Swami Mahalingam

Carnegie Mellon University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Swami Mahalingam is a pioneering roboticist whose work has focused on sensor design and the unique challenges of robotic manipulation in extreme environments. His most notable contribution is the invention of the "Capaciflector," a collision avoidance sensor for robots introduced in 1991. This capacitive-based sensing technology, which has garnered 15 citations, provided a novel approach for robots to detect and avoid obstacles without physical contact, laying early groundwork for proximity sensing in robotics. Mahalingam further advanced the field by identifying and addressing the special challenges of robotic gripping in space, as detailed in his 2003 paper. He systematically enumerated the mechanical and control complexities of grasping in zero- or microgravity, demonstrating that the fundamental principles of terrestrial manipulation must be rethought for space applications. This work highlights his deep understanding of how environmental factors—from gravity to vacuum—impact robotic dexterity. Through these contributions, Mahalingam has influenced both terrestrial robotics safety and the development of autonomous systems for space exploration, marking him as a thoughtful engineer who tackled foundational problems in sensor technology and extraterrestrial manipulation.