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About

V. Sankaranarayanan is a leading researcher in nonlinear control theory, with a primary focus on the robust stabilization and trajectory control of underactuated and nonholonomic robotic systems. His most significant contribution is the development of sliding mode control algorithms for a challenging class of underactuated mechanical systems that violate Brockett’s necessary condition, a foundational paper that has garnered 121 citations. This work provides a robust framework for stabilizing systems that are not linearly controllable, a critical problem in advanced robotics. Beyond this theoretical breakthrough, Sankaranarayanan has made substantial practical contributions to mobile robotics. He has designed switched control strategies for nonholonomic mobile robots (53 citations) and nonlinear controllers for mobile inverted pendulums (42 citations), addressing both stabilization and physical configuration constraints. His work extends to aerial robotics, where he has developed backstepping and PD controllers for quadrotor trajectory tracking and autonomous visual tracking and landing on moving platforms. By bridging rigorous nonlinear control theory with real-world applications in wheeled and aerial robots, Sankaranarayanan’s research has profoundly impacted the design of robust, constraint-aware autonomous systems.