Karthik Ramani

Karthik Ramani is the Donald W. Feddersen Professor of School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, with courtesy appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering and College of Education. He earned his B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1985, and MS from Ohio State University, in 1987, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1991, all in Mechanical Engineering. He has received many awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other organizations. He has served in the editorial board of Elsevier Journal of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design (JMD). In 2008 he was a visiting Professor at Stanford University (computer sciences), research fellow at PARC (formerly Xerox PARC). In 2016 summer he was visiting professor Oxford University Institute of Mathematical Sciences. He also serves on the Engineering Advisory sub-committee for SBIR/STTR for the NSF. In 2006 and 2007, he won the Most Cited Journal Paper award from CAD and the Research Excellence award in the College of Engineering at Purdue University. In 2009, he won the Outstanding Commercialization award from Purdue University. He was the co-founder of the world’s first commercial shape-based parts search engine (VizSeek) and more recently co-founded ZeroUI whose product (Ziro) won the Best of Consumer Electronics Show Finalist (CES 2016). His research interests are in the internet-of-things, augmented reality, modular and flexible robotic platforms, and human-machine interactions. His current projects include computer vision for object detection and grasp planning, modular robotic platform design, shape recognition using geometric deep learning, and physical reality simulation platform. His current research emphasis is to develop a Physical-Simulation Platform that will allow one to realistically simulate interactions between workers, robots, and machines in future workplaces such as factories and warehouses

Degrees

• B.S. IIT Madras, '85
• M.S. Ohio State, '87
• Ph.D. Stanford, '91

Research Interests

• Human Skill and Augmentation
• Collaborative and Hybridized Intelligence
• Deep Learning of Shapes and Computer Vision
• Human-Robot-Machine Interactions
• Making to Manufacturing (M2M)
• Factory of the Future and Robotics
• Manufacturing Productivity

Awards and Recognitions

• NSF Invited lecture: Makers-to-Manufacturing, Washington DC, VA, 2018
• NSF Invited Panelist: Research Needs in Machining and Machine Tools, DC, VA, 2018
• General Motors Distinguished Lecture, Georgia Tech., Atlanta, GA, 2018
• NSF Invited lecture: Cyber Learning, Washington DC, VA, 2017
• NSF Invited lecture: Next Generation Smarter Service Systems, San Jose, CA, 2017
• Google Invited Lecture: Mountain View, CA, 2017
• Amazon Invited Lecture: Palo Alto, CA, 2017
• Lindbergh Distinguished Lecture, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2016
• Best of Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2016) Finalist (ZeroUI), 2016
• Highly Cited Author Award from Elsevier Computer-Aided Design Journal, 2015
• Distinguished Lecturer, Designing Disruptive Learning Technologies, NSF, 2014
• Research Excellence Award, ASME Computers and Information in Engineering Division, 2014
• Kos Ishii Toshiba Award, ASME, 2013
• Distance Educator Award, Purdue University, 2013
• Design for Manufacturing and Lifecycle Best Paper Award, 2013
• Purdue Innovators Hall of Fame, 2013
• Ruth and Joel Spira Award, Outstanding Contributions to the ME (two time awardee), 2012
• All Conference Best Paper Award, ASME IDETC, Computers and Information in Eng., 2011
• Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering, 2010
• Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2010
• Best Student Paper Award, Computer-Aided Design and Applications, 2010
• Three of the top ten most cited paper awards, Computer-Aided Design Journal, 2010
• Outstanding Commercialization Award for Purdue University Faculty, 2010
• Best Paper Award, ASME IDETC, Computers and Information in Eng./CAPPD, 2009
• Most Highly Cited paper in the Journal of Computer-Aided Design (Elsevier), 2006
• Most Highly Cited paper in the Journal of Computer-Aided Design (Elsevier), 2007
• Thomas French Award, The Ohio State University, 2007
• Purdue University, College of Engineering’s only Research Excellence Award, 2007
• Purdue Acorn Award, 2006
• Innovation of the Year Award, Techpoint, Indiana, 2006
• Discovery in Mechanical Engineering Award, 2005
• University Faculty Scholar, Purdue University, 2002
• Society for Manufacturing Engineers, Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer, 1999
• Ruth and Joel Spira Award, Outstanding Contributions to ME Curriculum, Purdue University, 1997
• Faculty Study in Second Discipline Award, Purdue University, 1997
• Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award, Society of Automotive Engineers, 1996
• National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 1996
• National Science Foundation Research Initiation Award, 1993
• Dupont Young Faculty Award, 1992
• Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering Student Award, 1991
• Best Academic Record Award for Junior and Senior Year, IIT Madras, India (1984-85), 1985