Sudarshan Ragunathan

Anna University, Chennai, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Sudarshan Ragunathan is a pioneer in robotic gripper technology, with a focused expertise in reconfigurable and non-contact gripping systems for industrial automation. His major contributions lie in solving the complex challenge of handling limp, delicate, and non-rigid materials—specifically fabrics in garment industries and food products. In his highly cited works (2006, 2008), Ragunathan designed and developed a reconfigurable, pneumatic-based robotic gripper with multi-degree-of-freedom capabilities, enabling precise manipulation of single and multiple fabric panels. This innovation directly addressed automation bottlenecks in garment manufacturing, earning 12 citations each for its practical impact. Expanding his research, Ragunathan later pioneered a non-contact gripper for the food industry (2012), leveraging the Coanda effect to create a gentle, touch-free handling mechanism that avoids damaging fragile items. Though with 3 citations, this work represents a novel application of fluid dynamics to robotics. His achievements demonstrate a career dedicated to bridging mechanical design and industrial automation, offering scalable, adaptive solutions for sectors where traditional grippers fail. Ragunathan’s work remains a foundational reference for engineers developing specialized end-effectors for soft, variable-shape materials.