Alna Thomas

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Alna Thomas is a robotics and automation researcher whose work addresses critical social and public health challenges through engineering innovation. Her most recognized contribution, the "Intelligent track cleaning robot" (2016), tackles the deeply entrenched issue of manual scavenging on railway tracks—a practice that persists despite its dehumanizing and hazardous nature. By designing a robotic system to autonomously clean human waste and garbage from rail lines, Thomas directly confronts a problem rooted in social inequity and infrastructural neglect. This work, which has garnered 13 citations, exemplifies her focus on socially conscious robotics, where technology serves as a tool for dignity and safety. Her research integrates mechanical design, sensor-based navigation, and automation to replace manual labor in dangerous environments. Thomas’s approach stands out for its dual impact: advancing robotic systems while addressing a real-world social issue that has remained unresolved since the British colonial era. For students and researchers, her work offers a compelling model of how engineering can be leveraged for humanitarian progress, demonstrating that even modest citation counts can reflect profound societal relevance.