Lucas “Luc” Rajotte graduated from the B.Tech program in automation engineering technology at McMaster University in 2022 and joined the McMaster Automotive Resource Centre (MARC) earlier that year. He is now pursuing an M.A.Sc. in electrical and computer engineering under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi. His research focuses on automotive electrification and supervisory control, and he serves as Propulsion Controls & Modelling Lead for the McMaster EcoCAR Team.
Full Profile
From a young age, Luc loved understanding how things work. He often spent hours building Lego, taking it apart, and creating new designs. As he got older, this curiosity moved online. He spent much of his free time playing Minecraft and building complex systems.
Luc’s father worked for Ford during his childhood, and many Friday nights were spent at his dad’s plant. He watched automated systems assemble parts and tried to recreate them in Minecraft. Those moments sparked a passion for automation and shaped his decision to study automation engineering at McMaster University.
Luc enrolled in the automation engineering technology program at McMaster University’s W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology. He completed his undergraduate degree in 2022. In his second year, he attended the McMaster EcoCAR information night. He and his classmates applied to join the team, and Luc earned a spot on the Propulsion Controls and Modeling (PCM) sub-team.
The next year, he became the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) sub-lead for PCM. He helped develop a HIL plant model of the Chevrolet Blazer to test team-developed controls. In his fourth year, Luc moved into the PCM lead role, which he still holds.
Outside of EcoCAR, Luc worked as a research assistant with the Centre for Mechatronics and Hybrid Technologies (CMHT) at MARC. He helped update a graduate course in hybrid electric vehicle design. He also worked with CERC to develop a gear-shifting robot arm for dyno testing in the MARCDrive Lab.
In 2021, Luc accepted a co-op position at Plan Group Inc. as a project coordinator. He supported major projects, including the network and distributed antenna system for the Bayer’s Lake Community Outpatient Centre in Nova Scotia. He also contributed to A/V system design for St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B.C.
In January 2023, Luc joined the CERC research group at MARC under the supervision of Dr. Ali Emadi. He is now pursuing an M.A.Sc. in electrical and computer engineering. His research focuses on modelling and control of an all-wheel-drive electric vehicle powertrain, with an emphasis on energy management and supervisory control strategies.
