Welcome!

Harshad Zade

First Year Graduate Student

Carnegie Mellon University

Biography

I aspire to become a full-stack roboticist to create multi-tasking robots that adapt to new environments and positively impact people’s everyday lives at homes and workplaces. I am particularly interested in tackling the challenges of deploying bio-inspired robots in the field and work towards a socially significant problem. In the long term, I hope to start my own company that uses field robotics to provide solutions to real-world problems such as search and rescue missions in complex environments.

While completing my undergraduate degree, I worked with Dr. Shital Chiddarwar at IvLabs, the AI and Robotics Lab , on a variety of projects focused on creating innovative and robust hardware platforms. In addition to this work, I also led workshops for first-year students to foster a technical culture at my college.

Outside of work, I am a sports enthusiast and love adventure. I also enjoy listening to music and play tabla. On weekends I go running and biking, plan hikes, road trips, and organizes board game sessions and surprise people with my culinary skills!

Interests

Field Robotics
Bio-inspired Robotics
Embedded Systems
Sports

Education

Master of Science (M.S.) in Robotic Systems Development (MRSD), 2023*

Carnegie Mellon University
B.Tech. in Metallurgy and Materials, 2021

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology

Projects

GHAR - General Hardware Agnostic Robot software

As robotics researchers develop new algorithms (i.e, a control algorithm), they dedicate a significant amount of time to implementing and testing the algorithm on a specific platform. A key task of performing tests lies in the development of the full software stack for the specified platform, thus leading to a longer implementation and testing time. Using a general, extensible, and modular software stack will allow researchers to swiftly implement their algorithm and perform tests efficiently. This calls for the General Hardware Agnostic Robot (GHAR) Software.

Reconfigurable Quadrupedal-Bipedal Snake Robots (ReQuBiS)

A re-configurable robot which can transition into biped, quadruped and snake configurations without any re-arrangement of modules.

Multi Agent Wireless Sensor Network

Implemented a mesh network based on IEEE 802.15.4 to establish consensus in a swarm of robots. Established handshake using Atmega328p as well as TIVA TM4C123GXL launchpad.

Harmonic Motion Analyser

MATLAB based program to analyze motion equation and parameters. I Designed an algorithm for tracing path of a damped oscillator.

Hobby Projects

I enjoy taking up small handy projects like Line follower bot, Designed a manually controlled mobile robot, Fabricated a clap switch, Fabricated a cell phone charger.

Laser Security System

Implemented a laser security system with push notifications capability and real-time monitoring.

Publications

Sahayak - An Autonomous COVID Aid Bot

We present the design of an autonomously navigating robot that can be deployed at hospitals to reduce the contact between healthcare workers and their patients. Future works will involve provisions for Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance and solutions for the Global Localization problem.

Karthik Raman, Prathamesh Ringe, Sania Subhedar, Sushlok Shah, Yagnesh Devada, Aayush Fadia, Kushagra Srivastava, Varad Vaidya, Harshad Zade, Ajinkya Kamat, Anshul Paigwar, Shital Chiddarwar

DOI PDF

ReQuBiS - Reconfigurable Quadrupedal-Bipedal Snake Robots

The selection of mobility modes for robot navigation consists of various trade-offs. Snake robots are ideal for traversing through …

Harshad Zade, Aadesh Varude, Karan Pandya, Ajinkya Kamat, Shital Chiddarwar, Rohan Thakker

DOI PDF

OLSAC: Open-Source Library for Swarm Algorithms and Communication

The library presents multiple functions which are identified as basic building blocks of various swarm algorithms, it helps the user in creating future algorithms. Also, this library is open for collaborations from community and has a potential to become single solution for all swarm related applications.

Harshad Zade, Mayuresh Bhoyar, Mayuresh Sarode, Neha Marne, Unmesh Patil, Vedant Ranade, Ajinkya Kamat

Code PDF

Look what they have to say about me

Professor

Dr. Shital S. Chiddarwar

Professor, Mechanical Engineering

Mentors

Anshul Paigwar

Research Engineer, INRIA

Rohan Thakker

Robotics Research Technologist, JPL NASA

News

Excited to work on the MRSD capstone project with Professor Deepak Pathak!

I am working under the guidance of Prof. Deepak, on creating a software stack that can be used with various types of robotics platforms, such as legged and wheeled. This stack is designed to be modular and adaptable, allowing it to be easily integrated into different hardware setups.

Sep 1, 2022

Accepted for the Master of Science (M.S.) in Robotic Systems Development (MRSD), Program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Excited to learn from renowned faculty and interacting with my fellow students in this prestigious program.

Feb 14, 2022

Socio-Technical Research Award

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdown, I converted a hospital trolley into a remotely controlled …

Jan 26, 2022

Video

Started working with the brilliant team at CRAB Lab, Georgia Tech.

May 1, 2021

Featured in Newapapers, Magazines

I was interviewed by India Science Magazine and various news press about the Sahayak Robot, which was developed to assist doctors and …

Jun 15, 2020

Video

Activities

Delegate at Inspection Robotics Customer Meet

Along with my colleagues I atteded a meet on Inspection Robotics at John F. Welch Technology Centre, GE, Banglore.

Volunteer at IEEE VNIT Chapter

I help conduct the IEEE workshops on topics like micro-controllers, circuit and PCB designing, manual robotics, etc. Actively promote a Technical culture in my institute.

IEEE VNIT

Open House at IvLabs

Every year the Robotics society organises a open house to showcase the research and projects going on in the lab. Another motive behind this is to get new ideas and support form the professors.

IvLabs

Best Athlete of VNIT 2017-18

The university organises a sports meet for the all freshmen everry year. I participated and was awarded the Best Athlete (Men) 2017-18.

Inter NIT

I represented my college at All India Inter NIT Kho-Kho Tournament 2018-19 at NIT Rourkela as a part of Kho-Kho team.

Interacting with School Students.

As a curious kid I always wanted to know more about Robotics in my school, but never got any opportunity to do so. So now I try to help such curious minds however and whenever possible.

Trekking

I love going on hikes and treks!

Technical Fest of VNIT

AXIS is the annual technical festival of VNIT where students organize events, workshops and guest lecturers to impart technical expertise. I was a part of the Logistics Team of AXIS-2020.

AXIS

Cultural Fest of VNIT

Aarohi is the most anticipated youth event of the year in Central India, organized by the students of VNIT. I have been a Core member of the organising comitee and have actively participated in bringing the Sponsors.

Aarohi

Hosted Cultural Nite

Cultural Nite is a non-profit Charity event. I hosted the evening where Mr.Hrishikesh Ranade gave a soulful performance and the proceedings of the event were donated to Akhil Bharatiya Kalyankari Bahudeshiya Sansthan, an NGO that strives to help and support the lives of Mentally Challenged Children.

Tabla

I like playing table in my leisure time.

Experience

Research Intern

CRAB Lab, Georgia Institute of Technology

May 2021 – Apr 2022 Atlanta, USA

I was primarily involved in creating simulations of robots in the lab, including a kid-sized biped robot and a C-leg quadruped robot, for use on complex undulating terrain. These simulations have been useful for testing algorithms and conducting experiments more efficiently. [Video]

Co-founder

AidBots

Apr 2020 – Aug 2021 India - France

We aim to develope autonomous differential drive robot for food and medicine delivery to the patients. [Video]

Technical Secretary

IvLabs

Jun 2019 – May 2021 VNIT, Nagpur

As Technical Head of the managing council for IvLabs (the Robotics and Innovation Society at VNIT), I was responsible for managing the inventory and implementing efficient processes for utilizing the components in the lab.

Member and Mentor

IvLabs

Jul 2018 – May 2021 VNIT, Nagpur

I believe that Teaching is a great way to keep learning. So while I work on projects for my own development, I give my best to ensure that my mentees learn everything that I know. These are some of the projects I mentored. [Link1], [Link2], [Link3].