My Journey into Robotics
I'm a robotics software engineer passionate about building autonomous systems that move, think, and actually function in the real world.
My academic path began with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, India, where I first got pulled into the world of control systems. That curiosity gradually snowballed into a broader obsession with robotics, leading me to pursue a Master's in Robotic Systems Development at Carnegie Mellon University.
At CMU, I built a strong foundation across the robotics stack, working with hardware, perception, localization, planning, control, and systems integration. Along the way, I discovered a deep interest for motion planning and reinforcement learning, areas where I continue to build expertise.
I currently work as a Senior Software Engineer on the Autonomy team at Cyngn, where we build self-driving technology for industrial vehicles. I focus on the behavior side of autonomy, designing the decision engine that lets autonomous forklifts navigate real-world factory floors.
Robots, Code, and Everything Between
At Cyngn, I develop the Decision Engine for autonomous tuggers and forklifts using C++, ROS 2, and BehaviorTree.CPP. Think of it as the brain that sits between perception, planning, and control, figuring out what the vehicle should actually do next. I also work on WorldSim, Cyngn's simulation platform, making sure our virtual environments behave as close to the real world as possible.
Previously at HEBI Robotics, I developed a modular, multi-arm mobile robot with reconfigurable tooling for soil characteristic analysis, built a MuJoCo plugin that lets users run the exact same control code in simulation and on real hardware (demo video), and led the development of the open-source HEBI ROS 2 APIs with support for ROS 2 Control and MoveIt!.
During my time at CMU, I worked on several exciting projects including a lunar-terrain excavation robot as part of my year-long capstone. I also built an autonomy stack for Roboracer (formerly F1Tenth — small racecars, serious autonomy problems) and researched learning-based motion planning for off-road vehicles using self-supervised techniques.
Across all these projects, I've always been drawn to one thing: building autonomy stacks that leave the lab and survive (ideally, thrive) in the messy, unpredictable chaos of the real world. Whether it's behavior planning for industrial robots, data-driven autonomy, or classical motion planning, I enjoy building software that interacts meaningfully with the physical world.
If you want to dig deeper into the technical side of my work, check out the Projects section, or see What I'm Into Lately for my most recent experiments and side projects.
Outside the Lab
Basketball has always been a huge part of my life, and I'm a lifelong Kobe fan (yes, he lives rent-free on my lock screen). His work ethic and the way he approached the game continue to influence how I think about focus, calmness, and discipline, both on and off the court.
I grew up playing the piano and still sit down at the keys whenever I need to reset. Primavera by Ludovico Einaudi is my go-to song — mostly because it's beautiful and also since it's the only one I still remember how to play ( ´･･)ﾉ(._.`)
During the pandemic, I picked up chess and have been stuck in the 3-minute blitz loop ever since. It's fast, competitive, and a great way to pretend I'm sharpening my brain.
What I'm Into Lately.
Last updated: Mar 21, 2026
Big changes since the last update. I left HEBI Robotics, moved to the Bay Area, and joined Cyngn in January as a Senior Software Engineer on the Autonomy team. New city, new codebase, new robots to figure out.
- I competed in the RoboRacer Sim Racing League @ CDC & Techfest 2025 as Team Mamba. Finished 1st in qualification with a best lap of 6.53 seconds and zero collisions, and 2nd in the final race on a previously unseen track with a best lap of 8.73 seconds. Check out the qualification run and the competition race. On top of that, I made an open-source contribution to the RoboRacer simulator by adding the Austria F1 track as a playable map, built using Unity and Blender. Haven't touched RoboRacer since the move, but hoping to get back to it soon. Next up is definitely trying Model Predictive Contouring Control (MPCC).
- I volunteered as a Judge at the FIRST Robotics CA District Silicon Valley Event presented by Apple. It was my first FRC event, not just as a volunteer but ever, and I was genuinely blown away by what high school students are building. The matches had me on the edge of my seat and I'm definitely going back for more.
- Outside of work, the move threw my routine off pretty hard. Still transitioning into the new role and location, so I'm focused on getting settled and finding my rhythm again. On the bright side, California has a lot to offer. I've been travelling whenever I can, watching sunsets from cliffs, soaking in the sun, and I'm very happy I escaped the Pittsburgh gloomy weather depression ☀️(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ
- I also finished reading Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. Interesting read, especially for someone who doesn't really have a habit of reading books. Hoping to keep the momentum going.
Overall, it's been a whirlwind few months. Still finding my footing, but loving the ride so far.
Let's Connect
If you're into robotics, autonomy stacks, or want to geek out about physical AI, recommend a book to this noobie, share your favorite California hikes, debate who's winning the NBA playoffs this year, or just chat about life, feel free to hit me up on any of the platforms below.
