Contact Dr Saurabh Upadhyay

Background

Work experience

1. Lecturer in Space Engineering, Cranfield University (2022-Present): Working towards robot autonomy in extreme environments such as space and extraterrestrial bodies.

2. Research Associate, University of Bristol (2019-2022): Developed fast and safe motion primitive generation approaches for agile quadrotor flights.

3. Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Porto (2018-2019): Worked on safe motion planning for planetary hopping rovers exploring rugged terrains.

Education

1. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Indian Institute of Science (2018)
Thesis: Continuous-Curvature Path Planning Using Four Parameter Logistic Curves
Developed a computationally-fast robot motion planning tool from a bioassay curve

2. Master of Technology (MTech), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (2012)
Thesis: Robust Output Feedback Controller Design for a Vertical Take-Off and Landing System

3. Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering (2009)
Subject: Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

Awards and Honours

1. Engineering Faculty Post-Doctoral Research Prize, EPSRC and University of Bristol, 2021.

2. Prof. A. K. Rao Medal for Best Ph.D. Thesis in Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, 2018.

3. Article titled “Continuous-Curvature Path Planning with Obstacle Avoidance using Four Parameter Logistic Curves” in the Popular article list of IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.

4. Article titled “Smooth Path Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Airspace Restrictions” in Top 20 most viewed papers of AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics (2018).

5. DST SERB International Travel Support for IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Stockholm, Sweden (2016).

6. YouTube video titled “observer based controller design matlab simulink” with 49000+ views.

Professional Activities

  1. Editorial and organizing member: Aerospace Research Students Symposium 2016, IISc
  2. Session chair/co-chair: IROS 2021, ARSS 2016.
  3. Reviewer: IEEE RAS Young Reviewers Program, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, IEEE Access, AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Ocean Engineering, Advanced Control for Application, Acta Astrounatica, Indian Control Conference 2021, International Conference on Robotics and Automation 2020, American Control Conference 2018, International Conference on Advances in Control and Optimization of Dynamical Systems 2018 and 2016.

Research opportunities

Saurabh has a PhD studentship opening in the field of planetary robotics. Prospective students/post-docs: Please send your detailed CV and research statement to Saurabh.Upadhyay@cranfield.ac.uk.  

Current activities

Saurabh's research interests include:

  1. Robot autonomy and mobility
  2. Space (planetary and in-orbit) and aerial robots
  3. Heterogeneous robot system 
  4. Fast exploration in extreme environments
  5. Computationally simple and low-cost robotic systems


Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers