Embedded Systems & Edge AI Engineer
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
I write the software that lives directly on hardware — firmware, real-time systems, and small AI models that run without the cloud.
A little hardware bench you can poke at
A simulated microcontroller board — same interfaces as the real thing, nothing to break.
What’s on the board
Microcontroller benches, real-time RTOS schedules, and edge AI benchmarks from real hardware.
who I am,
in plain words
I'm Joseph Alan B. Vergara — 'Joal' — an embedded systems developer and edge AI researcher based in Iligan City, Philippines. I'm finishing my BS Computer Applications (Major in Embedded Systems) at MSU-IIT. Most of my work lives close to the hardware: firmware for small chips like the STM32, ESP32, AVR, and Renesas RA6M3, real-time scheduling with FreeRTOS and RT-Thread, computer vision that runs on the device itself instead of the cloud, and full-stack telemetry dashboards that make the readings easy to follow.
Most of my work sits where hardware meets software: writing the firmware that runs on a chip, teaching it to read sensors reliably, and then getting that data somewhere a person can act on it. Lately that has meant tiny AI models that run on the device itself, so nothing has to travel to a server to make a decision.
Major in Embedded Systems
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)
CGPA 1.96269
Specialized curriculum in Microcontroller Programming, FreeRTOS & Real-Time Kernels, Edge AI & Computer Vision, Industrial PLC Automation (CODESYS), IoT Telemetry, and Digital Logic Design.
Accountancy, Business & Management (ABM)
MSU-IIT Integrated Developmental School
Developed strong analytical and quantitative modeling foundations alongside independent engineering projects.
PhD Dissertation Research Collaboration
Designed a full-stack Learning Management System (React.js, Node.js, Supabase/PostgreSQL) to ingest live microcontroller hardware telemetry and automate laboratory scoring logic with zero manual intervention. Benchmarked standard cloud server deployments against an edge-hosted architecture on the ESP32-P4 microcontroller.
Master's & Undergraduate Research Collaboration
Quantized and deployed an optimized YOLOv8n edge AI model into a cross-platform mobile application for zero-latency, on-device microplastic particle quantification. Configured native Android SDK build toolchains, automated OpenCV preprocessing pipelines, and established on-device inference benchmarking.
Sports & Development Affairs – Undersecretary
Directed student engagement, inter-collegiate tournaments, and technical community sports initiatives at MSU-IIT.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Team Captain
Competitive tactical leadership, communication orchestration, and high-pressure team execution in regional tournaments.
the toolkit, sorted by shelf
Firmware, tiny AI models, hardware rigs, and the web apps that make them useful. Every entry links to real code or a live build.
Full-Stack & Embedded · Live Telemetry System
Lead Firmware & Edge CV Developer
Continuous thermal screening pipeline utilizing an MLX90640 32x24 IR array on ESP32 streaming to edge CV inference and a live Flutter telemetry dashboard.
Lead Full-Stack & AI Systems Architect — IEEE Sumpai Hackathon 2026
Emergency response platform translating panicked SOS voice calls into structured responder situational intelligence and real-time GIS dispatch queues.
Firmware & Systems Engineer
Real-time environmental telemetry system built on STM32 ARM Cortex-M3 (Blue Pill) running a 5-task FreeRTOS architecture with SSD1306 OLED and rotary encoder.
Computer Vision & Edge AI Engineer
Zero-dataset real-time computer vision system using 33-point MediaPipe Pose kinematics, spine inclination vectors, and inactivity timers for eldercare safety.
Co-Author & Full-Stack / Embedded Developer — PhD Research Collaboration
Full-stack LMS paired with live sensor telemetry and edge hosting on ESP32-P4 for automated laboratory assessment.
Co-Author & Edge AI Developer — Master’s & Undergraduate Collaboration
On-device computer vision mobile app using quantized YOLOv8n for real-time microplastic classification with zero cloud latency.
Full-Stack Developer — TechShowcase 2025 Award Winner
Full-stack civic management platform streamlining local governance with incident reporting, document requests, and real-time polls.
Embedded Developer — Renesas RA6M3, RT-Thread OS, LVGL
Arcade game engine utilizing RT-Thread RTOS and LVGL to deliver fluid real-time graphical rendering and autonomous AI autopilot on bare metal.
Frontend & Data Visualization Engineer
Interactive research platform examining green marketing claims and consumer trust across Northern Mindanao cafés.
Edge AI Developer — Roboflow, Edge Impulse
Low-latency on-device eyewear object detection trained via Roboflow and quantized with Edge Impulse for wearable assistance.
PLC & Automation Developer — CODESYS V3, PLC, HMI
Virtual PLC ladder logic and interactive HMI with automated heating logic, safety interlocks, and threshold alarms.
IoT Developer — ESP32, MQTT, Sensors
Automated closed-loop irrigation triggered on real-time soil moisture (60-80%) with 5+ environmental parameters over MQTT.
Firmware Developer — Arduino Uno, AVR Assembly
Hand-tuned AVR Assembly firmware and dual PWM hardware timers (Timer0/2) for a 5-channel IR array, achieving 100% course completion.
Software & Embedded Developer — Qt C++, CMake, Sensors
A Qt C++ GUI with real-time level tracking and multi-sensor routing (inductive, capacitive, ultrasonic) to sort 3 waste streams.
Electronics Engineering
Regulated benchtop power supply unit with variable output up to 12V and short-circuit protection for embedded development.
the paper
trail
Hackathons, symposiums, seminars, and academic recognition — every one of these is a scan of the real document. Tap a row to open it.
If you need firmware, an edge-AI model, or a web app that talks to hardware — or you just want to say hello — write below. Your mail app opens with the message ready to send, and I read everything that arrives.
drop me a line
usually replies within a day
no form needed
Phone
Based in
Iligan City, PhilippinesPhase II-Doña Maria Subd, Tubod, Lanao Del Norte
GitHub
github.com/Joal0816open to firmware work, edge-AI projects, research collaborations, and full-time roles.
the engineer himself