Hi, my name is

Smit.

I enjoy building robots.

Dedicated to the creation of autonomous systems, I am a passionate roboticist who enjoys both professional and personal pursuits. In my free time, I find pleasure in tinkering and building projects from the ground up. Challenges serve as a constant source of inspiration, igniting my enthusiasm and driving the excitement that fuels my work in robotics.

Resume

About Me

I am a Masters’ Graduate - Robotics from The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) collaborating with Dr. Karthik Dantu in the DRONES Lab, I specialize in robot autonomy, planning, and control.

At Zoox Inc., I contribute to the Planner Motion team, generating local plans and controls for Zoox’s autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments.

Here are a few technologies I've been working with recently:
  • ROS
  • Autonomous Driving
  • Unity3D
  • Gazebo
  • Python
  • C++ Embedded
  • C#
  • ASP .NET
  • MSSQL
  • Javascript

Experience

Software Engineer - Zoox Inc
March 2024 - Present
  • Generating smooth and safe controls for autonomous vehicles in complex urban environments.
  • Optimizing local plans for Zoox’s autonomous vehicles.
Research & Teaching Assistant - DRONES Lab
January 2023 - December 2023
  • Engaged in cutting-edge research on F1Tenth platform (ref. research), contributing to various projects aimed at advancing autonomous racing technology & developed a friction accurate F1Tenth Simulator.
  • Redesigned Robotics Algorithms course, integrating insights from a new simulator, and developed automated methods for evaluating ROS based assignments for 200 students over 2 semesters.
Software Developer II - Aurigo Software
January 2022 - July 2022
  • Implemented features for Aurigo’s Masterworks Cloud platform using ASP .Net and MSSQL.
  • Optimized performance of XML controls resulting in a 2.5x reduction in response time.
  • Mentored and Trained 3 freshers on Aurigo’s Masterworks Cloud platform and industry code standards.
  • Led a team of 6 in addressing product bugs and client feedback items during Q4 2021 & Q1 2022.
  • Performed security fixes to the platform to ensure compliance with OWASP standards.
Previous Roles
  • Software Developer I - July 2020 - January 2022
  • Member Technical Staff - Intern - July 2019 - July 2020
First Aid Training Instructor - Intern - Emergency First Aid India
May 2018 - August 2018
  • Received certification in First Aid and CPR training based on American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines
  • Conducted 28 First Aid and CPR awareness workshops in various urban and rural parts of Maharashtra, India
  • Trained 500+ individuals in First Aid and CPR
  • Developed a landing singlepage website for the organization using HTML, CSS, and Javascript
Research Assistant - CNS Lab
August 2016 - July 2019
  • Engaged in cutting-edge research on EEG based automation (ref. research), contributing to various projects aimed at hybrid EEG based BCI automation systems.
  • Designed and implemented software facilitating synchronized data acquisition from EEG devices while administering stimuli for system control.
  • Created a comprehensive simulator to facilitate data acquisition and robust testing of the wheelchair system.

Research

SAGA-F1T: Surface-Adaptive Grip-Aware Trajectory Generation for F1Tenth Autonomous Racing
S. Rajguru, Y. Dighe, Y. Turkar, C. Aluckal, N. Kale, K. Dantu
Conference: IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2024
Status: In-review - Email for access
  • Conducted research on baseline trajectory generation for autonomous racing.
  • Applied racing car dynamics to develop and refine trajectory generation techniques.
  • Achieved a remarkable 20% improvement in lap time through these advancements.
Kinematics-Only Differential Flatness based Trajectory Tracking for Autonomous Racing
Y. Dighe, Y. Kim, S. Rajguru, Y. Turkar, T. Singh, and K. Dantu
Conference: IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Automation (iROS) 2023
DOI: 10.1109/IROS55552.2023.10341603
  • Conducted research on baseline controllers for an advanced autonomous racing system.
  • Explored and developed feasible velocity profiles for optimized performance.
  • Achieved an 8% reduction in CPU utilization while maintaining minimal ATE impact.
Wheelchair Automation by a Hybrid BCI System Using SSVEP and Eye Blinks
L. Kanungo, N. Garg, A. Bhobe, S. Rajguru and V. Baths
Conference: IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) 2021
DOI: 10.1109/SMC52423.2021.9659266
  • Engineered a wheelchair system responsive to a hybrid BCI controller.
  • Designed and implemented software facilitating synchronized data acquisition from EEG devices while administering stimuli for system control.
  • Created a comprehensive simulator to facilitate data acquisition and robust testing of the wheelchair system.
  • Crafted a user-friendly GUI for the wheelchair system.

Education

August 2022 - December 2023
Master of Science in Engineering Science - Robotics
The State University of New York at Buffalo (UB), Buffalo, NY
GPA: 4.0 out of 4.0

Assistantships

  • Distributed RObotics and Networked Embedded Sensing (DRONES) Lab - Research Assistant (Autonomous Racing)
  • Robotics Algorithms - Teaching Assistant (ROS, Python, Autonomy)

Extracurricular Activities

  • UB Drone Pilots’ and Builders’ Club - Member
July 2015 - June 2020
Bachelor of Technology in Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering Master of Science in Physics
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, Goa Campus, India
GPA: 3.02 out of 4.0

Assistantships

  • Cognitive NeuroScience (CNS) Lab - Research Assistant (EEG, BCI, Automation)
  • Introduction to Computer Programing - Teaching Assistant (C++ and 8086 Assembly)
  • Object Oriented Programming - Teaching Assistant (Java and C++)

Extracurricular Activities

  • Electronics and Robotics Club (ERC) - Member Mentor
  • Environment Protection and Awareness Club (EPAC) - Sustainable Development Head

Projects

F1Tenth Autonomous Racing
ROS Autonomy Planning Control Unity3D
F1Tenth Autonomous Racing
A cutting-edge project exploring AI-driven navigation and control for 1/10th scale racecars, merging the thrill of Formula 1 with advanced robotics and autonomous systems. Experience the fusion of precision engineering and AI as these miniature vehicles tackle challenging racing environments autonomously.
F1TENTH
Flipkart GRiD - Te[a]ch The Machines
python Machine Learning Object Detection
Flipkart GRiD - Te[a]ch The Machines
An annual campus competition for select Indian engineering students to showcase tech skills, competing in a machine learning-driven challenge, leading to a national finale at Flipkart HQ.
GRiD 2019
Brain Computer Interface
BCI Automation
Brain Computer Interface
BCI-enabled wheelchair and home automation systems leverage brain-computer interface technology, enabling users to control devices and mobility aids through neural signals, offering enhanced accessibility and independence.
CNS Lab
ABU Robocon
Arduino Robotics Autonomy
ABU Robocon
ABU Robocon is an international robotics competition where student teams design and build robots to compete in intricate challenges. It's a platform that fosters innovation and engineering prowess among participants from Asia-Pacific countries.
ROBOCON 2017
First Tech Challenge
Robotics Autonomy
First Tech Challenge
First Tech Challenge is an international robotics competition engaging students in designing, building, and programming robots to compete in intricate tasks. Participants collaborate, innovate, and problem-solve in a thrilling engineering challenge.
FTC India

Get in Touch

Schedule a Meeting | Mob: +1 (716) 520-7988 | E-Mail: smit@rajguru.dev
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