MS Mechatronics & Robotics · NYU

Swaraj
Gajare

Robotics & Mechatronics Engineer

Building intelligent systems that integrate AI, perception, and real-world hardware — from autonomous vehicle platforms to embodied AI and precision rehabilitation devices.

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9+
Robotics Projects
AV
Safety Research
2+
Years Industry
1×
Publication
Background

About Me

01

I'm a Robotics & Mechatronics graduate student at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, building intelligent systems that bridge AI, perception, and physical hardware. My work spans the full engineering stack — from CAD and manufacturing to deploying real-time ML pipelines on embedded systems.

I've engineered drive-by-wire steering conversions, designed LiDAR thermal management systems, built multi-robot coordination frameworks, and published research on semantic anomaly detection for autonomous vehicles.

Whether it's deploying industrial robots (Universal Robots, FANUC), developing embodied AI systems, or designing a rehabilitation exoskeleton — I thrive at the intersection of controls, perception, and mechanical design.

AVLLM-based anomaly detection for autonomous vehicles using VLMs and CARLA simulation
ROSROS2 pipelines for real-vehicle sensor deployment and Autoware integration
MFGAdditive & subtractive manufacturing — 3D printing, CNC, precision metal parts
AIComputer vision, YOLOv8 object detection, reinforcement learning for locomotion
HWFull embedded hardware stacks — ESP32, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, PCB assembly
Academic

Research

02
NYU Tandon · ASAS Labs
Graduate Research Assistant
Current Position
Autonomous Vehicles

Designing CAD models for autonomous vehicle platforms, developing ROS2-based sensor pipelines, and building LLM-based anomaly detection systems integrated with CARLA simulation and Autoware.

  • Engineered a drive-by-wire steering conversion — calculated and implemented a high-torque gear ratio system enabling electronic control of a manual steering rack with sub-degree angular precision.
  • Designed a custom cooling chamber for the LiDAR mounting system, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and preventing thermal drift to ensure consistent ±2cm point-cloud accuracy.
  • Developing LLM-based anomaly detection systems for AVs using context-aware reasoning and prompt engineering; integrating CARLA simulation pipelines with ROS bridges for Autoware testing.
  • Built and validated simulation environments using CARLA Simulator with hardware-interfacing bridges, supporting mechanical system testing and verification of autonomous vehicle platform designs.
ASAS Labs AV platform AV CAD design Sensor mount design
Research Output

Publication

03
Conference Paper · Autonomous Systems

A Semantic Observer Layer for Autonomous Vehicles: Pre-Deployment Feasibility Study of VLMs for Low-Latency Anomaly Detection

Kunal Runwal, Swaraj Gajare, Daniel Adejumo, Omkar Ankalkope, Siddhant Baroth, Aliasgar Arab

Proposes a semantic observer layer — a quantized Vision-Language Model (VLM) running at 1–2 Hz alongside the primary AV control loop — to monitor edge-case scenarios and trigger fail-safe interventions. Using NVIDIA Cosmos-Reason1-7B with NVFP4 quantization and FlashAttention2, the system achieves ~500ms inference, a ~50× speedup over the unoptimized FP16 baseline.

Publication paper
~50×
Inference Speedup
500ms
Inference Latency
1–2Hz
Observer Frequency
Semantic Observer Layer
VLM Quantization
Fail-Safe Architecture
Hazard Detection
Engineering Work

Projects

04
01
Multi-Robot Systems
ResQ — Autonomous Search & Rescue Bots

Multi-robot autonomous exploration system of three palm-sized robots for search-and-rescue in unstructured environments. YOLOv8 object detection with I2C-based inter-robot communication for real-time distance mapping and collision avoidance.

ResQ top view ResQ side view ResQ isometric
YOLOv8ESP32ROSI2C
02
Wearable Robotics
Exoskeleton Arm for Rehabilitation

Adjustable 2-DOF wearable upper-limb exoskeleton for elbow rehabilitation. EMG-based intent detection with Kalman filtering driving a PID control loop for adaptive servo actuation.

Exoskeleton CAD design Exoskeleton prototype
EMG SensingPID ControlKalman Filter
03
Space Robotics · NASA
Lunatic Rover — NASA Robotic Mining

Designed, manufactured, and assembled the full excavation subsystem for the Lunatic Rover for NASA's Robotic Mining Competition. Led cross-functional integration across Electrical, Locomotion, and Deposition teams.

NASA rover excavation subsystem Full Lunatic Rover
SolidWorks3D PrintingCNC
04
Legged Locomotion · RL
RL Locomotion for Unitree Go2

Reinforcement learning-based locomotion controller for the Unitree Go2 quadruped robot. Trained policies for dynamic gait generation and terrain adaptation. [Full description coming soon.]

Reinforcement LearningUnitree Go2Locomotion
05
Control Systems
SQP Trajectory Optimizer for 2D Quadrotor

Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP)-based trajectory optimizer for a 2D quadrotor system. Constrained nonlinear optimization for real-time trajectory planning. [Full description coming soon.]

SQPTrajectory OptimizationMATLAB
06
Computer Vision · Navigation
Autonomous Visual Maze Navigation

Autonomous agent that navigates mazes using vision-based perception, integrating computer vision and path planning for real-time obstacle detection and goal-directed navigation. [Full description coming soon.]

Computer VisionPath PlanningNavigation
07
Embedded Robotics
Remotely Controlled Excavator Bot

Mobile excavator robot with a servo-actuated arm using a parallelogram link mechanism. Dual-mode control (movement + excavation) with obstacle avoidance override. IR, whisker, and light sensors on a BS2 microcontroller.

Excavator bot CAD
BS2 MCUServo ControlIR Sensing
08
Mechanical Design
Multi-DOF Robotic Arm

Fully designed multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm modeled in SolidWorks with 12 solid bodies. Motion study validated kinematics, joint ranges, and actuation sequencing for industrial pick-and-place applications.

Multi-DOF robotic arm CAD
SolidWorksKinematicsCAD
09
Manufacturing Automation
Automatic Pneumatic Stamping Machine

Fully automated pneumatic stamping machine for industrial production lines. Multi-view CAD documentation covering conveyor staging, stamping actuation, and part ejection. Built and validated as a working prototype.

Stamping machine engineering drawing Stamping machine prototype
PneumaticsAutoCADManufacturing
Industry

Work Experience

05
Precimac Solutions
Mechanical & Automation Engineer
Industry
  • Designed and deployed robotic automation systems using Universal Robots and FANUC platforms for industrial manufacturing clients.
  • Developed full mechanical assemblies for automated conveyor, stamping, and material handling systems from concept to fabrication.
  • Created complete CAD packages (SolidWorks) including BOMs, GD&T drawings, and DFM analysis for manufacturing handoff.
  • Collaborated with electrical and controls teams to integrate PLC-based automation with mechanical subsystems.
Precimac conveyor system Precimac engine fixture Precimac FANUC cell design Precimac work photo
Precimac work Precimac work Precimac work Precimac work
Affordable Robotics & Automation
Robotics Engineer
Industry
  • Designed automated multi-level parking systems — structural frameworks, carrier mechanisms, and lift systems for urban space optimization.
  • Developed complete SolidWorks assemblies for large-scale steel structures including conveyor platforms, vertical towers, and transfer carriages.
  • Performed structural analysis and load path verification for high-capacity vehicle parking structures.
  • Coordinated with fabrication teams to ensure design intent was maintained through manufacturing and field installation.
ARA parking system ARA tower parking ARA CAD design ARA conveyor design
ARA structure ARA tower structure ARA platform ARA design
Engineering Drawings — G+1 Trolley with Pallet Assembly (CA921200000_R01)
Sheet 1 — BOM & Assembly Overview Sheet 2 — Section Views & Detail Views Sheet 3 — Final Assembly & Detail AG
Competencies

Skills

06
CAD & Design
  • SolidWorks
  • Fusion 360
  • AutoCAD
  • GD&T
  • DFM
  • KiCad
  • ANSYS FEA/CFD
Robotics & Simulation
  • ROS2
  • CARLA
  • Isaac Sim
  • PLC
  • Autoware
  • 3D Printing
  • Machining
Electrical & Hardware
  • Arduino
  • Raspberry Pi
  • ESP32
  • SPI / I2C / CAN
  • PCB Assembly
  • Soldering
  • Motor/Servo Control
Software & AI
  • Python
  • C++
  • MATLAB
  • Computer Vision
  • YOLOv8
  • RL
  • LLM / VLM

Let's Build Something Real

Open to research collaborations, full-time roles in robotics & autonomy, and interesting engineering problems. Based in New York City.

LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/swaraj-gajare
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GitHub
github.com/Swarajjjxd
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Other Portfolio
Mechanical Design Portfolio
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