Perk

Robotics and Embedded Systems Engineer

About Me

I’m an embedded software developer from Beesd, The Netherlands, with a passion for robotics. I’ve been programming since my youth, building websites and experimenting with microcontrollers and electronics. Over the years, I chose to specialize in embedded systems, driven by my fascination with low-level systems like Linux and RTOS. This passion led me to focus on robotics, where I apply my expertise in embedded development to design and integrate systems for autonomous and robotic applications. My experience includes working with advanced robotics frameworks such as ROS2, integrating communication protocols, and developing real-time control systems to enable intelligent robotic behaviors.


When I’m not hacking on code/hardware I will most likely be out wakeboarding on a cable park, race bicycle touring, taking pictures or having a drink with friends and family.


You can contact me via email or you can view my projects on Github

Experience

NXP Semiconductors

Embedded Software Engineer

Automotive CTO, System Innovations Mobile Robotics applications


In this role, I apply my expertise in system architecture, computer science, hardware design and robotics. My day-to-day work includes architecting new software, debugging, driver development, and middleware testing. I leverage technologies like Linux, RTOSs such as Zephyr and NuttX, and I'm comfortable working across a wide range of platforms, from large MPUs to small MCUs, adapting my approach to meet the unique requirements of each system. Throughout these tasks, I work closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware engineers, product managers, and other developers, and the open-source community, ensuring smooth collaboration and effective communication to deliver solutions that align with project goals.


I have expertise in integrating communication protocols such as DDS, TSN, and CAN to ensure real-time, reliable data exchange and synchronization across distributed robotics and autonomous systems. Additionally, I integrate ROS2 applications to enable various robotic functionalities, including sensing, simulation, planning, and control.

NXP Semiconductors

Graduate Embedded Software Engineer

Graduation internship at NXP Automotive Systems Innovations.
As part of my MSc study I've conducted a research to improve the safety and fault tolerance of autonomous vehicles. As a result I've created a novel hypervisor-based approach based on e-GAS 3-level safety concept, the hypervisor creates and manages the virtual machines (VMs), to isolate and monitor software components in the vehicle's architecture. The mechanism distributes the different Functions (Level 1) into separate VMs which are monitored by seperate monitors (Level 2 & 3) and utilizes ROS2 & Data Distribution Service (DDS) as the communication channel.

Theo van der Perk bv

Full-Stack Web Developer

At Theo van der Perk bv I’m responsible for the design, development and hosting of their websites currently maintaining: 1001Parts.nl an OEM parts ordering site with about 2.300.000 products. 1001Farmtoys.nl is a toy store selling LEGO, Playmobil etc. Gazonmaaierwinkel.nl a webshop for garden equipment and power tools. All webshops are fully integrated integrated with the accounting software for automatic billing and shipment integration for automatic labels.

Bosch Security Systems

Internship Embedded Software Engineer

Development of a indoor-localization (GPS-like) algorithm & system which uses audible sound to determine the location

Kverneland Group Mechatronics

Embedded Software Engineer

August 2013 – January 2014

Research and implementation of a CAN diagnostics module containing a GSM/3G modem for global coverage.

January 2014 – September 2015

After my internship I continued working part time at Kverneland Group Mechatronics. Doing various projects but I’ve mainly focused on the IMT simulator, simulating a Kverneland Linux terminal on a Windows computer.

Education

Eindhoven University of Technology

2016 - 2019

Master of Engineering in Embedded Systems

Eindhoven University of Technology

2015 - 2016

Premaster in Embedded Systems

Avans Hogeschool Den Bosch

2011 - 2015

Bachelor of ICT in Embedded Systems

Passion Projects

Tropic Community VMU for Robotics

Created the Tropic Community VMU, an open-source vehicle management unit for robotics using the Teensy 4.1 microcontroller. Designed the hardware, integrated sensors, CAN transceivers, and GPS, and enabled software support for systems like PX4. Built 3D-printable enclosures and contributed to a community-driven project for robotics developers. More details: TropicCommunityVMU GitHub.

Porting Doom to NXP Microcontrollers

In my spare time, I ported the classic DOOM game to run on NXP MCX N947 MCU on top of the Zephyr RTOS. It was a fun challenge adapting the game for embedded systems, adding touchscreen and joystick support, and ensuring it worked smoothly on the FRDM-MCXN947 board. This hobby project allowed me to explore low-level hardware programming while combining my interests in gaming and embedded development. For more details, refer to the repository: Doom-MCX GitHub.

Smart LEGO© Train

A hobby project where I’ve replaced the original LEGO motor controller by a raspberry pi zero including a PWM controller, dc/dc converter for the battery and a camera for live streaming. Furthermore, I hope to include some vision algorithms to the raspberry pi to do obstacle detection to ensure no collision occur on the railways. Here a small demo video of the live streaming feature.

Localization using Audible sound

As part of my bachelor thesis project I've developed together with Steven Hunsche an indoor-localization (GPS-like) algorithm & system which uses audible sound to determine the location

Minor Product Development

In multi-disciplinary team with electrical engineers and computer scientists an Internet of Things board designed for the minor product development project. The chip on this PCB is a TI CC2538 running Contiki-OS providing 6LowPan support.

Minor Embedded Vision Design

Draw TowerDefense project I've done with Peter Hoeven as part of Avans bachelor minor specilization project. Draw TowerDefense is a game running on a NXP i.MX6 embedded multi-media processor and uses a camera with computer vision algorithms to detect player gestures and glyphs and projects the game on a whiteboard using a beamer.

Skills

Publications

A Distributed Safety Mechanism using Middleware and Hypervisors for AutonomousVehicles

Tjerk Bijlsma, Andrei Buriachevskyi, Alessandro Frigerio, Yuting Fu, Kees Goossens, Ali Osman Örs, Pieter J. van der Perk, Andrei Terechko, and Bart Vermeulen.

In Proc. Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition (DATE), March 2020.

A distributed safety mechanism for autonomous vehicle software using hypervisors

Pieter J. van der Perk

TU/e Student thesis Master, June 2019

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