Hi! I'm Vineet Pasumarti.


About Me

I am an M.S.E in Robotics student in the Janus Intelligent Robot Lab within the GRASP Laboratory and advised by Dr. Antonio Loquercio. I previously worked at Boeing Research and Technology and interned at NASA Langley Research Center. I completed my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I worked in the Computational Flow Physics and Modeling Lab advised by Dr. Jennifer Franck. My research interests broadly lie in the development of agile aerial robots, particularly in the control of multi-agent systems that can operate in the real-world through robot learning. Currently, my work is training multi-agent drone racing systems from scratch using reinforcement learning to unlock game-theoretic solutions.

Outside of the lab, I'm an avid nature and automotive photographer! You'll often find me taking photos, painting, hiking, or working on my car 🏎️ 🛠️. You can visit my photography portfolio here!

Projects

Mainly research, some personal.

Ipsum Feugiat

Rhoncus Semper

Magna Nullam

Natoque Vitae

Dolor Penatibus

Orci Convallis

Curriculum Vitae

Education

University of Pennsylvania

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Robotics

GPA: 4.0/4.0

Relevant Coursework

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering

GPA: 3.7/4.0

Graduated with Honors in Research

Awards

NASA Academy Award Recipient (Aug 2020)

1 of 3 students in the state of Wisconsin to be awarded. I also received $7300 from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC)

Faustin Prinz Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Mar 2022)

1 of 2 students to be awarded. I also received $5000 in tuition credit, $2000 towards research funding.

Academic Research

Graduate Research Assistant - Janus Intelligent Robots Lab @ GRASP

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

Aug 2024 - Present

Enabling robot learning to perceive, reason, and act in complex environments. Currently, my work is training multi-agent drone racing systems from scratch using reinforcement learning to unlock game-theoretic solutions.

Advised by Dr. Antonio Loquercio.

Undergraduate Research Assistant - Computational Flow Physics and Modeling Lab

University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)

Jan 2020 - May 2023 · 3 yrs 5 mos

Investigated how teams of underwater turbines can exploit neighboring wakes for enhanced power generation. Published my senior-year research as first author and presented at the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics (APS DFD) 2022 conference. Published my junior-year research as first author and presented at the AIAA Aviation 2022 conference.

Advised by Dr. Jennifer Franck.

Work Experience

Research Engineer II - Loads and Dynamics

Boeing Research & Technology (Huntington Beach, CA)

Jul 2023 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 7 mos

I worked in R&D as a multidisciplinary engineer with a background in computational science and mechanical engineering.

  • Primary researcher on an Independent Research and Development (IRAD) to best represent the constituent material properties of carbon-matrix-ceramics (CMCs) using supervised learning and reinforcement learning.
  • Flight-tested the T7 Red Hawk trainer fighter jet at Edwards Air Force Base.
  • Wrote code base for internal tools that allow structural analysts to parametrically build composite wing stringer co-bond configurations with wrinkles for Boeing 777X commercial airliner.
  • Designed components for a hypersonic vehicle test bed and validated via load analysis.
  • Performed loads analysis on a composite tank for satellite propulsion.
  • Designed parts for a composite Mars habitat for reduced mass.

Modeling and Simulation Engineer Co-op

INNIO Group (Waukesha, WI)

Nov 2021 - Dec 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos

Overheating exhaust valves are a common point of failure in natural gas engines. I reduced exhaust valve temperature by 30 Kelvin in a V-12 natural gas engine by calculating heat transfer capabilities of various materials and valve designs then conducted thermal analysis via CFD simulations to validate.

  • Successfully led an investigation to determine optimal mesh resolution and temporal resolution of CFD simulations to match experimental data, allowing for accurate and time-effective solutions.
  • Successfully determined solutions to bypass motion-related numerical errors in thermal simulations.
  • Performed lots of mesh preparation and thermo-fluid simulations using CONVERGE software.

Aerospace Engineering Intern - Atmospheric Flight and Entry Systems Branch (AFESB)

NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA)

Jun 2021 - Aug 2021 · 3 mos

Designed collapsible drag systems for heat shields that deploy upon re-entry of the atmosphere to support sample-return missions.

Mechanical Engineering Intern - Vehicle Analysis Branch (VAB)

NASA Langley Research Center (Hampton, VA)

Jun 2020 - Aug 2020 · 3 mos

Collaborated in a team of 4 to develop a collapsible lunar crane concept for the manipulation and offloading of large payloads to establish a permanent human presence and outpost on the lunar surface.

Leadership and Extracurriculars

Aa Dekhen Zara - Executive Board Member (Non-profit)

  • Raised $22,000 in donations for our philanthropic partner, YUWA, helping impoverished girls from rural Jharkhand, India, permanently break the cycle of poverty through education and athletics
  • Orchestrated the largest on-campus competition at the University of Wisconsin, featuring participation from eight national Bollywood dance teams. Did this two years in a row

Wisconsin Rocket Lab - Testing Lead

  • Simulated bipropellant torch igniter to determine whether coaxial or offset impinging jets result in better mixing between gaseous oxygen and gaseous methane
  • Designed a mobile test stand for rocket engines capable of supporting 1500 lbf of thrust
  • Designed hybrid rocket igniter plate and validated efficacy by conducting CFD of fuel and oxidizer injection into combustion chamber

Publications

  1. Pasumarti, V., Dave, M., & Franck, J. A. (2022). Simulation of two cross-flow turbines under confinement. AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-4103
  2. Pasumarti, V., Dave, M., & Franck, J. A. (2022). Simulation of dual cross-flow turbines under confinement. American Physical Society, 75th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics.

Contact

Feel free to contact me at: vineetp [at] seas [dot] upenn [dot] edu.

You can visit my LinkedIn page here!