Smarter LakeCleanup
Autonomous surface vessels that detect, clean, and manage pollution. No crews, no chemicals, no guesswork.
About Lacuum
Leading the future of autonomous environmental robotics through innovation, expertise, and real-world deployment.
Who We Are
Lacuum is a robotics R&D and consulting company founded by engineers and researchers with a passion for solving messy, real-world problems. From university labs to Honda Marine, our team brings decades of experience in autonomy and deployment.
What We Do
We build autonomous robots for aquatic and land environments and help others do the same. Our work spans system design, SLAM, perception, embedded development, and hands-on field testing.
Where We Work
Our home is in the water. We specialize in cleanup for lakes, rivers, and coastal zones, including the challenging areas where water and land meet. If there's a complex aquatic or shoreline environment that needs robotics, we want to be there.
Our Services
Comprehensive robotics solutions from concept to deployment
Autonomous Systems
Design and development of surface, aquatic, and ground-based robots for industrial and environmental tasks.
Consulting & Feasibility
We advise startups, municipalities, and research groups on robotics architecture, field deployment, and autonomy integration.
R&D Collaboration
Partner with us on federal grants, pilot deployments, or joint innovation projects. We offer technical leadership and applied research expertise.
Technical Expertise
Perception
3D object detection, segmentation, tracking, and multi-sensor fusion systems.
Mapping & Localization
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), semantic mapping, loop closure detection.
Path Planning
Multi-agent coordination, social-aware navigation, and mission planning in dynamic environments.
Controls
Model Predictive Control, low-level dynamics modeling, learning-based control strategies.
Simulation & Tooling
Development and integration using ROS, Gazebo, Python, C++, and MATLAB.
Autonomous Robotics
From hardware design to intelligent behavior — our team builds fully autonomous marine systems end-to-end.
Our Projects
Cutting-edge robotics solutions in action
Blue Boat
An autonomous catamaran that maps lakes, collects invasive plants, and applies treatment — with self-docking and auto-emptying capabilities.
Silver Boat
A lighter prototype vessel for early testing, outfitted with GPS, cameras, and swappable payloads for mapping and cleanup.
Meet the Team
Dr. Maani Ghaffari
CTO
Robotics professor at UMich. Expert in SLAM, autonomy, and system architecture.
Scott Craig
Advisor – Fundraising & Sales
Advises on investor strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market planning.
Ahmad El-Bkaily
Legal Advisor – IP & Patents
Provides guidance on intellectual property strategy, patent filings, and regulatory compliance for Lacuum's technology stack.
Tim Lazouski
Robotics Software
PhD in robotics & naval engineering. Works on autonomy and control systems.
Yu-I Chang
Controls Engineer
Works on embedded systems and motor control across robotic platforms.
Ziyu Xu
Calibration Engineer
Focuses on vision-based alignment and robotics calibration workflows.
Yinan Dong
Hardware Design
Mechanical design for vessels and payload integration. CAD + prototyping.
Amer Abughaida
Co-Founder
Led Honda Marine research. 17+ years in mobility and systems. MBA from Ross.
Claire Alverson
Web Development
Leads front-end and visual design for Lacuum's web presence.
Mohamad Hamade
Animation & Content
Creates CGI, gameplay, and pitch materials. Unreal Engine + content strategy.
Careers
We are building the future of robotics — and we are just getting started. If you are passionate about autonomous systems, applied research, or mission-driven engineering, Lacuum might be your next adventure.
🔧 Robotics Engineer
Work on autonomy, SLAM, and perception systems for land and aquatic robots. Experience with ROS or embedded systems preferred.
🌍 Field Deployment Intern
Help us test and deploy robotic vessels in real-world environments. Must love water, mud, and debugging in the wild.
📢 Partnerships & Outreach
Help us grow. Build relationships with municipalities, research orgs, and environmental groups. Background in science communication a plus.
Contact Us
Reach out for partnerships, consulting inquiries, or technical questions. We'll respond within 1–2 business days.