Bio
Resume - Github - Google Scholar
I'm a Ph.D. student working on vision and autonomy in the Prorok Lab at The University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Toshiba Cambridge Research Lab. I completed my master's in aerospace engineering in the Space and Terrestrial Robotic Exploration lab at the University of Arizona. I previously worked on large, distributed software systems at Facebook where I focused on fault tolerance, reliability, and performance. My current research focus is on embodied visual navigation. In other words, I'm interested in the intersection of robot vision, motion, and understanding.
Resume - Github - Google Scholar
I'm a Ph.D. student working on vision and autonomy in the Prorok Lab at The University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Toshiba Cambridge Research Lab. I completed my master's in aerospace engineering in the Space and Terrestrial Robotic Exploration lab at the University of Arizona. I previously worked on large, distributed software systems at Facebook where I focused on fault tolerance, reliability, and performance. My current research focus is on embodied visual navigation. In other words, I'm interested in the intersection of robot vision, motion, and understanding.
Papers
- Morad, S.D., Mecca, R., Poudel, R., Liwicki, S., Cipolla, R. (2020 Sept). Embodied Visual Navigation with Automatic Curriculum Learning in Real Environments. Accepted to IEEE Robotics and Automation letters (2020 December).
- Morad, S.D., Nash, J., Higa, S., Smith, R., Parness, A., and Barnard, K. (2019 August). Improving Visual Feature Extraction in Glacial Environments. Joint publication in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and ICRA. Designated as a NASA New Technology (NASA NTR NPO 51401)
- Morad, S.D. (2019 October). The Spinning Projectile Extreme Environment Robot. Master's Thesis
- Kalita, H., Morad, S.D., Thangavelautham, J. (2019 January). Coordination and Control of Multiple Climbing Robots in Transport of Heavy Loads through Extreme Terrain. SciTech Forum
- Morad, S.D., Chandra, A., Thangavelautham, J. (2019 March). A Spring Propelled Extreme Environment Robot for Off-World Cave Exploration. IEEE Aerospace Conference
- Morad, S.D., Nallapu, R., Reddy, V., Asphaug, E., and Thangavelautham, J. (2018 September). On-Orbit Smart Camera System to Observe Illuminated and Unilluminated Space Objects. Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference
- Morad, S.D., Detry, R., and Parness, A. (2018 August). Simulating Ice-Climbing Robots. NASA/JPL Report
- Morad, S.D., Kalita, H., and Thangavelautham, J. (2018, April). Planning and Navigation of Climbing Robots in Low-Gravity Environments. IEEE Institute of Navigation, Position Location and Navigation Symposium
- Kalita, H., Ravindran, A., Morad, S.D., Thangavelautham, J. (2018, April). Path Planning and Navigation Inside Off-World Lava Tubes and Caves. IEEE Institute of Navigation, Position Location and Navigation Symposium
- Morad, S.D., (2013, August). Multi-Mission SSE Software: Automated Reconfiguration and Build System for Supporting Multiple Projects. NASA/JPL Report
Media
Generalized embodied navigation models, trained on ground robots that seamlessly transfer to aerial robots
The spinning projectile extreme environment robot. A precessing, spin-stabilized exhaust nozzle serves two purposes: to keep the nozzle oriented without any onboard actuators (e.g. reaction wheels), and to modulate the net impulse of solid-fuel rocket motors.
NASA IceWorm climbing in Mt. St. Helens fumarolic ice caves
(Left) SLAM in a lunar lava tube. (Right) A DIY ion thruster based on the NASA DAWN satellite
Generalized embodied navigation models, trained on ground robots that seamlessly transfer to aerial robots
The spinning projectile extreme environment robot. A precessing, spin-stabilized exhaust nozzle serves two purposes: to keep the nozzle oriented without any onboard actuators (e.g. reaction wheels), and to modulate the net impulse of solid-fuel rocket motors.
NASA IceWorm climbing in Mt. St. Helens fumarolic ice caves
(Left) SLAM in a lunar lava tube. (Right) A DIY ion thruster based on the NASA DAWN satellite