Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Rajat Kumar Jenamani is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of assistive technology, human-robot interaction, and physically assistive robotics, with a particular focus on improving the lives of individuals with mobility limitations. His most celebrated contribution, RCareWorld — a human-centric simulation environment for caregiving robots developed with direct stakeholder input — has garnered 35 citations and established a foundational platform for the broader caregiving robotics community. Jenamani's research consistently prioritizes real-world deployability and user safety, as demonstrated by his work on adaptable, wheelchair-mountable robot-assisted feeding systems and the innovative Kiri-Spoon, a kirigami-inspired utensil purpose-built for robotic meal assistance. His 2024 paper on inside-mouth bite transfer tackles one of the most technically demanding challenges in robot-assisted feeding, developing robust mouth perception and interaction-aware control for users with severe mobility constraints. Through the SPARCS framework, he has further advanced how the robotics community structures and approaches caregiving tasks through stakeholder-engaged design. Jenamani's integration of machine learning — including contextual bandits for adaptive human-in-the-loop food acquisition — reflects a sophisticated understanding of how autonomous systems must evolve alongside the diverse and nuanced needs of care recipients.