CLASSIFIED TDML / TASK-FORCE INTAKE / 2026-Q2

We are building the motor that makes robots affordable.

By invitation.

03 / THE CRUCIBLE

48 hours to design, fail, and pivot.

Wed May 6th, 2026 · 23:59 PDT
Applications close.
Fri May 8th, 2026 · 12:00 PDT
Challenge drops to shortlisted applicants.
Sun May 10, 2026 · 12:00 PDT
Submissions due. No extensions.

Scope disclosed on the day. No earlier.

05 / INITIAL INTAKE

Apply.

Applications close Wed May 6 · 23:59 PDT. Shortlisted candidates receive the challenge on Fri May 8 · 12:00 PDT.

Must be your @ucsd.edu address. This is the primary contact channel for the challenge drop.

04 Primary Engineering Discipline

Link to your proudest physical build or technical project. Personal site, GitHub, GrabCAD, public Drive folder. Permissions must be public.

What was your specific, individual contribution? Be exact.

07 The Reality Check

15+ hours per week through summer. If shortlisted, a 48-hour technical challenge starting Fri May 8 at 12:00 PDT. Can you meet these?

DOSSIER · 01 · MISSION

01 / MISSION

Foundational hardware.

The Triton Droids Motor Lab is designing a quasi-direct-drive actuator platform from scratch, a family of slim, high-torque units similar to the MIT Cheetah actuator.

Building in-house keeps costs down and gives our ML and simulation teams direct control of the hardware they're writing against.

Our goal is to have working prototypes ready for the humanoid by the end of summer.

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tdml-sec-01
/secure/actuator_v2.spec SESSION · GUEST

[2026-04-23 14:22:08] auth req received

[2026-04-23 14:22:08] verifying credentials…

[2026-04-23 14:22:08] clearance TASK-FORCE-L3 NOT FOUND

[2026-04-23 14:22:08] session tagged guest-0x7f3a2d

ACCESS DENIED
guest@sec-01:~$ cat /secure/actuator_v2.spec

> partial disclosure permitted — field names only.

STATOR [ REDACTED ]
MAGNETS [ REDACTED ]
ROTOR [ REDACTED ]
CONTROLLER [ REDACTED ]
BUDGET [ REDACTED ]
END STATE SUMMER 2026
guest@sec-01:~$

connection closed · elevate to TASK-FORCE-L3 for full access

DOSSIER · 04 · RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

04 / RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

What you’re agreeing to.

LAB HOURS
Spring quarter - Saturdays, 14:00–18:00. Plus the weekday push.
COMMITMENT
15+ hours per week. Non-negotiable through summer.
RESOURCES
DIB + Envision makerspaces. Scavenge before you buy.
COMPENSATION
A working actuator platform with your name on it.

If you have not built hardware or shipped code outside of mandatory coursework, do not apply.

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