Tinley Park Man's Robotic Guide Dog Idea Fetches Attention At Regional College Competition

Engineering is at the heart of entrepreneurship, a truth that 2024 Victor J. Andrew High School graduate Rudy Ruelas II embraced in his first year as a Northern Illinois University engineering student. Along with a classmate, his ability to blend the two disciplines has resulted in seed-funding success, first on the DeKalb campus and more recently at DePaul University in Chicago.

On July 15th, the 19-year-old teamed up with Han Ju, another first-year College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) student, to secure a spot in the final pitch round—and $1,000—at the 2025 University Pitch Madness Competition that DePaul hosted. The founders of SafeStride Robotics LLC, Ruelas and Ju are developing a robotic guide dog designed to help the visually impaired navigate their environments more safely and independently.

Their achievement has been chronicled on the NIU College of Business news blog, NIU Entrepreneurs Take the Stage at 2025 University Pitch Madness. A stepping stone to the showdown in the city last month was the De La Vega Pitch Competition, hosted by the College of Business in April. At that event, the pair’s first-place performance earned them $2,000 in seed funding and propelled them to the DePaul event.

A mechatronics engineering major, Ruelas said he was fascinated to see all the other teams and their ideas at University Pitch Madness. Among the other colleges represented were the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois System, Michigan State, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“It was fun to see not just the process of initial concept, designing process and final product, but also how these ideas can be turned into businesses,” Ruelas said.

Twelve months ago, he could not have envisioned such a feat.

“If you have an idea and don't know where to start, take the leap and begin working on it,” Ruelas added. “Chip away at it, piece by piece. Along the way, you'll find like-minded people willing and able to help you along your path.”

Indeed, his and Ju’s triumphs have not occurred in isolation, with NIU offering resources and guidance at every stage of the innovation journey. Among those providing key support: the Office of Innovation in the Division of Research and Innovation Partnerships, as well as CEET faculty members such as Mechanical Engineering Presidential Teaching Professor Nick Pohlman and Peter Lin, a member of the mechatronics program faculty.

Lin, faculty mentor to Ju and Ruelas, lauded the two for their “infectious enthusiasm” and called their performance at DePaul “nothing short of exceptional.”

“On stage, under pressure, they delivered a compelling and confident presentation—each playing a vital role in showcasing their vision: AI-powered robotic guide dogs designed to assist visually impaired users,” Lin said. “Han and Rudy exemplify the spirit of student entrepreneurship.”

The budding company’s next steps include technological development so that its robotic dog can navigate more advanced situations and building connections with nursing homes and hospitals, which serve those that SafeStride is seeking to help.

“We need to refine our ability to interface with our robotic dogs and our proprietary software to get to a level where we feel comfortable beginning that testing,” Ruelas said. “Right now, we’re working at a starting point of simple situations in controlled environments. Through testing and refinement of our team's skills, we hope that the dogs will be able to handle more advanced scenarios in more uncontrolled environments.”

Lin encouraged other CEET students to explore how they can merge entrepreneurship and technology. But his remarks are relevant for anyone seeking to adapt to these fast-evolving times.

“In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the job landscape—bringing both disruption and opportunity—it’s more important than ever for engineering students to tap into their entrepreneurial potential,” Lin said. “Don’t wait until graduation. Use the powerful AI tools, resources and knowledge you’re gaining from CEET to solve meaningful, real-world problems now.”

For information and inquiries about SafeStride Robotics, please e-mail contact@safestriderobotics.com.

NIU’s mechatronics engineering program is one of only four ABET-accredited bachelor of science in mechatronics engineering programs in the U.S. The program blends mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and up-to-date technologies to develop multidisciplinary engineers capable of designing complex systems and becoming industry leaders.

NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (CEET) provides affordable access to a world-class engineering education. Our fully accredited programs emphasize hands-on experience, with small classes taught by experienced, dedicated faculty that help a diverse array of students explore and ignite their passions in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Learn more by visiting our website.