About

Nagamanikandan Govindan is a robotics researcher whose work pushes the boundaries of adaptive manipulation, variable stiffness actuation, and multifunctional robotic systems. His primary research areas include variable stiffness joints, dual-arm manipulation, and novel gripper designs capable of dynamic tasks like grasping and throwing. Govindan’s most cited work, "Design of a Variable Stiffness Joint Module to Quickly Change the Stiffness and to Reduce the Power Consumption" (2020, 18 citations), addresses a critical challenge in human-robot interaction by enabling rapid stiffness modulation with reduced energy use. He further demonstrates innovation in "A Novel Hybrid Gripper Capable of Grasping and Throwing Manipulation" (2023, 7 citations), expanding robotic capabilities beyond static pick-and-place to dynamic object manipulation. His recent contributions include reinforcement learning-based control for dual-arm systems (2025, 5 citations) and learning-based control for targeted throwing with drones (2024, 5 citations). Govindan has also developed the GraspMan platform (2018, 4 citations), a hybrid robot integrating grasping, manipulation, and locomotion, and the WireFlie system (2025, 3 citations) for autonomous transmission line inspection. His work consistently bridges mechanical design and intelligent control, offering practical solutions for industrial automation, search and rescue, and infrastructure inspection.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

5
H-Index
7
Papers
47
Total Citations
7
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Design of a Variable Stiffness Joint Module to Quickly Change the Stiffness and to Reduce the Power Consumption
18 citations · 2020
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2025 (2 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 19
🏛 Institutions: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Robotics Research (United States)

Top Papers

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Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 13 days ago