Currently building Split-Flap Display

Tycho YoungHi, I'm Tycho.
I engineer robots
and build intelligent software.

Welcome to my site! Feel free to browse many of my weird projects here. You might find some of them interesting. I update things semi-often. I hope you are able to get a sense of who I am through this temporary snapshot in time.

Work

A selection of my contributions, projects, and roles.

Experience

Game Developer

Artix Network
Apr 2023 – Jan 2024//Remote
Collaborated with game designers to prototype and implement Java-based game ideas. Translated rough concepts into polished experiences with creative technical solutions.

Featured Projects

Split-Flap Display

Split-Flap Display

Summer 2026 – Present

I’m building this split-flap display for sentimental reasons. Even though I’ll be leaving home soon to go off to college or otherwise, I want to stay connected with my family and make sure they can see a bit of me every day. When complete, I’ll use the 16-character display to send messages to my family at home while I’m away. It’s a nostalgic way to make it feel like I’m still at home.

I designed and manufactured every part, from the body to the flaps to the control system. I had to learn PCB design, improve my CAD skills, and study many prior examples to get to this point. The flaps are the most tedious part, and the PCB design is no joke either!

Technologies: pcb design, mechatronics, onshape, embedded systems

FieldFocus

FieldFocus

June 2026

An interactive 3D vector field and streamline visualizer helping students build intuitive understanding of divergence, curl, and flow lines.

Technologies: react, typescript, vite, html5 canvas, vector fields

Period 8

Period 8

May 2026

A first-person 3D looping horror-puzzle game built with Three.js as part of a multigenre project. Inspired by The Exit 8, it explores the existential dread of stagnation and change in a liminal school hallway, challenging players to spot subtle anomalies to break the loop.

Technologies: three.js, vite, typescript, vitest, 3d web development

Shoot on the Move Explainer

Shoot on the Move Explainer

February 2026

A math and physics explainer analyzing the circular time-of-flight dependency in robotics projectile launching. Accompanied by Python animations, the article details an iterative numerical approach to compensate for velocity vector addition in moving coordinate frames.

Technologies: technical writing, robotics physics, numerical methods, python animations

Minute

Minute

February 2026

A native macOS menu-bar utility and local-first task planner designed for low-friction planning. Features natural language task capture, capacity-aware calendar timelines, and one-click deferral/pull-forward suggestions.

Technologies: swiftui, swiftdata, eventkit, macos development

Infinite Newton's Cradle

Infinite Newton's Cradle

Late 2025 - Present

A physics demonstration built using Onshape, Breadboard, Arduino, Electromagnets, and basic wiring.

Technologies: onshape, arduino, electronics, physics

NHS Garden

NHS Garden

Aug 2025 - Present

Wooden garden structure designed in OnShape for NHS. Currently in construction, involving woodworking and assembly.

Technologies: onshape, woodworking

6-Axis Robot Arm

6-Axis Robot Arm

Summer 2025

Designed and built from scratch using OnShape and 3D printing. Features stepper motors, custom gearboxes, and inverse kinematics control via Klipper.

Technologies: onshape, klipper, inverse kinematics, cnc machining

The Yellow Pages

The Yellow Pages

2024 - Present

A custom full-stack news platform built with Next.js and Firebase. Features a React-based UI, Firestore for real-time article management, and Google Auth for secure student contributions.

Technologies: next.js, react, firestore

AP Physics 1 Spring Energy Project

AP Physics 1 Spring Energy Project

May 2024

A computational physics project analyzing spring energy conservation and mechanics.

Technologies: python, physics, computational modeling

Dodgeball Minigame

Early 2024

A Minecraft minigame prototype with instantiated worlds, queuing systems, and powerups.

Technologies: java, minecraft api, system design

EMPATH

EMPATH

Summer 2023

An experiment to prove AI can experience emotion using a chain of LLMs analogous to the human brain. Early implementation of RAG with Pinecone.

Technologies: python, langchain, pinecone, rag

MathGPT

MathGPT

May 2023

Discord application that combines CAS and LLMs to enhance mathematical problem solving.

Technologies: python, llms, cas, discord api

EvoCraft

2022 - 2023

Custom Minecraft server plugin using OOP to allow user-defined items, abilities, and bossfights.

Technologies: java, minecraft api, oop

About

Student at BASIS Independent Fremont; Executive Director at Fremont Institute of Robotics Education

The Now

Summer 2026
Fremont, CA

Current Focus

  • Split-flap displaySMD components are so hard to solder by hand, especially 0603…
  • Guitar“Let Her Go” has a notoriously difficult intro, and despite my lack of experience with guitar, its message about failing to appreciate things until you lose them—willingly or not—resonates with me deeply. Being able to let go of friends, projects, and home is hard, even if it’s for the best.

Reading Log

The Three Body Problem

Cixin Liu

The Character of Physical Law

Richard Feynman

Previously Read

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight

One Way

S.J. Morden

Building

Surface mount trouble

SMD components are so hard to solder by hand, especially 0603…

Cooking

Yummy steak

Learning how to cook steak was one of the best decisions of my life. Butter basting is so easy, and it makes the steaks taste so good.

Travel

Lake Tahoe

Hikes are hard, but I’ve come to appreciate the views that make them well worth it.

Biography

Tycho Young

I’m a high-school student who is excited to use technology to help people in their everyday lives. I strive for the sense of wonder that comes from a beautiful physics problem, a masterful piece of engineering, or the deep message behind a piece of art. I am a maker at heart and have worked on many projects, starting with a treehouse when I was five. Over the years, I’ve accumulated many technical and soft skills, started 9470, a FIRST Robotics team at my school (we were #13 globally last year!), and developed an appetite for interesting problems. Check out some of my work below.

Impact

3+Years Experience
14+Projects Delivered
100+Students Led

Technical Skills

3D Web DevelopmentAI/MLArduinoCASCNC MachiningComputational ModelingDiscord APIElectronicsEmbedded SystemsEventKitFirestoreGame DesignHTML5 CanvasInverse KinematicsJavaKlipperLLMsLangChainMechatronicsMinecraft APINext.jsNumerical MethodsOOPOnShapeOnshapePCB DesignPhysicsPineconeProject ManagementPythonPython AnimationsRAGReactRobotics PhysicsSoftware EngineeringSwiftDataSwiftUISystem DesignTeam LeadershipTechnical WritingThree.jsTypeScriptVector FieldsViteVitestWoodworkingmacOS Development

Academic Snapshot

4.86Weighted GPA
1550SAT Score
15AP Exams (Score 5)

Honors & Awards

International Second Place

Quill and Scroll Gallup Awards / Aug 2025

Awarded to student publication “The Yellow Pages” for excellence in journalism and quality reporting.

AP Scholar with Distinction

College Board / Jul 2025

Granted to students with an average AP score ≥ 3.5 and scores of 3+ on five or more exams.

Distinguished Honor Roll

BASIS Independent Fremont / Jun 2025

Overall average greater than 95% for the entire school year.

Finalist & Alliance Captain

Northern California Regional Invitational (FIRST) / May 2025

Awarded to the finalist team at the Northern California Regional Invitational.

Student of the Year (Chinese III)

BASIS Independent Fremont / May 2025

Awarded to one student in the entire school for subject excellence in Chinese III.

Autonomous Award

Pinnacles Regional (FIRST) / Feb 2025

Awarded for consistent, reliable, high-performance robot operation during autonomous actions.

AP Scholar with Honor

College Board / Jul 2024

Granted to students with an average AP score ≥ 3.25 and scores of 3+ on four or more exams.

Student of the Year (AP Physics 1)

BASIS Independent Fremont / May 2024

Awarded to one student in the entire school for subject excellence in AP Physics 1.

Rookie Inspiration Award

East Bay Regional (FIRST) / Apr 2024

Celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within the school and community.

Finalist

Silicon Valley Regional (FIRST) / Feb 2024

Awarded to the finalist team at the Silicon Valley Regional.

Rookie Inspiration Award

Silicon Valley Regional (FIRST) / Feb 2024

Celebrates outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering within the school and community.

Get In Touch

Have a project in mind or just want to say hi? I'm always open to discussing new opportunities.