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About

Sampriti Bhattacharyya is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of underwater robotics, hydrodynamics, and autonomous inspection systems. Her research focuses on developing compact, tetherless underwater vehicles capable of performing complex inspection tasks in challenging subsea environments — work with significant implications for infrastructure maintenance, security, and nuclear facility monitoring. Bhattacharyya's most recognized contribution is EVIE (Ellipsoidal Vehicle for Inspection and Exploration), a pioneering remotely operated vehicle designed for in-contact inspection of intricate underwater structures. Her 2014 paper detailing EVIE's dynamic modeling and control has garnered 9 citations, establishing a foundation for compact ROV design. Building on this, she made a particularly innovative contribution by exploiting hydrodynamic ground effect principles to create self-stabilizing underwater robots capable of navigating within millimeters of submerged surfaces — a capability with direct applications in detecting structural cracks in ship hulls and nuclear reactor internals. Her 2016 investigation into jet impingement dynamics further deepened understanding of how micro submersibles behave in close proximity to underwater surfaces. Across her body of work, Bhattacharyya has consistently pushed the boundaries of what small, autonomous underwater vehicles can achieve, making her a noteworthy contributor to subsea robotics research.