Sumedh Beknalkar, a Ph.D. candidate in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department at NC State’s College of Engineering, is also the president and co-founder of SLA Robotics. His research involves the development of an autonomous, multi-terrain, and amphibious robot from ‘concept to prototype’. He specializes in dynamics, controls, optimization, and machine learning with applications in autonomous robots. As an entrepreneur and co-founder, he plans to commercialize the autonomous, amphibious robot in the near future.
Tell us about your journey to graduate school and what led you to NC State.
My path into engineering has been somewhat unconventional. I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees in chemical engineering and spent three years working in industry, but during that time, I experienced a clear turning point. I realized that while I valued my training, my skills as an engineer could be more directly applied to more pressing problems – problems I cared most about: helping make humanity interplanetary and advancing renewable energy systems. That realization motivated a deliberate shift toward mechanical engineering, which I saw as a more direct pathway to those goals. As I explored graduate programs, I found that the research in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department aligned closely with my interests and offered the opportunity to work on problems I was genuinely passionate about. My visit to the department confirmed that fit – the environment was welcoming, and my advisor was supportive and enthusiastic, giving me both the freedom and encouragement to pursue research driven by my long-term vision.
Tell us about your research and/or teaching experience.
My research involves developing an autonomous, multi-terrain, and amphibious robot called MAARCO or Multi-terrain Amphibious Arctic explorer, designed specifically to operate in the challenging Arctic environment to study effects of climate change. It is the first-ever robot that uses screws to operate not just on land and on water but also underwater.
I am specializing in dynamics, controls, and machine learning with applications in autonomous robots. My PhD dissertation involves understanding and controlling the motion of the robot as it moves on land, in water, and transitions smoothly between land and water. I am using machine learning to enable MAARCO to make decisions autonomously – decisions such as which path to take going from point A to point B as a function of the terrain conditions and mission specifications, and how best to track the path.
While working on the MAARCO project, I realized that this technology has significant commercialization potential. So, to commercialize the technology, I co-founded SLA Robotics with Dr. Andre Mazzoleni and Dr. Matthew Bryant, my PhD advisor and co-advisor. As Co-founder and President of the company, I am leading the efforts related to R&D, bringing the technology to market, fundraising, customer discovery, and market research. I have represented SLA Robotics in several programs and conferences such as the Andrews Launch Accelerator and the regional NSF I-Corps Ocean Exchange, Federal technology symposium, and Ocean Innovation.
How has the Graduate School and/or NC State helped you with your professional development?
Beyond my development as a researcher and an academic, the graduate school and NC State have played a significant role in my development as a leader, public speaker and entrepreneur.
The Leadership Learning Institute program organized by the Professional Development department helped me grow as a leader. The semester-long program provided me with tools to become an effective leader – tools I use every day while leading my startup and research group. The 3-minute thesis competition, the teaching certification (TCC) program, and working as a TA for multiple courses have helped me practice my public speaking skills and have made me an effective communicator.
My journey as an entrepreneur has been challenging and has pushed me out of my comfort zone. However, NC State’s entrepreneurship engine, specifically, the teams at the Office of Research Commercialization and the Entrepreneurship Clinic have provided me with the guidance and support to grow and succeed as an entrepreneur.
What advice do you have for new or current graduate students?
Choose a thesis/research topic that you are really passionate about. This advice is particularly relevant for Ph.D. students. You will work on a problem or a set of problems that are challenging and take a long time to solve. Unless you are passionate about or at least like what you are working on, it can be quite difficult to keep yourself motivated. So, choose your thesis topic wisely.
Work-life balance is incredibly important. Find ways to decompress after school and on weekends. This is just as important as your classes, grades, and research. And figure out what works for you – it might not work for others, but that’s okay.
Try to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. This might seem overwhelming at first. But you will see real growth only when you step out of your comfort zone. Take that class that seems tough but interesting, sign up for that public speaking seminar/competition. Don’t limit yourself!
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I wish to work at my startup, SLA Robotics, and bring the MAARCO technology market. I would like to keep working on the cutting edge of robotics and AI either at SLA or somewhere else. In the future, I would also like to teach and inspire students to pursue their passions like my teachers did for me.
Fun fact about yourself.
During my undergraduate years, I was in a band called ‘Alchemy’. And yes, it is just as embarrassing as it sounds.
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