Rhea Sawant

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Rhea Sawant is a rising researcher at the intersection of assistive technology and humanitarian robotics, whose work leverages engineering to address critical societal challenges. Her primary research areas include computer vision for accessibility, swarm robotics, and human-centered design for vulnerable populations. Sawant’s most cited work, "Smart Shopping Cart for Visually Impaired Individuals" (2022, 11 citations), introduces a groundbreaking system that uses computer vision and sensor fusion to help visually impaired users navigate retail environments independently—tackling not just the physical barriers but the social stigma and fear associated with vision loss. In parallel, her paper "Mine Detection using a Swarm of Robots" (2022, 5 citations) proposes a coordinated multi-robot approach to safely detect landmines, demonstrating how swarm intelligence can replace dangerous manual military reconnaissance. Though early in her career, Sawant’s work has already shown notable impact: her assistive shopping cart paper has been cited in subsequent studies on inclusive retail technology, and her mine detection research contributes to the growing field of autonomous humanitarian demining. By combining rigorous engineering with deep empathy for end-users, Sawant exemplifies how robotics can create tangible, life-changing solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.