Experience

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01

Lead Software Engineer

Jan 2021 - Present

At Elroy Air, we pioneer autonomous aerial cargo systems, combining drone technology and robotics. As one of the first 15 employees, I have played a critical role in various capacities, shaping the development of this groundbreaking technology:

  1. Leadership and Development: I lead the Simulation Team, that’s responsible for the development of software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop platforms. This crucial infrastructure allows our flight software and controls teams to conduct comprehensive pre-deployment testing.

  2. Technical Expertise: My responsibilities extend to modeling our vehicles with precision—incorporating sensors, actuators, hybrid-electric powertrain, and creating emulators and fault injection systems. Our batch simulation test framework, built using Google Cloud, facilitates extensive integrated testing across multiple scenarios to ensure software reliability and safety.

  3. Software and System Design: I've been instrumental in writing drivers for actuators and developing avionics software crucial for flight operations. Additionally, I developed a hierarchical state machine that seamlessly integrates ground control operations with aircraft systems, enhancing operational coordination and safety.

  4. Notable Achievements: A highlight of my tenure was leading the project that successfully launched the world’s first hybrid-electric drone in November 2023, marking a significant milestone in sustainable aviation.

02

Co-founder & CTO

Aug 2018 - Dec 2020

Resolute Labs was founded right after Camp Fire with the vision to revolutionize how energy and utility companies maintain their infrastructure with the use of computer vision and aerial inspections.

  • Technical Innovation: I led the development of a web application that utilized computer vision to help monitor oil leaks and track critical assets on the ground. This platform was designed to modernize how energy companies managed their infrastructure. Air patrol pilots uploaded imagery from sensor payloads to the app, which automatically processed the images, overlaid them on a map, and alerted relevant stakeholders about any detected violations or leaks.

  • Professional Growth: Our journey was marked by notable milestones, including joining the prestigious Alchemist Accelerator and initiating a pilot project with Colonial Pipeline.

  • Valuable Lessons: Despite our technical achievements, we encountered challenges with founder-market fit, particularly our lack of established connections necessary to secure contracts within the energy industry. This experience underscored the importance of not only having a robust product but also building strong industry networks. It has profoundly shaped my understanding of market dynamics and has been crucial in refining my approach to startups and product development.

03

Autonomy Software Engineer

Jan 2018 - Dec 2018

Fresh out of graduate school, I joined Skyryse and was instrumental in developing the world’s first autonomous takeoff and landing software for the Robinson R44 helicopter. My contributions included:

  • Innovation: Engineered autonomous landing and takeoff capabilities for the R44, employing computer vision and laser altimeter to enhance operational accuracy and safety.

  • Vendor Management: Successfully sourced and integrated a critical laser altimeter from a key vendor, maintaining robust supplier relations to support our technological advancements.

  • Team Growth: Led the expansion of the software engineering team, recruiting talented engineers to further our development goals.

Education

01
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

MSc. Intelligent Systems

July 2016 - May 2018

During my graduate studies, I focused on advanced topics that are at the forefront of robotics and autonomy.

  • Relevant coursework included: Robot Dynamics and Control, Autonomous Systems in the Real World, Reinforcement Learning, Non-linear Optimization, and Probability Theory.

  • Research: My research explored GPS-denied navigation for autonomous phenotyping systems, developing innovative methods to enable precise navigation in environments where GPS is unreliable or unavailable.

02

Task space trajectory tracking with Impedance Control

BITS Pilani

BE Mechanical Engineering

July 2012 - May 2016

Q* learning based reactive navigation for a 2D agent

At BITS Pilani, one of India’s premier engineering schools, I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering while also exploring a range of electives in Computer Science and Electronics. Key aspects of my undergraduate experience included:

  • Leadership: Served as the coordinator of the Aerodynamics Club, leading workshops in RC airplane design and projects that fostered project based learning on the campus.

  • Research Opportunity: Seized an international research opportunity by cold emailing a professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where I contributed to a project analyzing the aerodynamics of morphing-wing UAVs equipped with MFC actuators.