2026  ·  Robotics & Control Systems  ·  Punjab, India

Autonomous systems  ·  Control architectures  ·  Intelligent machines

Rhitam
Dutta

Robotics engineer focused on autonomous systems, control architectures, and intelligent machines. Building across planetary robotics, locomotion, and human-centered automation.

2+
Years on Hardware
4+
Publications
IRC Podium
60
Engineers Led
Rhitam Dutta presenting on robotics
Profile

Building
systems that
work in the
real world.

I work on building robotic systems that integrate control, perception, and real-world autonomy.

My experience spans rover platforms, exoskeleton systems, and autonomous robotic architectures — from low-level control and kinematics to full-stack robotic integration and deployment. I'm particularly interested in systems that operate reliably beyond controlled environments, where uncertainty, physical constraints, and real-time adaptability become central engineering challenges.

My broader focus lies at the intersection of robotics, intelligent systems, and applied research — especially in areas involving locomotion, human–robot interaction, and autonomy for complex environments. I enjoy translating research-driven ideas into deployable engineering systems, balancing experimental exploration with practical execution.

Alongside technical development, I've led multidisciplinary teams and coordinated large-scale robotics projects in fast-paced competitive environments, working across design, controls, software, manufacturing, and operations.

I'm interested in collaborating on research, robotics infrastructure, and ambitious engineering problems with real-world impact.

₹21L+
Project funding secured
Budget growth in one cycle
+60
Team scaled from 22 engineers
−2 mo
Delivery improved per year
Capabilities

What I work with

Primary Domain Control Systems Multi-loop architectures (position / velocity / torque)  ·  Impedance & adaptive control  ·  Gain scheduling  ·  State-space modelling & stability analysis  ·  Forward & inverse kinematics  ·  Forward & inverse dynamics  ·  Trajectory planning & generation  ·  Optimisation-based tuning (PSO, GA, Bayesian)
Robotics Stack ROS2 — Nav2, TF2, SLAM, sensor drivers  ·  Custom node architecture  ·  Topic / Service / Action interfaces  ·  Gazebo & RViz  ·  Distributed IPC  ·  Digital twin development
Simulation & Modelling MATLAB / Simulink / Simscape  ·  V-model hardware validation  ·  Kinematic & dynamic modelling  ·  Parallel manipulator workspace analysis
Sensing & Perception Sensor fusion  ·  Stereo vision (ZED 2i, D435i)  ·  LiDAR (Livox)  ·  Visual odometry  ·  IMU & encoder integration  ·  YOLO-based object detection  ·  Biomechanical sensing (EMG, AMTI, Qualisys)
Languages C++ (real-time control nodes)  ·  Python (tooling, perception pipelines)  ·  MATLAB  ·  C  ·  Java
Dev & Tooling Linux / Ubuntu  ·  Git  ·  Latency profiling  ·  Cubemars actuators  ·  Force plates (AMTI)  ·  Motion capture (Qualisys)
Work

Experience

Jun 2025 — Present
CoDSAI
UQ–TIET Joint Lab
DST-Sponsored
Controls & Robotics Engineering Intern
  • Designed and deployed a multi-loop real-time control system — inner torque loop / outer position loop — for a lower-limb exoskeleton operating in human-interactive environments; validated under user trials before deployment.
  • Integrated a heterogeneous biomechanical sensor suite (EMG, AMTI force plates, Qualisys motion capture) into a unified closed-loop pipeline with intent-estimation logic for adaptive assistive motion.
  • Reduced joint tracking error from 10° to <5° through systematic impedance controller tuning and adaptive gain scheduling against defined performance specs.
  • Authored control architecture specifications and commissioning test plans; led cross-team engineering reviews.
Nov 2023 — Feb 2026
MARS Rover Team
TIET
Automation Lead — Systems & Control
  • Architected complete ROS2 autonomy stack across two successive rover platforms — defined node topology, inter-system interfaces, and owned the control subsystem from specification through field commissioning at international competition.
  • Implemented multi-loop controllers (position, velocity, torque) under dynamic and non-linear terrain conditions; applied optimisation-based tuning methods across hardware-validated platforms.
  • Redesigned distributed IPC architecture enabling reliable real-time autonomous actuation across unstructured outdoor terrain; improved overall system delivery by ~2 months year-on-year.
  • Integrated Livox LiDAR, ZED 2i, IMU, and custom encoder drivers into a sensor-fused navigation pipeline achieving sub-centimetre localisation accuracy.
  • Led software and controls sub-teams; represented team at international competition reviews and post-mission technical debriefs.
Jul 2024 — Aug 2025
MARS Rover Team
TIET
Joint Secretary / Overall Coordinator
  • Scaled engineering team from 22 to 60 members; secured ₹21L+ in project funding — 6× growth, with ₹11L incremental budget added in a single cycle.
  • Coordinated multi-domain development across controls, perception, and mechanical sub-teams; improved project delivery timelines by 2 months through structured planning and resource allocation.
Engineering Work

Projects

Autonomous Ground Vehicles — Mars Rovers
01
Rover Ganga
IRC 2026 · ROS2 Full Autonomy Stack · 2025–2026
Mentors: Dr. Ashish Singla · Dr. Sachin Kansal
Led systems architecture for a full ROS2 autonomy stack — defined subsystem boundaries, real-time timing contracts, and data flow across control, planning, and perception. Designed hybrid control framework coupling multi-loop position control with perception-driven adaptation. Achieved 75% autonomous mission success across unstructured outdoor terrain.
1st Place — IRC 2026
02
Rover Alakananda
IRC 2025 · Visual Odometry · ROS2 Navigation · 2024–2025
Mentors: Dr. Ashish Singla · Dr. Sachin Kansal
Built ROS2 navigation stack with visual odometry (Intel D435i) and depth-based obstacle avoidance. Achieved 10 cm positional accuracy with 65% path-planning success. Maintained stable closed-loop operation across multi-terrain field testing. Paper submitted to Journal of Field Robotics.
2nd Place — IRC 2025J. Field Robotics — Submitted
03
Rover Bhagirathi
IRC 2024 · ROS Noetic · Robotic Arm · 2023–2024
Mentor: Dr. Ashish Singla
Developed autonomous control systems integrating robotic arm control and computer vision. Implemented automation workflows on ROS Noetic with visual and machine learning pipeline. Simulations validated in RViz and Gazebo prior to field deployment.
18th Globally — IRC 2024
Medical Robotics & Human-Centred Systems
04
Lower-Limb Exoskeleton
DST-Sponsored · Real-Time Control · 2025–ongoing
Mentor: Dr. Ashish Singla
Designed inner torque / outer position loop control for a lower-limb exoskeleton, delivering up to 48 Nm active assistive torque with <5° steady-state tracking error. Developed forward/inverse kinematics and dynamics models. Integrated Qualisys, AMTI force plates, and EMG for real-time biomechanical intent estimation. Stability analysis conducted across assisted gait scenarios.
05
DeltaMed — Surgical Robot
Delta Parallel Manipulator · Master-Slave · 2025–ongoing
Mentors: Dr. Sachin Kansal · Dr. Sandeep Pandey
Derived and validated inverse kinematics and dynamics of a delta-configuration parallel manipulator. Workspace optimisation using PSO, GA, and Bayesian methods. Designed master-slave control driven by encoder and IMU inputs. Full model validated in MATLAB/Simulink prior to hardware realisation — V-model practice. Trajectory planning for surgical precision motion.
ERC Hackathon → IFToMM Italy 2025 IC2E3 2026 — Accepted
The Team

Team MARS,
TIET

MARS is where the engineering became real. Over two years I grew with this team — building the first autonomous node, leading controls architecture, scaling the organisation from 22 to 60 engineers, and steering it to back-to-back international podiums.

Two consecutive years at the International Rover Challenge. IRC 2025 runners-up at BITS Pilani Goa. IRC 2026 Champions at Manipal. Two rovers. Two trophies. One team.

Recognition

Achievements & Publications

2026
1st Place — International Rover Challenge
Champions with Rover Ganga at IRC 2026, Manipal Institute of Technology.
2026
IC2E3 2026 — Accepted
DeltaMed: Master-Slave Delta Robot Surgical Platform.
2026
IEEE RO-MAN 2026 — Submitted
Adaptive PID Switching for Autonomous Rovers.
2026
Journal of Field Robotics — Submitted
Alakananda: A ROS2-based Modular Mars Rover for Field Operations and Astrobiological Expeditions.
2025
2nd Place — International Rover Challenge
Runner-up with Rover Alakananda at IRC 2025, BITS Pilani Goa.
2025
IFToMM I4SDG — Published
ROS2 Framework for Autonomous Grid Failure Assessment — outcome of ERC Hackathon 2024 first-place work.
2025
ANRF Workshop — IIT Ropar
Delivered robotics prototyping workshop to 40+ students from IITs and top national institutions.
2024
1st Place — ERC Robotics Hackathon (All India)
First place nationwide in a 45-day robotics hackathon. Work published at IFToMM I4SDG 2025, Italy.
2024
Best Project — ELC Summer Internship
Recognised among 100+ projects at TIET ELC summer programme.
2021
INOI Finalist — Top 228 Nationwide
Indian National Olympiad in Informatics — one of 7 selected from Chandigarh region.
Let's work together

Reach out.
Let's build something.

Open to research collaborations, internships, and full-time roles in robotics and control systems.

Institute rdutta_be22@thapar.edu Personal rhitamdutta2@gmail.com LinkedIn rhitamdutta GitHub rhitam01