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Thursday, November 13, 2025
- 11:00 AM1hRobotics Engineering Capstone Presentation - Manoj VelmuruganSaranga: milliWatt Ultrasound System for 3D Navigation in Visually Degraded Environments Abstract: Tiny autonomous aerial robots face severe limitations in sensing capability due to payload and power constraints, making robust 3D navigation in visually degraded environments extremely challenging. In this work, we propose Saranga, a lightweight, low-power ultrasonic 3D obstacle localization stack for aerial robots. Propellers generate ultrasonic noise that limits the efficacy of ultrasound systems on aerial platforms, for which I proposed a two-step solution: (1) a physical acoustic shield that mitigates propeller noise, and (2) a deep neural network that denoises echoes and estimates obstacle positions by reconstructing the impulse response of the scene. This talk will focus on the sensor suite configuration, denoising technique, synthetic data generation process, and the 3D trilateration method, along with comparisons against classical denoising and edge detection techniques. We demonstrate that the system enables reliable operation under low light, fog, transparent obstacles, and snow—conditions where conventional sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar fail—paving the way for robust all-weather perception in tiny aerial robots.Advisor: Professor Nitin SantekZoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/my/vmanoj1996
- 11:00 AM1hRobotics Engineering Capstone Presentation - Manoj VelmuruganSaranga: milliWatt Ultrasound System for 3D Navigation in Visually Degraded Environments Abstract: Tiny autonomous aerial robots face severe limitations in sensing capability due to payload and power constraints, making robust 3D navigation in visually degraded environments extremely challenging. In this work, we propose Saranga, a lightweight, low-power ultrasonic 3D obstacle localization stack for aerial robots. Propellers generate ultrasonic noise that limits the efficacy of ultrasound systems on aerial platforms, for which I proposed a two-step solution: (1) a physical acoustic shield that mitigates propeller noise, and (2) a deep neural network that denoises echoes and estimates obstacle positions by reconstructing the impulse response of the scene. This talk will focus on the sensor suite configuration, denoising technique, synthetic data generation process, and the 3D trilateration method, along with comparisons against classical denoising and edge detection techniques. We demonstrate that the system enables reliable operation under low light, fog, transparent obstacles, and snow—conditions where conventional sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar fail—paving the way for robust all-weather perception in tiny aerial robots.Advisor: Professor Nitin SantekZoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/my/vmanoj1996
- 11:00 AM1hRobotics Engineering Capstone Presentation - Manoj VelmuruganSaranga: milliWatt Ultrasound System for 3D Navigation in Visually Degraded Environments Abstract: Tiny autonomous aerial robots face severe limitations in sensing capability due to payload and power constraints, making robust 3D navigation in visually degraded environments extremely challenging. In this work, we propose Saranga, a lightweight, low-power ultrasonic 3D obstacle localization stack for aerial robots. Propellers generate ultrasonic noise that limits the efficacy of ultrasound systems on aerial platforms, for which I proposed a two-step solution: (1) a physical acoustic shield that mitigates propeller noise, and (2) a deep neural network that denoises echoes and estimates obstacle positions by reconstructing the impulse response of the scene. This talk will focus on the sensor suite configuration, denoising technique, synthetic data generation process, and the 3D trilateration method, along with comparisons against classical denoising and edge detection techniques. We demonstrate that the system enables reliable operation under low light, fog, transparent obstacles, and snow—conditions where conventional sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar fail—paving the way for robust all-weather perception in tiny aerial robots.Advisor: Professor Nitin SantekZoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/my/vmanoj1996
- 11:00 AM1hRobotics Engineering Capstone Presentation - Manoj VelmuruganSaranga: milliWatt Ultrasound System for 3D Navigation in Visually Degraded Environments Abstract: Tiny autonomous aerial robots face severe limitations in sensing capability due to payload and power constraints, making robust 3D navigation in visually degraded environments extremely challenging. In this work, we propose Saranga, a lightweight, low-power ultrasonic 3D obstacle localization stack for aerial robots. Propellers generate ultrasonic noise that limits the efficacy of ultrasound systems on aerial platforms, for which I proposed a two-step solution: (1) a physical acoustic shield that mitigates propeller noise, and (2) a deep neural network that denoises echoes and estimates obstacle positions by reconstructing the impulse response of the scene. This talk will focus on the sensor suite configuration, denoising technique, synthetic data generation process, and the 3D trilateration method, along with comparisons against classical denoising and edge detection techniques. We demonstrate that the system enables reliable operation under low light, fog, transparent obstacles, and snow—conditions where conventional sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar fail—paving the way for robust all-weather perception in tiny aerial robots.Advisor: Professor Nitin SantekZoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/my/vmanoj1996
- 11:00 AM1hRobotics Engineering Capstone Presentation - Manoj VelmuruganSaranga: milliWatt Ultrasound System for 3D Navigation in Visually Degraded Environments Abstract: Tiny autonomous aerial robots face severe limitations in sensing capability due to payload and power constraints, making robust 3D navigation in visually degraded environments extremely challenging. In this work, we propose Saranga, a lightweight, low-power ultrasonic 3D obstacle localization stack for aerial robots. Propellers generate ultrasonic noise that limits the efficacy of ultrasound systems on aerial platforms, for which I proposed a two-step solution: (1) a physical acoustic shield that mitigates propeller noise, and (2) a deep neural network that denoises echoes and estimates obstacle positions by reconstructing the impulse response of the scene. This talk will focus on the sensor suite configuration, denoising technique, synthetic data generation process, and the 3D trilateration method, along with comparisons against classical denoising and edge detection techniques. We demonstrate that the system enables reliable operation under low light, fog, transparent obstacles, and snow—conditions where conventional sensing modalities such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar fail—paving the way for robust all-weather perception in tiny aerial robots.Advisor: Professor Nitin SantekZoom link: https://wpi.zoom.us/my/vmanoj1996
- 2:15 PM20mMindful ThursdaysLooking for a way to make your day less stressful and more mindful...take some much-needed time for yourself and join us for Mindful Thursdays! Drop-in meditation sessions are open to the entire WPI community, and no experience is necessary. A certified meditation teacher will offer guided meditations appropriate for both beginners as well as experienced meditators. People can join in person or via zoom. Mindful Thursdays: 2:15PM to 2:35PM Center for Well-Being, Daniels Hall 102E Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/186050714 Each Friday an email will be sent out to the group called Mindfulness Tools To-Go which will include information about meditations, poems shared during the week, and mindful resources. If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Robin Benoit, rbenoit@wpi.edu
- 2:15 PM20mMindful ThursdaysLooking for a way to make your day less stressful and more mindful...take some much-needed time for yourself and join us for Mindful Thursdays! Drop-in meditation sessions are open to the entire WPI community, and no experience is necessary. A certified meditation teacher will offer guided meditations appropriate for both beginners as well as experienced meditators. People can join in person or via zoom. Mindful Thursdays: 2:15PM to 2:35PM Center for Well-Being, Daniels Hall 102E Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/186050714 Each Friday an email will be sent out to the group called Mindfulness Tools To-Go which will include information about meditations, poems shared during the week, and mindful resources. If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Robin Benoit, rbenoit@wpi.edu
- 2:15 PM20mMindful ThursdaysLooking for a way to make your day less stressful and more mindful...take some much-needed time for yourself and join us for Mindful Thursdays! Drop-in meditation sessions are open to the entire WPI community, and no experience is necessary. A certified meditation teacher will offer guided meditations appropriate for both beginners as well as experienced meditators. People can join in person or via zoom. Mindful Thursdays: 2:15PM to 2:35PM Center for Well-Being, Daniels Hall 102E Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/186050714 Each Friday an email will be sent out to the group called Mindfulness Tools To-Go which will include information about meditations, poems shared during the week, and mindful resources. If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Robin Benoit, rbenoit@wpi.edu
- 2:15 PM20mMindful ThursdaysLooking for a way to make your day less stressful and more mindful...take some much-needed time for yourself and join us for Mindful Thursdays! Drop-in meditation sessions are open to the entire WPI community, and no experience is necessary. A certified meditation teacher will offer guided meditations appropriate for both beginners as well as experienced meditators. People can join in person or via zoom. Mindful Thursdays: 2:15PM to 2:35PM Center for Well-Being, Daniels Hall 102E Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/186050714 Each Friday an email will be sent out to the group called Mindfulness Tools To-Go which will include information about meditations, poems shared during the week, and mindful resources. If you have questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact Robin Benoit, rbenoit@wpi.edu
- 3:00 PM1hHow to get the most out of your retirement incomeDiscover how to maximize your retirement income to ensure your financial security doesn’t stop when you stop working.
- 3:00 PM1hHow to get the most out of your retirement incomeDiscover how to maximize your retirement income to ensure your financial security doesn’t stop when you stop working.
- 3:00 PM1hHow to get the most out of your retirement incomeDiscover how to maximize your retirement income to ensure your financial security doesn’t stop when you stop working.
- 5:00 PM2hCounted Out DocumentaryThe STEM Education Center is pleased to be hosting a free community screening and conversation of the Counted Out film, a powerful documentary that interrogates the way math is taught in schools and explores how math shapes everything from economic opportunity to democracy. @CountedOutDoc #CountedOut #ReImagineMathWatch the trailer and register. K–14 educators are especially encouraged to join us for this screening and discussion. Raffle and door prizes will be available for K–12 teachers.SynopsisIn our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice.But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power.Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don���t consider ourselves “math people”? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?ParkingParking is available at any of the WPI visitor parking lots. The closest lot to the WPI Fuller Laboratory, Fuller Upper Perreault Hall, is the Library / Boynton Parking Lot - North. There is additional parking at Park Ave Garage, located at 151 Salisbury Street, Worcester.
- 5:00 PM2hCounted Out DocumentaryThe STEM Education Center is pleased to be hosting a free community screening and conversation of the Counted Out film, a powerful documentary that interrogates the way math is taught in schools and explores how math shapes everything from economic opportunity to democracy. @CountedOutDoc #CountedOut #ReImagineMathWatch the trailer and register. K–14 educators are especially encouraged to join us for this screening and discussion. Raffle and door prizes will be available for K–12 teachers.SynopsisIn our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice.But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power.Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don���t consider ourselves “math people”? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?ParkingParking is available at any of the WPI visitor parking lots. The closest lot to the WPI Fuller Laboratory, Fuller Upper Perreault Hall, is the Library / Boynton Parking Lot - North. There is additional parking at Park Ave Garage, located at 151 Salisbury Street, Worcester.
- 5:00 PM2hCounted Out DocumentaryThe STEM Education Center is pleased to be hosting a free community screening and conversation of the Counted Out film, a powerful documentary that interrogates the way math is taught in schools and explores how math shapes everything from economic opportunity to democracy. @CountedOutDoc #CountedOut #ReImagineMathWatch the trailer and register. K–14 educators are especially encouraged to join us for this screening and discussion. Raffle and door prizes will be available for K–12 teachers.SynopsisIn our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice.But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power.Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don���t consider ourselves “math people”? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?ParkingParking is available at any of the WPI visitor parking lots. The closest lot to the WPI Fuller Laboratory, Fuller Upper Perreault Hall, is the Library / Boynton Parking Lot - North. There is additional parking at Park Ave Garage, located at 151 Salisbury Street, Worcester.
- 5:00 PM2hCounted Out DocumentaryThe STEM Education Center is pleased to be hosting a free community screening and conversation of the Counted Out film, a powerful documentary that interrogates the way math is taught in schools and explores how math shapes everything from economic opportunity to democracy. @CountedOutDoc #CountedOut #ReImagineMathWatch the trailer and register. K–14 educators are especially encouraged to join us for this screening and discussion. Raffle and door prizes will be available for K–12 teachers.SynopsisIn our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice.But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power.Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don���t consider ourselves “math people”? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?ParkingParking is available at any of the WPI visitor parking lots. The closest lot to the WPI Fuller Laboratory, Fuller Upper Perreault Hall, is the Library / Boynton Parking Lot - North. There is additional parking at Park Ave Garage, located at 151 Salisbury Street, Worcester.
- 5:00 PM2hCounted Out DocumentaryThe STEM Education Center is pleased to be hosting a free community screening and conversation of the Counted Out film, a powerful documentary that interrogates the way math is taught in schools and explores how math shapes everything from economic opportunity to democracy. @CountedOutDoc #CountedOut #ReImagineMathWatch the trailer and register. K–14 educators are especially encouraged to join us for this screening and discussion. Raffle and door prizes will be available for K–12 teachers.SynopsisIn our current information economy, math is everywhere. The people we date, the news we see, the influence of our votes, the candidates who win elections, the education we have access to, the jobs we get—all of it is underwritten by an invisible layer of math that few of us understand, or even notice.But whether we know it or not, our numeric literacy—whether we can speak the language of math—is a critical determinant of social and economic power.Through a mosaic of personal stories, expert interviews, and scenes of math transformation in action, Counted Out shows what’s at risk if we keep the status quo. Do we want an America in which most of us don���t consider ourselves “math people”? Where math proficiency goes down as students grow up? Or do we want a country where everyone can understand the math that undergirds our society—and can help shape it?ParkingParking is available at any of the WPI visitor parking lots. The closest lot to the WPI Fuller Laboratory, Fuller Upper Perreault Hall, is the Library / Boynton Parking Lot - North. There is additional parking at Park Ave Garage, located at 151 Salisbury Street, Worcester.