Rekha Patil

About

Dr. Rekha Patil is a leading researcher in autonomous navigation and sensor fusion, with a particular focus on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robotics. Her work centers on integrating LiDAR and inertial measurement units (IMUs) to solve the fundamental challenges of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in GPS-denied environments. Her most influential contribution, the 2017 paper "A LiDAR and IMU Integrated Indoor Navigation System for UAVs and Its Application in Real-Time Pipeline Classification," has garnered 166 citations, establishing a foundational framework for robust indoor navigation. This work not only advanced the theoretical understanding of sensor fusion but also demonstrated a practical application in real-time infrastructure inspection, showcasing the ability to classify pipelines autonomously. Dr. Patil’s research addresses the critical difficulty of localizing a vehicle within an unknown environment—a problem that has long plagued ground robot localization. Her innovative approaches have made her a key figure in the field, inspiring subsequent work in autonomous systems and offering tangible solutions for industrial monitoring and disaster response.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A LiDAR and IMU Integrated Indoor Navigation System for UAVs and Its Application in Real-Time Pipeline Classification

   166 citations · 2017

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links