Karishma Patnaik

Mesa Public Schools, Arizona State University

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Karishma Patnaik is a leading researcher in bio-inspired robotics, specializing in soft-bodied aerial systems and autonomous perching mechanisms. Her work bridges the gap between traditional rigid drones and the adaptive capabilities of biological flyers, focusing on collision resilience, reconfigurable morphologies, and contact-reactive behaviors. Her most-cited paper, "A Soft-Bodied Aerial Robot for Collision Resilience and Contact-Reactive Perching" (2023, 42 citations), introduces a paradigm shift in drone design—enabling safe impacts and adaptive perching on unstructured surfaces, a critical advance for search-and-rescue and environmental monitoring. She also pioneered the "Towards reconfigurable and flexible multirotors" (2021, 35 citations), demonstrating drones that physically reshape mid-flight for improved maneuverability and task versatility. Her notable "Whole-body Grasping and Perching (WHOPPEr) Drone" (2023, 5 citations) further extends this vision, allowing drones to grasp and anchor onto complex structures, significantly reducing energy consumption during prolonged surveillance. With a growing citation footprint and a focus on soft robotics, morphing airframes, and energy-efficient perching, Patnaik’s work is shaping the next generation of resilient, interactive aerial robots—offering transformative potential for infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and beyond.