Team

Ankit Aggarwal

Controls & Actuation Engineer

Ankit is a graduate student in the Robotic Systems Development (MRSD ’26) program at Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to this, completed his undergraduate studies at MIT Manipal, majoring in Mechatronics and Robotics. His experience ranges from Mars rover prototyping to autonomous navigation systems, developed through international competitions. Ankit’s expertise also covers continuum robotics, control systems, and core mechanical design. With a background in technical leadership and program management, he contributes both technical know-how and strategic thinking to projects. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and martial arts!

Deepam Ameria

Integration, Testing and Mechanical Systems Engineer

Currently pursuing a Master’s in Robotic Systems Development at CMU, Deepam is a robotics enthusiast, who holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mumbai, where he developed a strong foundation in interdisciplinary fields like electric mobility, aerospace, and robotics. His professional experience includes working at an EV 2-wheeler start-up in Bangalore, where he contributed to the development and testing of 2nd and 3rd-gen EV scooters, primarily in the IoT domain. Previously, he has worked on projects such as a self-balancing robot, an automatic Drag Reduction System, and a High-Voltage Battery Pack for a Formula-style race car, reflecting his interests in robotics, automation, and automobiles. He is driven by a desire to create innovative robotic solutions and enjoys exploring the intersection of engineering and real-world applications (applied to out-of-the-world applications too 😉 )

Bhaswanth Ayapilla

Perception Engineer

Bhaswanth is pursuing a Master’s in Robotic Systems Development at Carnegie Mellon University (MRSD ’26). He completed his undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, with a minor in Robotics and Automation, at BITS Pilani, India. His technical experiences span autonomous underwater vehicles, ground robots, multi-agent reinforcement learning, and machine learning. Passionate about field robotics, Bhaswanth is particularly drawn to developing perception systems for robots that can navigate and operate in unstructured, unpredictable terrains. Whether advancing automation on Earth or exploring the possibilities of space robotics, he thrives in collaborative team building environments.

Simson D’Souza

Navigation Engineer

Simson D’Souza is a master’s student in the Robotic Systems Development (MRSD ’26) program at Carnegie Mellon University. He completed his undergraduate studies in Mechatronics with honors in Satellite Technology, where he gained practical experience through projects focused on autonomous navigation for mobile robots in warehouse automation, vision-based interactive systems, and motion planning for robotic manipulators. With nearly a year of professional experience at a robotics startup, he played a key role in the design and development of autonomous delivery robots. His work involved developing robust navigation systems and path planning algorithms, implementing sensor fusion techniques, and system integration using ROS1 and ROS2. His technical expertise encompasses path planning, embedded systems, IoT, and end-to-end algorithm development for advanced robotic applications.

Boxiang (William) Fu

Sensing Engineer

William is currently a MRSD ’26 student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute. Prior to joining CMU, William completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science (Mathematical Physics), Bachelor of Commerce (Economics & Finance), and Diploma in Languages (Chinese Studies). He has expertise in optimization, dynamical systems, and mathematical concepts. His favorite theorem is the Riesz Representation Theorem, which has profound consequences in physics (see Bra-Ket notation), Machine Learning (see kernels), and other fields. In his spare time, William enjoys … oh wait … CMU students don’t have spare time. Never mind!

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