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Khalid M Jaffar
Research Scientist Intern
PhD Candidate
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Welcome! Here you'll find a glimpse of my interests, research, and projects in robotics and aerospace. I enjoy learning, building, and collaborating. Feel free to explore and get in touch if something catches your eye.
[About Me] [Research] [Engineering] [Teaching] [Fun Stuff]
About Me
I'm a PhD candidate in Robotics, working at the intersection of autonomy, motion planning, and control theory. My research focuses on building intelligent robots that can make decisions autonomously and navigate reliably through complex, dynamic environments. I'm a first-principles thinker drawn to solving real-world problems through a mix of mathematical rigor and hands-on robotics.
I'm currently interning at Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs (MERL), working on planning and decision making for a team of heterogeneous mobile robots. Before starting my PhD at UMD, I earned my Bachelors and Masters in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Madras, graduating summa cum laude at the top of my class.
Outside my professional pursuits, I enjoy playing badminton, photography, and filmmaking – creative outlets that help me be active, grounded, and curious.
Feel free to reach out if you're interested in collaborating, hiring, or just chatting about robotics, autonomy, or motion control. I'm open to new ideas and opportunities!
Research
My research objective is motivated by my background in aerospace and robotics. Aerospace regulations emphasize on safety and reliability, whereas in robotics the primary goal is full autonomy. My research goal is to combine the philosophies of the two fields that I'm passionate about — to investigate robot autonomy with guaranteed safety, reliability and repeatability.
Journal and Conference Publications
Workshop Papers and Posters
Applied Projects
I've always liked building things, the kind that require tools, teamwork, and learning by doing. From rockets at TerpRockets club to robotics and electronics projects at IIT Madras, I've dived into a wide range of engineering projects, getting my hands dirty. At IIT Madras, I was an active member of Centre for Innovation (CFI), and part of the team for inter-hostel TechSoc cup — a big part of IITM's tech culture.
Not all projects vanished after demo day; a few got documented, stuck around, and survived broken weblinks XD. You can find them below.
Technical Reports and Documentation
Teaching
Apart from my academic research, I greatly enjoy teaching and mentoring because it's a combination of some of my favorite things: introducing people to engineering, engaging in technical discussions, and constantly unlearning-learning myself. I learned a lot about teaching while at IIT Madras, especially from my amazing professor-mentors.
Experience
I have been involved in teaching and mentoring students in various capacities, including as a lecturer, teaching assistant, and mentor. My teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world applications of theoretical concepts.