About Me
Who I Am
I'm Rugved Katole, a PhD candidate in Computer Science at The Ohio State University (expected 2029), with a BE in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani. A robotics enthusiast at heart, I've spent 4+ years bridging hardware and AI to create autonomous systems that make real-world impact—from precision agriculture to wildlife conservation.
As a Graduate Research Associate at OSU, I pioneer techniques in world foundation models and Vision-Language-Action (VLA) systems to tackle data scarcity in robotics. This includes augmenting video datasets for faster inference (5.9× speedup) and building NVIDIA Omniverse-based digital twins for simulating animal behaviors, enabling ecologists to test drone algorithms virtually before deployment. Previously at IIT Bombay's TIH Foundation and ARMS Lab, I led deployments in autonomous navigation and multi-agent planning.
What I've Built
Autonomous Vineyard Rover
Integrated segmentation neural networks and depth sensing for lane centering on uneven terrain, handling up to 40° slips—deployed in real vineyards for data collection.
Multi-Agent RL Framework
Combined CNNs to cut field scouting needs by 60%, slashing labor costs 4.8× and boosting farmer profits 36%, with 80% accuracy.
Decentralized AV Intersection Manager
Graph-based system for communication-free, deadlock-free navigation across 255 scenarios, using road-marking intent detection.
Distributed Patrol Algorithm
Scalable trajectories balancing priority sites, with sim-to-real validation for security patrols.
Swarm Synergy Algorithm
Communication-free community formations, tested in multi-robot labs.
I've also spearheaded a $100K research grant, mentored students, and taught ROS 2 courses to advance the robotics community.
Let's Connect
I'm always interested in discussing research collaborations, speaking opportunities, or consulting on AI and robotics projects. Best way to reach me is through Email or LinkedIn.
Technical Expertise
AI & Foundation Models
Vision-Language-Action models, synthetic data generation, world modeling, deep learning, computer vision (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX)
Robotics Systems
Control systems, SLAM, motion/behavior planning, sim-to-real transfer (ROS 2, Gazebo, CARLA, Isaac Sim, MATLAB/Simulink)
Programming & Tools
C/C++, Python, Linux, Git/CI-CD, containerization (Docker, Singularity), Slurm for HPC
Leadership & Communication
Cross-functional collaboration, technical leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, grant writing, mentoring