Sarita Thakoor
California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Papers
3
Total Citations
37
H-Index
2
About
Sarita Thakoor is a pioneering figure in bioinspired engineering, whose work has fundamentally shaped how NASA and the Department of Defense approach autonomous exploration systems. Her research sits at the intersection of neuroscience, robotics, and aerospace engineering, focusing on distilling the elegant solutions found in nature—particularly in insects like honeybees and dragonflies—into practical technologies. Thakoor’s major contribution is the development of the Bioinspired Engineering of Exploration Systems (BEES) framework, a novel methodology that translates biological strategies—such as optic flow, pattern recognition, and neural control—into robust sensors and navigation systems for miniature robotic aircraft and planetary rovers. Her most cited work, "Bioinspired Engineering of Exploration Systems for NASA and DoD" (2002, 33 citations), lays the foundational vision for this approach, demonstrating how creatures with brains containing less than 0.01% of human neurons can inspire remarkably efficient solutions for challenging environments like Mars. Thakoor’s legacy is one of showing that the smallest brains can teach us the biggest lessons in engineering resilience, autonomy, and adaptability.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Bioinspired Engineering of Exploration Systems for NASA and DoD33 citations · 2002
- 2
- 3Progress in Insect-Inspired Optical Navigation Sensors2 citations · 2005