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Welcome to The Autonomy Lab at the Florida Institute of Technology. We are developing cutting-edge tools to achieve higher level of autonomy for aerospace systems. The lab is led by Dr. Madhur Tiwari.
Our research is motivated by the prospect of what intelligent machines can achieve in the future. Our collective goal as a team is to achieve fully autonomous systems that do not rely on the traditional sensor-decision-act pipeline. We are currently focusing on developing data-driven techniques that can bring us closer to achieving full autonomy in aerospace systems.
We are still in the early stage of building this lab and the team. In the meantime, please check out our research work and don't hesitate to contact us. We are always open to collaborations.
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OUR PROJECTS
Spacecraft Dynamics Control Near Asteroids
We have designed several adaptive and optimal control techniques for close proximity operations near asteroids. We are currently working designing navigation and path planning techniques for spacecraft swarms near asteroids.
Experimental Testbed For Multi-Agent System
The experimental team is working towards the development and operation of a set of simulated and real-world testing platforms for the testing and demonstration of newly created control systems from the Autonomy Lab. These tools include the use of simulation environments such as Gazebo that allow for the testing of experimental algorithms designs in a digital environment. In addition to these simulation tools, the use of quadcopter hardware like the ModalAI Voxl m500 allows the team to test experimental code in a real-world environment using camera based, GPS-denied navigation, tracking, and object avoidance. The experimental team serves as the bridge between the theoretical and practical environments of the autonomous systems designs being created by the Autonomy Lab team.
Data-Driven Linear Representations and System ID
We are working with machine learning based methodologies to develop data-driven system identification and control techniques with applications to aerospace systems such as UAVs and spacecrafts. Our approach lets us linearize highly non-linear dynamical systems and thus provide a robust linearization scheme compared to traditional techniques such as Taylor series expansion.
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Computer Vision & Navigation
Computer Vision and Navigation: We are working on developing state-of-the-art vision and localization algorithms for autonomous aerospace systems. We are employing computationally efficient machine learning techniques. Our focus is on developing hybrid approaches that can leverage artificial intelligence and classical visions and navigation techniques.
MEET THE TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Madhur Tiwari
Assistant Professor
Dr. Madhur Tiwari is the lab director and assistnat professor of Aerospace Engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. He specializes in robotics, machine learning and control for aerospace systems. Currently, he is teaching Spaceflight Mechanics and Modern Control Theory at Florida Institute of Technology
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Dennis Ortega
PhD in Aerospace Engineering
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Trupti Mahendrakar
PhD in Aerospace Engineering
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George Nehma
M.S in Aerospace Engineering
Dennis is working with the experimental team on developing a VOXl m500 drone that is capable of autonomous flight. As part of the team he get the drones running and set up for test flights as well as unraveling and optimizing ways to integrate custom control systems into the drone’s hardware.
Trupti Mahendrakar received a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona in 2019 and a M.S, in Aerospace Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. Her current research includes the implementation of machine vision algorithms to enhance on-orbit service satellite operations, optimization of cold gas thruster design, and implementation of robotic manipulators for satellite refueling.
George is part of the Autonomy Lab and is working on developing a non-linear control system using the Koopman Operator to be able to more efficiently and quickly control robots such as drones, spacecraft and quadcopters. He is also a resident director at Florida Tech and is in his final year on the Men’s Basketball Team.
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Jake Huber
M.S in Aerospace Engineering
Currently working on Master's level research looking into relative spacecraft navigation using machine learning and computer vision. His current project is pose estimation of spacecraft using computer vision. His hobbies include going to the gym and watching documentaries on history and scientific discoveries.
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Patrick Quinn
M.S in Aerospace Engineering
Patrick is part of the Controls team where he is working to implement and validate controllers using MATLAB and Simulink. He enjoy hiking, biking, and gaming in his free time.
Emma Conti
B.S in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science
Emma is working on the Satellite Vision project working on integrating the drones and APF, as well as currently using the Opti Track system to work with the drones as well. She is the president of College Players, the theater group on campus, and have been performing since she was 5 years old.
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Khalid Jebari
M.S in Aerospace Engineering
Khalid Jebari received his BS in Mechanical Engineering before he joined the Florida Institute of Technology as a MS student in Aerospace Engineering. He is specializing in flight dynamics and controls; and his research focuses on machine learning, autonomous navigation, and control. His thesis topic is: Rendezvous and Proximity Operations in Cis-Lunar Space.
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Kishan Katrodia
B.S in Aerospace Engineering
Wenxi Liu
B.S in Aerospace Engineering
Kishan is responsible for developing The Autonomy Lab website. He is also an integral part of the team as a project manager of the Autonomy Lab. Something interesting about him is that he loves to play poker and likes to learn more about the stock market and cryptocurrency.
He works with the experimental team and controls team. For now, his main objective is to connect the Optitrack system to the drone, in order for later on AI development. Something interest about him is that he can speak multiple languages.