Resume

Summary

Prajwal Koirala

Graduate student with a background in robot perception, planning, and navigation, demonstrating a dedication to cutting-edge research in autonomous systems and reinforcement learning.

Education

MS in Mechanical Engineering

2023 - 2025

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

GPA: 4.0/4.0

Concentration: Systems and Controls

Thesis Title: To be decided

Advisor: Dr. Cody Fleming

Courses undertaken:

Deep Learning Machine Vision
Random Signals and Kalman Filtering     Convex Optimization
Machine Learning and Data Analytics     Simulation and Visualization

BE in Mechanical Engineering

2017 - 2021

Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Lalitpur

Score: 80.14%

Capstone Title: Optimal Trajectory Generation for Autonomous Navigation of Wheeled Robots

Advisors: Dr. Mahesh Luintel and Dr. Sanjeev Maharjan

Calculus Linear Algebra Numerical Methods
Electric Machines Control Systems Dynamics
Probability and Statistics     Fluid Mechanics Solid Mechanics
Operations Research Finite Elements Analysis     Instrumentation

+2 Science (Grade XI and XII)

2015- 2017

The Times International College, Kathmandu

Score: 86.9%

Physics Mathematics
Chemistry     Computer Science

Skills

  • Programming Languages: Python, C, JavaScript
  • Numerical Analysis: MATLAB
  • CAD/CAM/CAE: AutoCAD, Autodesk Fusion360
  • Spreadsheet Modeling: Microsoft Excel
  • Engineering Simulation: Ansys, Simulink
  • Experienced with: ROS/ROS2, Pytorch, CasADi, Tensorflow, Numpy, p5.js, Raspberry Pi, Arduino

    • Academic Experience

    Research Assistant

    Aug 2023 - Present

    Coordinated Systems Lab, ISU

    • Offline Reinforcement Learning Algorithm Development for Control of Dynamical Systems
    • Learning-based Autonomous Driving/Racing Methods for F1tenth Robotic Vehicle

    Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2023 - Dec 2023

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, ISU

    • Led 3 lab sessions for ME421 System Dynamics and Controls every week
    • Provided Matlab and Simulink training for System Simulation and Control System Design

    Professional Experience

    Research & Development Engineer

    May 2022 - Present

    R&D Center, Sanepa, Lalitpur

    • Designed a customizable wheeled robot platform with ROS2-based navigation system
    • Enabled intuitive tracking/control with web visualization for enhanced robotics functionality
    • Worked with image/point-cloud data from LiDARs and depth cameras

    Research Intern

    Dec 2021 - Apr 2022

    NS Devil, South Korea

    • Helped to initiate NSD-ROBO project in Nepal. Contributed in:
      • ROS Development
      • Autonomous Navigation
      • Electronic Circuitry
      Developed skills in: ROS, Computer Vision, ML and Robot Navigation

    Assistant Course Instructor

    May 2021 - Oct 2021

    Pi Academy, Kathmandu, Nepal

      (Taught classes on high school Mathematics for Engineering aspirants)
    • Maths for Engineering Entrance Preparation:
      • Limit & Continuity of functions
      • Derivatives and Antiderivatives

    Engineering Intern

    Aug 2019 - Dec 2020

    NEAR Aerospace, Lalitpur, Nepal

    • Sounding Rocket: Dynamics, Control and Estimation, MATLAB Simulations

    Mechanical Engineering Intern

    Apr 2021 - May 2021

    Ebolt Technology, Lalitpur, Nepal

    • E-Scooters: Vibrations, Suspension System, MATLAB Simulations

    Certifications

    Specializations

    First Principles of Computer Vision

    2022

    5 courses (28 weeks):

    Camera and Imaging
    Features and Boundaries
    3D Reconstruction - Single Viewpoint
    3D Reconstruction - Multiple Viewpoints
    Visual Perception

    Analytics for Decision Making

    2021

    4 courses (16 weeks):

    Introduction to Predictive Modeling
    Optimization for Decision Making
    Advanced Models for Decision Making
    Simulation Models for Decision Making

    Robotics

    2020

    6 courses (26 weeks):

    Aerial Robotics Computational Motion Planning
    Mobility Perception
    Estimation and Learning     Capstone

    Deep Learning

    2020

    5 courses (17 weeks):

    Neural Network and Deep Learning
    Hyperparameter Tuning, Regularization and Optimization
    Structuring Machine Learning Projects
    Convolutional Neural Networks
    Sequence Models

    Courses

    Advanced AI Techniques for the Suppy Chain

    2021

    Supply Chain; NLP techniques; Image Data Analysis

    Engineering Design Process with Autodesk Fusion 360

    2020

    Engineering Design Process and Work Flow; Advanced CAD and Simulation skills using Fusion 360

    Introduction to TensorFlow for AI, ML, and DL

    2020

    Hands-on training on using Tensorflow to build and train Neural Network for Computer Vision Application

    Control of Mobile Robots

    2019

    Mobile Robots; Sensors and Odometry; LTI systems; Controllers and Observers; Navigation Problems

    Introduction to Mathematical Thinking

    2019

    Mathematical Logic and Proofs; Real Analysis; Number Theory

    Machine Learning

    2018

    Popular ML course by Stanford University that covered wide range of topics including Regression, Classification, ANN, SVM, Unsupervised Learning ALgorithms, Anomaly Detection, Recommender Systems, etc