Zulekha Karachiwalla

Carnegie Mellon University, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

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About

Zulekha Karachiwalla is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction, assistive technology, and sensor systems. Her research spans two compelling frontiers: designing intelligent speech interfaces for physically assistive robots and developing advanced tactile and haptic sensing technologies for challenging environments. Karachiwalla has made notable strides in leveraging Large Language Models to create more natural, accessible robot control systems. Her most-cited work, "VoicePilot" (2024, 30 citations), demonstrates how LLM-powered speech interfaces can dramatically enhance independence for individuals with motor impairments — a contribution with profound real-world implications. This thread continues in her work on LLM-based speech interfaces specifically for robot-assisted feeding. On the sensing side, she has tackled the formidable challenge of tactile sensing in space, developing a Fiber Bragg Grating-based sensor capable of withstanding harsh extraterrestrial conditions (2021, 10 citations), and has explored haptic feedback systems for robotic surgical training, addressing a critical gap in how novice surgeons develop physical intuition during minimally invasive procedures. Collectively, Karachiwalla's research reflects a commitment to making robots more responsive, perceptive, and genuinely useful to humans across healthcare, disability support, and space exploration domains.