What happens when an interest in game development grows into a desire to build systems that move, sense, and respond in the physical world?

In this episode of 71 North Our Way, we follow Jerry Stamos’s journey at Northern Illinois University and the 71 North Partnership Studio. As a mechatronics engineering student, Jerry connects programming, electronics, and mechanical design through projects involving virtual reality, robotics, computer vision, autonomous systems, and a high-altitude balloon launched toward the edge of space.

Although these projects may appear very different, Jerry approaches each one as part of a larger system: gathering input, processing information, and creating a meaningful response. His story shows how interdisciplinary learning becomes more powerful when students have access to real projects, support ...