Attend a seminar on Autonomous Robotic Solutions for Environmental Remediation and Stewardship, Oct. 10
Join the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, as they host Vivek Thangavelu, a Fulton Schools assistant professor of manufacturing engineering, to deliver a seminar on Autonomous Robotic Solutions for Environmental Remediation and Stewardship.
About
Vivek Thangavelu joined the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks at Arizona State University in fall 2025. He earned his doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University in 2023 and subsequently completed a Carnegie Bosch Institute postdoctoral fellowship at Carnegie Mellon University. His doctoral research focused on bio-inspired multi-robot construction systems for unstructured environments, advancing automation in remote and extreme settings. During his postdoctoral work, he explored autonomous robotic solutions for in-situ soil contamination monitoring through spectroscopy-based sensing. Thangavelu’s honors include the Carnegie Bosch Institute postdoctoral fellowship, the Robotics: Science and Systems Pioneer Award and the Graduate Student Award of Excellence. His research contributions span property-driven navigation algorithms, construction models for heterogeneous materials, multi-robot system architectures and autonomous soil monitoring, with practical deployments demonstrating significant real-world impact. He has collaborated with industry and research partners, including contributing to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s efforts in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge. His long-term goal is to develop robotics solutions that advance ecological resilience and sustainability, with applications in environmental remediation, invasive species detection and precision agriculture.
Abstract
As climate change and pollution continue to degrade ecosystems, the urgency for effective environmental remediation and stewardship has grown. This talk will examine how robotics can enable autonomous solutions for in-situ soil contaminant monitoring, a critical first step in soil remediation. The work integrates a new class of spectroscopy sensors, develops informed search algorithms tailored to spectroscopic sensing modalities and deploys a fully functional robotic system capable of operating in unstructured terrains. Thangavelu will also discuss his research on multi-robot environmental modification and navigation in complex environments, which are essential for advancing remediation efforts. These projects represent part of a broader vision for autonomous soil remediation. The presentation outlines current plans to design and develop practical heterogeneous multi-robot systems for environmental stewardship beyond soil remediation, including invasive species detection and precision agriculture. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative approaches, this research seeks to enhance ecosystem resilience, promote biodiversity and contribute to a sustainable future.
Autonomous Robotic Solutions for Environmental Remediation and Stewardship seminar
Friday, Oct. 10, 2025
11 a.m.–noon
Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building 12 (ITSB12) 215, Polytechnic campus [map]