Srinivas Palanki

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Srinivas Palanki is a robotics researcher whose work centers on the design, modeling, and motion control of spherical robots — a class of mobile robots that navigate environments by rolling within a protective spherical shell. His most influential contributions address a critical gap in the field: while prior research had largely confined analysis to flat or inclined two-dimensional surfaces, Palanki's work pioneered the derivation of kinematic equations for spherical robots traversing complex, generic three-dimensional terrains. This advancement significantly broadens the practical applicability of spherical robots in real-world environments such as search-and-rescue missions or planetary exploration, where uneven surfaces are the norm rather than the exception. A centerpiece of his research is Norma, a novel spherical robot he co-designed, modeled, and controlled. Featuring an innovative two-degree-of-freedom propulsion mechanism combining a slider and a rotational pendulum, Norma represents a compelling step forward in spherical robot engineering. His papers on Norma's kinematics and design have collectively garnered over 20 citations, demonstrating growing recognition within the robotics community. Palanki's research provides both theoretical foundations and practical frameworks that continue to inform the next generation of spherical robot development.