Ph.D. Candidate & Robotics Research Engineer

About Me

Hey, fellow human! I’m Avishkar Seth, a third-year Ph.D. Candidate and Robotics Research Engineer at Macquarie University. My expertise spans robotics, machine learning, and sensor technology, with a keen eye for real-world applications. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to diverse projects, from smart cities to autonomous drones. Currently mentored by Prof. Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Prof. Richard Han, and Dr. Endrowednes Kuantama, my research aims to develop an autonomous drone equipped with advanced computer vision for mid-air item transfers.

Fundamental Concepts: Electronic Circuits, IoT, Wireless Principles, Computer Vision, Kinematics, Dynamics, Quadrotor Control
Coding Languages: Python, C/C++, HTML, MATLAB
Robotics Software Tools: ROS, Gazebo, Unreal Engine
Hardware Prototyping: Proficient in sensors, actuators, ESC, and control systems.
Examples: ZED 1/2 (stereo), d435 (depth), d455, T265 (fisheye), RPLidar (lidar), IMU, ublox GPS. SBCs (Raspberry Pi, Jetson Nano), Embedded Platforms (Arduino, Teensy, ESP32), Flight Control (Pixhawk), Ardupilot
Computer Vision: YOLOv5, OpenCV
Utility Tools: Latex Overleaf, VS Code, GitHub, Fusion 360, Adobe Software

🎓 Education

Macquarie University, Sydney

🤖 Ph.D. in Robotics Engineering
Feb 2022 - Present
🤖 M.Res in Robotics Engineering
Feb 2021 - Dec 2021
🛠 M.Engg in Electronics Engineering
Feb 2019 - Dec 2020

Mumbai University

🛠 B.Engg in Electronics Engineering
July 2013 - July 2017

Mithibai College

🧪 HSC in Science
July 2011 - June 2013

🛠 Work Experience

🎓 Research @ Macquarie University

🚁 Autonomous Drone Landing Project

Sept 2022 - Present

Engaged in an ARC-funded collaboration between Macquarie University’s Computing Department and Skyy Network, an Aviation and Aerospace company.
Role involves implementing real-world testing of machine learning models specifically designed for outdoor drone operations.

🏙 Smart City Project

Nov 2019 - July 2021

Participated in a project funded by the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, in partnership with the City of Ryde Council.
Responsibilities included designing a sensor network, hardware prototyping, and real-time data analysis for a pedestrian counting system.

📚 Teaching @ Macquarie University

🤖 MTRN4068 Wireless Mechatronics

July 2020 - Present

Co-designed and co-taught an advanced undergraduate course focused on hands-on experience designing, building, and programming mobile robots using ROS.
Lab sessions aim to develop student skills in ROS, computer vision, motor control, sensor integration, mapping, localization, and navigation.

🌐 ENGG4201/8201 IoT System Design

Feb 2021 - Present

Co-designed and co-taught an advanced course that provides hands-on experience in designing, building, and programming sensor networks and IoT projects.
Lab sessions focus on skill development in sensor integration, web design, data analysis, and machine learning in IoT applications.

🛠 ENGG2000/3000 Engineering Project Practice

July 2022 - Nov 2022

Served as a lab tutor for the sixth SPINE unit, a curriculum designed to cultivate professional acumen, transferable competencies, and employability.
The unit blends online modules with hands-on, project-based learning activities and is co-facilitated by a team of academic experts.

☀ Web Developer @ Quality Solar Sydney

March 2019 - Dec 2020

Worked at Quality Electrical Group, led by Mr. Ali Shalkouhi.
Responsibilities included designing the entire WordPress website, executing SEO strategies, conducting data analytics, and overseeing Google Business and Facebook advertising campaigns.
Also managed the company’s LinkedIn profile and client database to drive sales.

📚 Major Research Projects

📦 Drone High-Rise Aerial Delivery

Developed a novel drone delivery system to address the unique challenges of delivering packages to multi-story apartments with balconies.
Utilized Vertical Grid Screening methods to identify precise delivery locations.
The drone features a 295 mm frame, stereo camera, and ranging sensor.
Implemented machine learning with a YOLOv5 model for marker recognition, achieving 95% accuracy and 398 ms detection time in outdoor tests.

🚗 1/10th Scale Autonomous Vehicle Based on CNN

Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas C Mukhopadhyay
Publication Date: 2020/1

Studied hardware prototyping for autonomous ground robots for different applications using CNN based computer vision system.
Explored the concept of autonomous vehicles, both on-road and off-road (AUGV).
Focused on path recognition, vehicle detection, and passenger transport.

🛰 TrackInk: IoT-Enabled Real-Time Object Tracking

Authors: Cameron Aume, Keith Andrews, Shantanu Pal, Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas Mukhopadhyay
Publication Date: 2022/1

Developed ‘TrackInk’ for real-time IoT object tracking in space.
Capable of pointing at and photographing visible satellites, including the ISS.
Utilizes sensor data for geolocation and 3D orientation.
Communicates with ThingSpeak for cloud-based data analysis.

📘 IoT System Design: Project Based Approach

Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas Chandra Mukhopadhyay
Publication Date: 2021/9/27

Comprehensive guide on IoT system design from sensors to cloud network.
Covers wireless communication, machine learning, and AI in IoT.
Aimed at upper-level students, researchers, and engineers.
Published by Springer, part of Smart Sensors, Measurement and Instrumentation series.
15k accesses and 5 citations as of 2023.

🦾 Wearable Sensing System for Real-time 3D Posture Estimation

Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas Mukhopadhyay
Publication Date: 2021/10/28

Introduces a wearable system for real-time 3D posture estimation in lower back healthcare.
Utilizes BLE technology and IMU sensors for wireless communication and position tracking.
Aims to reduce hospitalization costs and enable self-rehabilitation.
Presented at 2021 IEEE International Symposium on Robotic and Sensors Environments (ROSE).

📚 Research Publications

2024

🚁 Cooperative Drone Delivery via Push-based Lift with Payload Stabilization

Conference: DroNet ‘24: Proceedings of the 10th Workshop on Micro Aerial Vehicle Networks, Systems, and Applications
Year: 2024, Month: June
Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Endrowednes Kuantama, Richard Han, Subhas Mukhopadhyay
DOI: 10.1145/3636534.3649382

🚁 AeroBridge: Autonomous Drone Handoff System for Emergency Battery Service

Journal: arXiv
Year: 2024, Month: March
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Endrowednes Kuantama, Richard Han, Subhas Mukhopadhyay
DOI: 10.1145/3636534.3649382

2023

🚁 Aerodynamics and Sensing Analysis for Efficient Drone-Based Parcel Delivery

Conference: 2023 16th International Conference on Sensing Technology (ICST)
Pages: 17-20
Publisher: IEEE
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han
DOI: 10.1109/ICST59744.2023.10460847

Conference: 2023 16th International Conference on Sensing Technology (ICST)
Pages: 17-20
Publisher: IEEE
Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han
DOI: 10.1109/ICST59744.2023.10460820

🚁 Drone High-Rise Aerial Delivery with Vertical Grid Screening

Journal: Drones
Volume: 7, Issue: 5, Pages: 300
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han
DOI: 10.3390/drones7050300

📝 RLaGA: A Reinforcement Learning Augmented Genetic Algorithm For Searching Real and Diverse Marker-Based Landing Violations

Conference: ACM SIGSOFT/ FSE
Year: 2023
Publisher: arXiv
Authors: Linfeng Liang, Yao Deng, Kye Morton, Valtteri Kallinen, Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han, Xi Zheng

🚁 Flying Watchdog-Based Guard Patrol with Check Point Data Verification

Journal: Future Internet
Volume: 15, Pages: 340
Authors: Kuantama, E.; Seth, A.; James, A.; Zhang, Y.
DOI: 10.3390/fi15100340

2022

🚁 Vertical Trajectory Analysis Using QR Code Detection for Drone Delivery Application

Conference: International Conference on Sensing Technology
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland, Year: 2022
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas Mukhopadhyay

🌐 IoT System Design: Project Based Approach

Journal: Smart Sensors, Measurement and Instrumentation
Volume: 41
Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas C. Mukhopadhyay

🛰️ TrackInk: An IoT-Enabled Real-Time Object Tracking System in Space

Journal: Sensors
Volume: 22, Issue: 2
Authors: Cameron Aume, Keith Andrews, Shantanu Pal, Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas Mukhopadhyay

2021

🤖 Realtime Hand Landmark Tracking to Aid Development of a Prosthetic Arm for Reach and Grasp Motions

Conference: IEEE International Symposium on Robotic and Sensors Environments, ROSE 2021
Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas C. Mukhopadhyay

🦾 Wearable Sensing System to perform Realtime 3D posture estimation for lower back healthcare

Conference: IEEE International Symposium on Robotic and Sensors Environments, ROSE 2021
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas Mukhopadhyay

🤖 Autonomous Ground Vehicle for Off-the-Road Applications Based on Neural Network

Conference: Proceedings of International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Computing
Series: Algorithms for Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Springer, Singapore
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas Mukhopadhyay

2020

🚗 1/10th scale autonomous vehicle based on convolutional neural network

Journal: International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems
Volume: 13, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-17
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Subhas Mukhopadhyay

🌐 IoT enabled sensor node: a tutorial paper

Journal: International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems
Volume: 13, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-18
Authors: Alice James, Avishkar Seth, Subhas C. Mukhopadhyay

🏆 Achievements

Patents

🥇 [Mid-air Drone to Drone Balanced Item Handoff]

Provisional Patent Filed: MQC Ref: 2023005
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han

🥇 [Intelligent and adaptive balanced lift via drone swarms]

Provisional Patent Filed: MQC Ref: 2023005
Authors: Avishkar Seth, Alice James, Endrowednes Kuantama, Subhas Mukhopadhyay, Richard Han

Awards

🥇 Annual Australia QUT Droid Racing Challenge

Year: July 2024
Institution: Queensland University of Technology
Prize: Mentored a team of students in our MQ Robotics Club for the Annual QUT Droid Racing Challenge and won 3rd Prize.

🥇 PGRF 2023- Post Graduate Research Fund

Year: Oct 2023
Institution: Macquarie University
Prize: Research & Travel Grant of Au$6000
Description: Won a Research & Travel Grant of $6000 in the most competetive university wide competetion

🥇 Hackathon 2020 - Big Data Society, Macquarie University

Year: March 2020
Institution: Big Data Society, Macquarie University
Prize: Second Place, Cash Prize of $1,700
Description: Won second place in an AI-Enabled Education Hackathon.

Certificates

🛩️ Summer Training Program on Quadrotor and RC Aircraft

Certificate No: 44390012
Permanent Link: Skyfi Labs Certificate Verification

🤝 Volunteering

Peer Reviewer

School of Engineering & Computing, Macquarie University

Role: Co- Supervisor
Time: Feb 2021 – Present
Duties: Co- Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students from engineering and computing departments in Macquarie University.

IEEE- Macquarie, Sydney

Role: Vice-Chair
Time: Feb 2019 – Present
Duties: Seminars, student engagement, conference representation.

IEEE Women in Engineering, Sydney

Role: Secretary
Time: Feb 2019 – Present
Duties: Social media, website, event planning.

Venture Cafe, Sydney

Role: Ambassador
Time: Aug 2019 – Dec 2021