Robotics @ University of Michigan
📍 Ann Arbor, MI, US
● Building Intelligent Systems
I'm a Robotics Engineering student at the University of Michigan, focused on intelligent perception and learning for autonomous systems.
My interests lie in Path Planning,deep learning, SLAM, computer vision, and probabilistic representations of the world. I'm drawn to problems where robots need to understand complex, uncertain environments and build structured internal models that support reliable decision-making. I care about how machines represent space, reason under uncertainty, and connect perception to action in a principled way.
I'm particularly interested in modern approaches that bridge geometric methods with learning-based systems — combining classical state estimation with deep neural networks to create scalable and robust autonomy stacks. I enjoy working on systems where mapping, localization, and visual understanding are not just components, but core intelligence layers.
Long term, I want to contribute to the development of autonomous systems that can perceive richly, learn efficiently, and operate reliably in the real world.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
B.E. in Robotics Engineering — GPA: 3.96 / 4.0
📍 Ann Arbor, MI, United States
📅 Aug 2024 – Dec 2026
Honors & Awards: Ranked 3rd in World Robotics Olympiad • 4× Medalist at International Youth Robotics Contest • 3× AMC Qualifier • 2× AIME Qualifier
Current (Fall 2025): ROB 415 (Control of Robotic Systems), ROB 320 (Planning & ROS Integration), ROB 330 (Localization & Mapping), EECS 281 (Data Structures & Algorithms)
Completed: Circuit Design, Robot Optimization, Simultaneous Localization & Mapping, Linear Algebra, Robotic Differential Equations
📍 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jan 2026 – May 2026
Instructional Aide
📍 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jan 2026 – Present
Undergraduate Researcher — Perception & Planning
📍 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Aug 2025 – Dec 2025
Undergraduate Researcher
📍 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Aug 2025 – Dec 2025
Instructional Aide
📍 Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Nov 2024 – May 2025
Embedded Software Engineer
📍 Remote / India
Apr 2023 – Jul 2023
Robotics Assistant Intern
📍 India
Sep 2022 – May 2023
Founder & Organizer
Trained a ResNet18 + GRU navigation policy from 76K+ PIRLNav human VR demonstrations across 80 HM3D scenes. Implemented TBPTT, 3.28× inflection weighting, and a custom dataset loader to bypass habitat's strict episode schema.
Autonomous 3-phase ROV mission: BFS sweep of unmapped voxels → RRT-biased centroid approach → full NBVP survey of the wreck bounding volume. Detects shipwrecks via vertical column clustering; fuses stereo depth and sonar into real-time OctoMap.
Built a Dockerized CARLA/ROS 2 closed-loop eval stack for the Alpamayo VLA. Designed 10+ long-tail scenarios (cut-ins, dooring, wrong-way vehicles). Refactored the safety layer to implement a formal Safety Force Field (Nister et al., 2019); benchmarked on physical AIAV data with unit tests.
Leveraged event camera microsecond temporal resolution and high dynamic range to detect low-observable satellite streaks against star-field clutter using asynchronous spike-pattern processing for space domain awareness.
Built an autonomous-vehicle localization pipeline using IEKF sensor fusion (IMU + wheel odometry + GNSS + stereo/mono VO + LiDAR), with map-based corrections for drift-bounded pose tracking.
Implemented full SLAM on the MBot platform: laser-based localization, occupancy-grid mapping, and autonomous exploration using frontier detection and path planning.
Building a C++ HTTP + serial bridge and browser-based UI to control a 9-motor array for swarm robotics experiments, with per-motor speed/direction control, real-time feedback, and preset motion patterns.
MATLAB-based dynamic simulation of a realistic humanoid leg, modeling joint torques, ground contact, and human-like gait to study control and energy usage.
Built an accelerometer-based robotic limb with precise real-time finger control and motion sensing.
Black ice detection robot using sensor fusion, alerts pedestrians using LEDs + audio module.
Solar-powered robot that waters plants on highway medians using a robotic arm.
Developed a dual-energy harvesting system from pressure and heat to power EV batteries autonomously.
Created an agricultural robot to plough, sow, water, and accelerate indoor crop growth via artificial light.
Languages
→ C++, Python, Julia, MATLAB
Software & Dev Tools
→ Linux, Git, CMake, VS Code Remote, gdb, memory debugging, profiling
Algorithms & Data Structures (EECS 281)
→ Graph algorithms, shortest paths (Dijkstra, A*), dynamic programming, greedy methods, priority queues, balanced trees, hash maps, recursion, STL
Version Control & Collaboration
→ GitHub, project branching, CI-style builds, code reviews, reproducible builds
Frameworks & Platforms
→ ROS 2, RViz, Gazebo/Isaac Sim, colcon build, rosbag, transforms (tf2)
Hardware & Interfaces
→ Arduino, STM32, I²C, PWM, encoders, IMUs, sensor fusion integration
Planning & Integration (ROB 320)
→ Motion planning pipelines, collision checking, sampling-based planners (RRT), occupancy grids, action models, ROS middleware, node graph design
Robot Development
→ Embedded control, actuator tuning, hardware bring-up, real-time debugging
Control & Dynamics (ROB 415)
→ State-space modeling, linearization, controllability/observability, PID tuning, LQR, feedback linearization, transfer functions, stability analysis
Localization & Mapping (ROB 330)
→ Particle filters, Bayes filters, sensor models, inverse sensor models, coordinate transforms, odometry, Kalman filtering, mapping, probabilistic robotics
Planning & Robotics Algorithms
→ Graph search (A*, D*), RRT, occupancy mapping, path smoothing, trajectory generation, cost functions, multi-step prediction
Analytical & Computational Methods
→ Linear algebra, ODEs/PDEs, optimization, numerical solvers, eigenanalysis, Jacobians, least-squares estimation
Mechanical & CAD Design
→ SolidWorks, linkages & joint modeling, robot chassis design, motion visualization, kinematics modeling
System Integration
→ Hardware–software synchronization, performance tuning, testing workflows, reproducible experiments, robotics pipelines
Developed a piezoelectric energy harvesting system to convert automobile pressure into electricity for powering electric vehicles.
🏅 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze
2× USAMO Qualifier, 3× AIME Qualifier
Qualified for the USAMO (top 300 of 300,000 globally). AIME distinction holder across 3 years.
I'm always excited to connect with fellow innovators, collaborators, or just curious minds. Let's build something awesome together!
📧 Email: ashed@umich.edu
📞 Phone: (248) 734-3391
💼 LinkedIn: ashrith-edukulla
📄 Resume: View Resume