cv
Download my CV or resume using the links above.
Basics
| Name | Megnath Ramesh |
| Label | Postdoctoral Fellow & Robotics Researcher |
| m5ramesh@uwaterloo.ca | |
| Phone | +1 (587)-589-5810 |
| Url | https://megnath.com |
| Summary | Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Waterloo developing generative AI models for robot path planning in coverage and exploration tasks. Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering with expertise in combinatorial optimization, algorithm design, and robot planning under uncertainty. |
Work
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2025 - Present
Postdoctoral Fellow (Vector Faculty Affiliate Researcher)
University of Waterloo
Developing generative AI models to plan robot paths for long-horizon coverage and exploration tasks.
- Advisors: Stephen L. Smith and Baris Fidan
- Vector Faculty Affiliate Researcher
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2020 - 2025
Ph.D. Researcher
University of Waterloo & Avidbots Corp.
Developed efficient coverage planning algorithms for industrial cleaning robots with real-world testing and implementation.
- Developed efficient coverage planning algorithms for industrial cleaning robots
- Tested algorithms using real-world robots encountering environmental uncertainties
- Collaborated with Avidbots engineering team on algorithm implementation and testing
- Mentored junior researchers in robotics problem-solving
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2020 - 2025
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Waterloo
Teaching assistant for algorithm design, digital control, and analog control systems courses.
- Algorithm Design and Analysis
- Digital Control Applications
- Analog Control Systems
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2018 - 2020
Application Software Developer (L1 & L2)
ScopeAR
Developed features and fixed defects in a cross-platform augmented reality (AR) video calling application.
- Marker-based AR tracking
- Guest login system
- Cloud-based AR features
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2017 - 2018
Junior Robotics Developer
VEERUM
Developed a pilot project using autonomous robots for generating digital twins of construction facilities.
- Autonomous robot development
- Digital twin generation for construction
Education
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2020 - 2025 Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
University of Waterloo
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Combinatorial Optimization
- Computational Geometry
- Deep Learning
- Algorithm Design
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2013 - 2018
Awards
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2020-2025
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
University of Waterloo
Prestigious graduate scholarship for academic excellence during Ph.D. studies
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2020-2025
UW President's Graduate Scholarship
University of Waterloo
University-wide competitive scholarship for exceptional graduate students
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2020-2025
QEII Graduate Scholarship
University of Waterloo
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology
Publications
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2025 Minimum-Length Coverage Path Planning for Grid Environments with Approximation Guarantees
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L)
M. Ramesh, F. Imeson, B. Fidan, and S. L. Smith
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2025 BenchNPIN - Benchmarking Non-Prehensile Interactive Navigation
Under review for IEEE conference
N. Zhong, S. Caro, A. Iskander, M. Ramesh, and S. L. Smith
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2024 Anytime Replanning of Robot Coverage Paths for Partially Unknown Environments
IEEE Transactions on Robotics (T-RO)
M. Ramesh, F. Imeson, B. Fidan, and S. L. Smith
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2024 Approximate Environment Decompositions for Robot Coverage Planning using Submodular Set Cover
IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC)
M. Ramesh, F. Imeson, B. Fidan, and S. L. Smith
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2022 Optimal Partitioning of Non-Convex Environments for Minimum Turn Coverage Planning
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L)
M. Ramesh, F. Imeson, B. Fidan, and S. L. Smith
Skills
| Robotics & Planning | |
| Robot Path Planning | |
| Coverage Planning | |
| Planning under Uncertainty | |
| Motion Planning | |
| Multi-robot Systems |
| Algorithms & Optimization | |
| Combinatorial Optimization | |
| Approximation Algorithms | |
| Computational Geometry | |
| Graph Theory | |
| Algorithm Design |
| Machine Learning & AI | |
| Deep Learning | |
| Reinforcement Learning | |
| Diffusion Policies | |
| Generative AI | |
| Neural Networks |
| Software Development | |
| Python | |
| C++ | |
| ROS (Robot Operating System) | |
| Augmented Reality | |
| Cross-platform Development |
Interests
| Robot Path Planning | |
| Coverage Planning | |
| Planning under Uncertainty | |
| Combinatorial Optimization | |
| Approximation Algorithms |
| Generative AI for Robotics | |
| Deep Learning for Path Planning | |
| Reinforcement Learning | |
| Diffusion Policies | |
| Long-horizon Task Planning |
Projects
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2019
RoVR the Explorer
VR-controlled ground robot with a point cloud stream to visualize its environment. Won 3rd place at HackED 2019.
- VR control system
- Point cloud visualization
- 3rd Place at HackED 2019
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2018
Paulie Blart Security Robot
Autonomous security robot to detect intruders using CNNs. Won 1st place at SFHacks 2018 and was featured on Global News.
- CNN-based intruder detection
- Autonomous navigation
- 1st Place at SFHacks 2018
- Featured on Global News