CV
Education
- Ph.D in Robotics and AI, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2025
- M.S in Electrical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- M.S in Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
- B.S in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology
Work experience
- Robotics Controls Engineer, Raphe mPhibr
- Leading AI Research Team for control systems and computer vision at UAV startup for autonomy
- Trajectory Generation & Control: Engineered novel path-planning techniques and trajectory generation algorithms for autonomous UAVs, implementing PID and nonlinear control strategies to ensure stability and robust trajectory tracking under sensor noise, all using C++, LUA, and Python
- Perception-Action Loops: Managing the development of end-to-end navigation pipelines, integrating visual odometry, SLAM, and 3D point-cloud processing (LiDAR) for real-time obstacle avoidance and path planning.
- Real-Time Inference Optimization: Deployed AI models to edge devices (Jetson, AGX Orin) by optimizing CUDA code with TensorRT, significantly enhancing system performance for real-time applications.
- Perception and Planning: Designed and tested UAV navigation pipelines by integrating visual odometry, SLAM, and path-planning for obstacle avoidance in real-time to enable autonomous obstacle avoidance in dynamic environments.
- Researcher, Medical Robotics and Automation Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Published 7 first-author research articles and conference proceedings in top-tier publication venues such as IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports, IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, ICRA, IROS, and ISMR.
- Developed and optimized advanced computer vision (OpenCV, PyTorch, and TensorFlow) and machine learning algorithms for image-based target tracking (RGB, C-arm Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound) and guidance in fast moving robotic autonomous systems, achieving sub-2mm tracking accuracy in dynamic environments. Extensive hands-on image signal processing experience, with work in 2D/3D Reconstruction for medical images through camera calibration and imaging system modeling.
- Collaborated with ultrasound fabrication specialists to develop image beamforming algorithms to improve signal-to noise ratio for image formation form PZT crystals, utilizing optics, PSF (Point Spread Function) convolution, modeling sensor noise, and Fourier theory and Nyquist sampling criteria for mitigating aliasing.
- Tailored state-of-the-art pre-trained object detection models (YOLO/ OWL), and semantic segmentation architectures (ResNet, MobileNet, Vision Transformers) and trained custom models with hyperparameter tuning, all with custom labeled datasets with synthetic data generation for dataset augmentation.
- Collaborated closely with embedded software engineers to write efficient, C/C++ code for programs running on ARM Cortex and STM32 microcontrollers/communication protocols (UART, I2C, SPI, Ethernet).
- Developed and implemented advanced planning, data-driven ML perception models (3D Computer Vision), and feedback control algorithms, integrating sensor fusion, state estimation, and real-time actuation of steerable continuum robots for reliable performance in dynamic environments.
- Founding VR/AR Ultrasound Engineer, Stealth Startup
- Worked as the first engineer at a startup at Georgia Tech to visualize 3D ultrasound images in VR and AR machines to extend capabilities of physicians to localize organs and other points-of-interest during diagnostic and interventional procedures.
- Optimized rendering algorithms for low-latency AR guidance (under 50ms), extending ultrasound capabilities to interventional workflows and reducing manual probe adjustments.
- Collaborated with physicians to iterate prototypes, validating system through 20+ mock procedures that demonstrated 30% faster localization times
Skills
- Robotics & Control: Trajectory Generation, Path Planning, SLAM, Visual Odometry, PID & Nonlinear Control, Sensor Fusion (Lidar/Radar/IMU), State Estimation
- AI/ML & Compute: PyTorch, TensorRT, CUDA Optimization, Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Real-time Inference, Model Quantization, 3D Point-Clouds, Embedded Nvidia Jetson, Orin
- Programming Tools: C++, Python, PyTorch, Git, Solidworks/Inventor, CUDA, TensorRT
- Languages: English (Native), Spanish (Fluent), Portuguese (Intermediate), Hindi (Intermediate), Tamil (Fluent), Mandarin (Beginner)
Publications
4 First-author journal publications, 3 first-author conference publications Georgia Tech College of Engineering Topping Fellowship: Awarded for the Top 5 College of Engineering Graduate Students for the number of citations in First-Author Journal Papers (2024+2025)
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Ravigopal, S.R., Konda, R., Malhotra, N. et al. Design, analysis, and demonstration of the COAST guidewire robot with middle tube rotation for endovascular interventions. Sci Rep 14, 27629 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75871-7
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S. R. Ravigopal, T. A. Brumfiel, A. Sarma and J. P. Desai, "Fluoroscopic Image-Based 3-D Environment Reconstruction and Automated Path Planning for a Robotically Steerable Guidewire," in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 11918-11925, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1109/LRA.2022.3207568.
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Ravigopal, S. R., Brumfiel, T. A., & Desai, J. P. (2021, November). Automated motion control of the COAST robotic guidewire under fluoroscopic guidance. In 2021 International Symposium on Medical Robotics (ISMR) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
PATENTS • S. R. Ravigopal, J. P. Desai, T. A. Brumfiel, N. J. Deaton, “Versatile Continuum Robots with Variable Stiffness Control for Improved Positioning and Manipulation,” Provisional patent, GTRC/9166, 2023
Talks
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May 23, 2025
Talk at IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Atlana, GA, USA
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May 19, 2025
Tutorial at IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Atlanta, GA, USA
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November 01, 2023
Invited Talk at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
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October 11, 2022
Talk at Emory University, Emory University, USA
Teaching
Service and leadership
- Communications Lead VP , Robotics Graduate Student Association (RoboGrads) Apr 2024 – June 2025 • Organized seminars, social events, and workshops for the robotics community at Georgia Tech. In charge of disseminating information through flyers, e-mails, and marketing to the wider community • Invited speakers from universities like CMU, NC State, Rice, etc. to speak at seminars for PhD students Competitor and Sub team Lead, GT IEEE Robotics Club Jan 2018-May 2021 • Designed and built four-wheeled autonomous robots that navigate confined racetracks and also complete the task of separating various colored blocks. In charge of developing computer vision and path-planning algorithms for robots.
Philanthropy Lead, Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering Honor Society) Jan 2019-Dec 2021 • Organized philanthropy and outreach events for high schools, including tutoring sessions, planning visits for students to tour our engineering school and labs, as well as coordinating food drives and blood donations. • Assisted in organizing company talks where mechanical engineering companies visit Georgia Tech to discuss their work and recruit members of the mechanical engineering honor society. Media, Arts, and Design Lead Georgia Tech India Club Jan 2019-May 2024 • Making flyers, event set-up, and three yearly events at the university, Holi Show, Navaratri, and Deepavali events with around a thousand attendees each. • Organizer for cultural events that showcase teams from across the country to compete at Georgia Tech
