Hi, I'm AI Engineer
Umesh Ghaskata
Graduate student at University at Buffalo (MS CS), with a background in Aerospace from IIT Bombay. Experienced in ML, Robotics, UAV path planning, and Software development. Currently a Research Assistant at the Drones Lab working on energy-efficient trajectory generation for autonomous UAVs.
About Me
I'm Umesh Ghaskata, a passionate and highly motivated engineer with a deep interest in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. Currently pursuing my Master's in Computer Science at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), I bring a strong academic foundation from my undergraduate years at IIT Bombay, where I specialized in Aerospace Engineering.
My journey in tech has been shaped by hands-on experience in autonomous systems, UAV path planning, and machine learning model development. As a Research Assistant at the Drone Lab, I work on energy-efficient trajectory optimization using techniques like Graphs of Convex Sets, D-C optimization, and smooth motion planning in cluttered environments.
I've built complete AI pipelines — from training deep learning models in PyTorch and TensorFlow, to deploying facial recognition systems with VGGFace and Streamlit. My interest also extends into classical algorithms, with projects involving grid-based reinforcement learning, TSP optimization, and computer vision.
My professional experience includes a Software Developer Internship at Scitara Corporation, where I streamlined API testing workflows and built scalable mock environments using Docker and RESTful tools.
I'm a firm believer in collaborative innovation. At IIT Bombay, I served as the Technical Convener of the Aeromodelling Club, delivered aircraft design training, and developed web projects under the Rocket Team supported by ISRO.
I’m excited to contribute to cutting-edge technologies and continuously evolve as a problem solver, researcher, and engineer. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or explore more of my work below!
Education
University at Buffalo, SUNY
Master of Science (Computer Science)
2024 – 2026 | Buffalo, NY
IIT Bombay
Bachelor of Technology (Aerospace Engineering)
2020 – 2024 | Mumbai, India
Experience
Software Developer Intern
Scitara Corporation, Mumbai | Dec 2022 – Feb 2023
- Created virtual REST API servers to mock backend logic and streamline testing.
- Developed JSON-based GET/POST workflows, bypassing credential requirements.
- Automated multiple endpoint responses & deployed with Docker CLI.
Summer Research Intern
IIT Bombay – Systems & Controls | May 2023 – Aug 2023
- Designed cost-efficient UAV spraying paths using OpenCV, HSV heatmaps, and TSP.
- Implemented A* and Dijkstra simulations to optimize grid-based UAV coverage.
Research Assistant – DRONES Lab
University at Buffalo | Jan 2025 – Present
- Working on energy-efficient trajectory generation using Graphs of Convex Sets (GCS).
- Integrated D-C optimization and validated models in simulated search environments.
Projects
Autonomous Drone for Search Operations
IIT Bombay |
Developed an autonomous drone using Pixhawk + RPi, HOG-based detection, and A* algorithm with ultrasonic obstacle avoidance.
View CodeML Projects: Logistic Regression, CNNs & RL
SUNY Buffalo |
Implemented logistic regression from scratch using gradient descent and L2 regularization. Built and tuned CNNs and MLPs in PyTorch with dropout, batch normalization, LR scheduling. Designed a custom RL environment and trained agents using SARSA and Double Q-learning.
View Code
Bollywood Celebrity Recognition
IIT Bombay |
Built a facial recognition app using VGGFace (ResNet50) and MTCNN for face detection and embedding. Stored 2048-feature vectors using Pickle. Deployed a web app using Streamlit for real-time celebrity classification.
View App
Coordinated UAVs for Efficient Spraying
IIT Bombay |
Modeled a 2D grid-based spraying path using OpenCV and HSV heatmaps. Applied Traveling Salesman Problem to optimize waypoint sequence and simulated A* and Dijkstra algorithms for flight efficiency.
View Report
Operating Systems Programming
IIT Bombay |
Built a Linux shell using fork(), exec(), wait() and implemented dynamic memory management in xv6. Used pthreads, mutexes, and semaphores for multi-threaded synchronization in user-space programs.
View Code