"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."   --Robert  Goddard

Education and Related Experience   Research Interests  Publications  Media Coverage  Image Gallery

Education

Ph.D., University of Toronto, Robotics (Major: Space Systems), 2008

B.A.Sc., University of Toronto, Engineering Science (Major: Aerospace), 2002

Related Experience

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Field & Space Robotics Lab, Postdoctoral Fellow, 06/09 -

NORCAT/University of Toronto, Space Robotics Lab, Postdoctoral  Fellow, 12/08 - 06/09

University of Toronto, Space Robotics Lab, Senior Research Assistant, 08/05 - 11/08

University of Toronto, Space Robotics Lab, Research Assistant, 09/02 - 07/05

MDA Space Missions, Research & Development Dept., Software Systems Engineer, 05/00 - 09/01

University of Toronto, Faculty of Information Studies, Software Developer, 05/99 - 11/99

Research Interests

• Space Systems

• Robotics

• Dynamics and Control

• Neuromorphic Systems

• Machine Learning

• Mobile Power Systems

• Fuel Cell Control Systems

• Hydrogen Storage

• Bio-inspired robotics

• Network Robotics

• Evolutionary Algorithms

• Artificial Intelligence

• Artificial Life

Multirobot Control Using ANT for the Open Pit Minning (Resource Gathering) Task [ICRA 2007]

Publications

Book Chapters

Thangavelautham, J., Grouchy, P., D’Eleuterio, G.M.T., Application of Coarse-Coding Techniques for Evolvable Multirobot Controllers, To Appear in Chapter 16, Computational Intelligence in Optimization-Applications and Implementations, Tenne, Y., C-K., Goh,  Editors, Vol. 7, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 2010,  pp. 381–412. (Link)

Thangavelautham, J., Barfoot, T., D’Eleuterio, G.M.T., Evolutionary-Based Control Approaches for Multirobot Systems, Chapter 3, Frontiers in Evolutionary Robotics, Iba, H, Editor, Advanced Robotics Systems International, Vienna, Austria, 2008.  (PDF)

Selected Academic Publications

Journal Papers

Thangavelautham, J. and D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., “Tackling Learning Intractability Through Topological Organization and Regulation of Cortical Networks,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 552-564, DOI: 10.1109/TNN.2011.2178311, 2012.

Iora, P. and Thangavelautham, J. “Design of a Mobile PEM Power Backup System through detailed dynamics and control analysis,” International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, pp. 1-12, Sept. 2012.  

Thangavelautham, J. and Dubowsky, S., “On the Catalytic Degradation in Fuel Cell Power Supplies for Long-Life Mobile Field Sensors.”  Journal of Fuel Cells: Fundamental to Systems, pp. 1-15, DOI: 10.1002/fuce.201200065,  Online, 2012.

Thangavelautham, J., Abu El Samid, N., Smith, A.D.S. and D’Eleuterio, G.M.T., “Autonomous Multirobot Excavation Using Biologically-Inspired Control,” To be published in Autonomous Robots, pp. 1-24, 2012.  

Thangavelautham, J., Smith, A.D.S. and D’Eleuterio, G.M.T., “Evolving Scalable Multirobot Controllers Using Cortical Networks,” To be published in IEEE Transactions on Robotics, pp. 1-12, 2012.

Thangavelautham, J. and D’Eleuterio, G.M.T., “Accelerating Evolution of Neural Network Controllers Using Coarse-Coding,” Under review in Evolutionary Computation, pp. 1-26, 2011.

Conference Papers

Thangavelautham, J., Strawser, D., Cheung, M. and Dubowsky, S., “Lithium Hydride Powered PEM Fuel Cells for Long-Duration  Small Mobile Robotic Missions,” Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), St. Paul, Minnesota, 2012.

Iora, P. and Thangavelautham, J. “Development of a Dynamic Model and Control of a PEM Fuel Cell,” Proceedings of the European Fuel Cell Forum 2011, Lucene, Switzerland, A1410 1-13, 2011.

Thangavelautham, J., Gallardo, D., Strawser, D. and Dubowsky, S., “Hybrid Fuel Cells Power for Long Duration Robotic Missions in Field Environments,” Proceedings of the Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots (CLAWAR), Paris, France, September, 2011.

Thangavelautham, J., Abu El Samid, N., Grouchy, P., Earon E., Fu, T., Nagrani, N., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., Evolving Multirobot Excavation Controllers and Choice of Platforms Using Artificial Neural Tissue Controllers. Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Robotics and Automation, 2009

Earon, E., Thangavelautham, J., Liu, T., Armstrong, H., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., Boucher, D., Viel, M., Richard, J., "A Multiagent Methodology for Lunar Robotic Mission Risk Mitigation," Proceedings of the AIAA Space Conference, 2009

Grouchy, G., Thangavelautham, J., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "An Island Model for High-Dimensional Genomes using Phylogenetic Speciation and Species Barcoding," Proceedings of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference, ACM, Montreal, Canada, 2009

Thangavelautham, J., Smith, A., Abu El Samid, N., Ho, A., Boucher, D., Richard, J.,  D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "Multirobot Lunar Excavation and ISRU Using Artificial-Neural-Tissue Controllers," Proceedings of the Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2008, New Mexico (PDF)

Abu El Samid, N., Thangavelautham, J., D'Eleuterio, G. M. T., "Infrastructure Robotics: A Technology Enabler for Lunar In-Situ Resource Utilization, Habitat Construction and Maintenance," Proceedings of the International Astronautic Conference 2008, Scotland (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J.,  D'Eleuterio, G. M. T., "Developmental Neural Heterogeneity through Coarse-Coding Regulation,"  Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Artificial Life, Lisbon, Portugal, Sept., 2007 (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., Smith, A., Boucher, D., Richard, J., D'Eleuterio, G. M. T., "Evolving a Scalable Multirobot Controller Using an Artificial Neural Tissue Paradigm,"  Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, April 2007. (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., Smith, A., Boucher, D., Richard, J., D'Eleuterio, G. M. T., "Application of an Artificial Neural Tissue Controller to Multirobot Lunar ISRU Operations,"  Proceedings of Space Technology and Applications International Forum, Jan. 2007, vol. 880, 389–399. (DOI) (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., D’Eleuterio, G. M. T.,  “A Coarse-Coding Framework for a Gene-Regulatory-Based Artificial Neural Tissue,”  Advances In Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Artificial Life, Kent, UK, September, 2005 (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., D’Eleuterio, G. M. T.,  “A Neuroevolutionary Approach to Emergent Task Decomposition,”  Proceedings of the 8th Parallel Problem Solving from Nature Conference, Birmingham, UK, September, 2004 1:  991-1000 (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "Learning From Insects: Development of An Emergent Task Decomposition Network for Collective Robotics," Proceedings. of the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space Conference, Riomaggiore, Italy, July, 2004

Thangavelautham, J., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "Application of a Neuroevolutionary Approach to Emergent Task Decomposition in Collective Robotics," Late Breaking Proceedings. of Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference 2004, Seattle, WA, June, 2004 (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J., Barfoot, T.D., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "Coevolving Communication and Cooperation for Lattice Formation Tasks (Updated)," Advances In Artificial Life: Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL), Dortmund, Germany, September 14-17th, 2003 (PDF)

Theses

Thangavelautham, J. “A Regulatory Theory of Cortical Organization and Its Applications to Robotics,” Ph.D. Thesis, Institute for Aerospace Studies, University of Toronto, 2008. (PDF)

Thangavelautham, J. “Evolving Solutions for Lattice Formation Tasks Using Cellular Automata-based Multiagent Systems,” B.A.Sc. Thesis, University of Toronto, 2002.

Scholarly Reports Prepared in Academia

Thangavelautham, J., "Natural Image Statistics of Optical Flow," p 1-11, 2005 (CSC2541, Topics in Machine Learning and Neural Networks: Natural Image Statistics,  Prof. R. Zemel)

Thangavelautham, J., "Northern Light Rover Final Report: Power, Thermal and Mechanical Systems," Prepared for UTIAS Space Flight Lab, June, 2004

Thangavelautham, J., "Application of Clustering Techniques in a Multiagent Stochastic Cellular Automata Network," p 1-8, 2003 (CSC2515, Machine Learning,  Prof. S. Roweis)

Scholarly Reports Prepared for Industry/Government

Thangavelautham, J., Fu, T., D'Eleuterio, G.M.T., "Artificial Neural Tissue Technical Notes for In-situ Resource Utilization Activities," prepared for NORCAT (under Canadian Space Agency Contract), March, 2009

Thangavelautham, J., "MSelect: Aerospace Materials Selection, Processing and Analysis Software," Prepared for MDA Space Missions, August, 2001

Ou, M., Thangavelautham, J., "Contact Dynamics Toolkit Validation Studies," Prepared for MDA Space Missions (under Canadian Space Agency Contract, Space Technology Development Program), September, 2001

Thangavelautham, J., Keough, T., "Life Cycle Cost Analysis of the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator," Prepared for MDA Space Missions (under Canadian Space Agency  International Space Station contract), August, 2000

Professional Memberships

• AIAA (American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics)
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
• In-Situ Resource Utilization Technical Committee (AIAA)