An alumnus of Waterloo Engineering cites the wealth and variety of expertise on campus as a significant factor in the success of a robotics company he co-founded with three classmates from the mechatronics engineering program.
Ryan Gariepy (BASc ’09, MASc ’12) launched Clearpath Robotics in Kitchener in 2009 with fellow graduates Patrick Martinson, Matt Rendall and Bryan Webb. It was acquired by Rockwell Automation, a U.S.-based industrial automation company, in 2023.
“Robotics is inherently interdisciplinary,” Gariepy said, stressing the importance of the proximity of Clearpath to campus. “You need mechanical engineering, software, electrical systems and systems thinking all working together. Waterloo was one of the few places where that mix was already happening.”
Seventeen years after earning his undergraduate degree, Gariepy is still closely connected to Waterloo Engineering through his support of facilities such as RoboHub and regular engagement with students and founders.
Go to Made by Waterloo: Why the future of robotics is being built in Waterloo for the full story.