YOUNG SCIENTIST/ PROF PRABHU RAJAGOPAL
Prof Prabhu Rajagopal, a distinguished professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), was recently conferred with the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu. He was awarded the Vigyan Yuva Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in the newly introduced category of Technology and Innovation. This prestigious award recognises his pioneering contributions to remote assessment technologies for infrastructure assets, an area where he has combined expertise in mechanical engineering, robotics, and ultrasonic technologies to bring significant advancements.
His contributions in guided ultrasonics, submersible robotics, and non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of infrastructure have not only advanced scientific research but also led to real-world applications that improve industrial and societal processes.
INNOVATIONS IN ULTRASONIC AND SUBMERSIBLE ROBOTICS
Prof Rajagopal specialises in guided ultrasonics and submersible robotics, which are crucial for inspecting petroleum pipelines, municipal water systems, dam reservoirs, and bridges. His research is aimed at developing robots that can perform remote inspections in environments that are hazardous or inaccessible to humans. These include locations with high temperatures, radiation, deep underwater conditions, or high-pressure zones.
One of his key innovations is in the area of waveguide and feature-guided wave sensors, which enable remote sensing in critical infrastructure. His research has been instrumental in ensuring the structural integrity of assets across various industries, including oil and gas, nuclear energy, transportation, and sanitation. The ability to conduct remote inspections reduces operational downtime, improves safety, and extends the life of essential infrastructure, making it a gamechanger for industrial applications.
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE
One of the most significant projects led by Prof Rajagopal is the development of robotic systems that automate non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. His work in this area involves designing tethered and automated submersible vehicles equipped with sensors such as visual cameras, thermal cameras, and acoustic sensors to assess infrastructure conditions.
These robotic systems transmit live data or store information for later analysis, allowing engineers to detect structural defects before they become catastrophic failures. His research has directly influenced safety and efficiency in industries that rely upon continuous infrastructure monitoring. Through these advancements, engineers can prevent potentially dangerous failures and optimise maintenance schedules, saving both time and resources.
HOMOSEP: A BREAKTHROUGH IN SANITATION ROBOTICS
Prof Rajagopal is also the creator of HomoSEP, a robotic system designed to eliminate manual scavenging. This robotic innovation is deployed in septic tanks, where it homogenises hardened sludge, making it easier to extract safely. The introduction of HomoSEP has been a gamechanger in sanitation, significantly improving the working conditions of manual scavengers and reducing hazardous human exposure to toxic environments. In India, where manual scavenging remains a significant health and social concern, HomoSEP represents a critical step toward dignity, safety, and automation in sanitation services.
By using mechanised stirring and suction technologies, HomoSEP ensures that sludge is broken down and removed without human intervention, reducing both risks and inefficiencies in sanitation practices. The deployment of such robotic solutions paves the way for cleaner cities, healthier workers, and greater technological integration in public health infrastructure.
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ENTREPRENEURIAL VISION AND STARTUPS
Beyond academia, Prof Rajagopal has been a pioneer in technology commercialisation, having launched five startups that translate his research into industrial applications. Some of the most notable ventures include:
- Planys Technologies: Specialising in underwater robotics for inspecting storage tanks, pipelines, and offshore assets. This startup has expanded globally, serving industries such as oil and gas, energy, and maritime infrastructure.
- Solinas Integrity: Focused on sanitation robotics, bringing automation into the field of waste management and pipeline inspection.
- Xyma Analytics: Dedicated to waveguide sensor technologies that improve structural health monitoring.
- Plenome: Aims to apply distributed ledger technologies to engineering and healthcare sectors, optimising security and efficiency in data handling.
His entrepreneurial endeavours have not only contributed to the Make in India initiative but have also positioned Indian startups as global leaders in technological innovation. These ventures exemplify the application of academic research in real-world problem-solving, ensuring that advanced engineering solutions reach the industries that need them most.
Prof Prabhu Rajagopal has received numerous accolades throughout his career. Some of his most prestigious honours include: Shastri Research Grant (2014), conferred by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute; International Student Poster Award (2005) – 3rd prize at the Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation (QNDE), USA; GE Fellowship (2002-2003), which recognized him as an outstanding researcher in Nondestructive Evaluation.
Before joining IIT Madras, Prof Rajagopal worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, where he contributed to the development of hybrid modeling techniques for ultrasonic inspection of welds in a project funded by Rolls Royce. He also collaborated with renowned organisations such as BAE Systems, British Energy Ltd., and Frazer Nash Consultancy.
Currently, he serves as the Principal Investigator for multiple high-impact projects, including: A BRNS-sponsored project on advanced NDE techniques for the nuclear industry; a four-year EU FP-7 project on health monitoring of wind farms; an Indo-German consortium project on inspection of adhesive bonded joints for public transport buses.
Prof. Rajagopal has presented his research at prestigious international conferences, including the Annual Review of Progress in QNDE (USA), International Conference on NDE (Germany, Japan), and the Indian Society for NDT conferences. His contributions to scientific literature, patents, and industry collaborations have cemented his reputation as a leading researcher in ultrasonic technology and industrial automation.
Prof Rajagopal’s contributions in robotics, ultrasonics, and remote sensing technologies have had a profound impact on both industry and society. His ability to blend academic research with industrial applications, coupled with his dedication to entrepreneurship and technological innovation, make him a role model for aspiring scientists and engineers in India.
With the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar recognising his groundbreaking work, Prof Rajagopal’s influence will continue to shape the future of infrastructure assessment, sanitation technology, and industrial safety in India and beyond.
