Nilanjan Sarkar

Two residents of Elmcroft Senior Living sat side-by-side facing a large screen, raising their hands in tandem as watch-style devices on their wrists controlled the avatars in front of them. Every so often, a squat little robot off to the side would remind them the object of the game: Get… Read More

Nilanjan Sarkar has been named chair of the mechanical engineering department at Vanderbilt University. Nilanjan Sarkar Sarkar is a professor of mechanical engineering and computer engineering. He is recognized as an expert in robotics, including developing robotic and computer technology that can aid individuals with disabilities. Sarkar succeeds Professor Robert… Read More

Nilanjan Sarkar, professor of mechanical engineering, watches Brandon Roberson, a teen with Asperger’s syndrome, learn the rules of the road with the virtual reality driving simulator. April is National Autism Awareness Month A recent CDC announcement reports that one in 88 children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder, up from… Read More

Two Vanderbilt engineers have developed an instrumented cane that can analyze gait to determine the risk of falling while still providing support. Nilanjan Sarkar, professor of mechanical and computer engineering, says the “IntelliCane” can quantitatively calculate falling risk as accurately as a physical therapist can with their own eyes. Read More

Vanderbilt University is one of 40 academic partners in a new robotics manufacturing institute in Pittsburgh that will be funded with $80 million from the Department of Defense and $173 million in matching funds from more than 200 participating partners, including companies, local governments, academic and nonprofit organizations. The Defense… Read More

Professor of Mechanical Engineering Nilanjan Sarkar (center), accompanied by Ph.D. students Dayi Bian (second from right) and Jian Fan (far right), shows Kayla McMurry (far left) and Mackensie Burt (second from left) from Sen. Lamar Alexander’s staff the simulator that he developed with researchers at the Vanderbilt… Read More

Nilanjan Sarkar, mechanical engineering professor and professor of electrical engineering and computer science, has been elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a distinction awarded to ASME members who have made significant engineering achievements. He is one of only 3,335 Fellows out… Read More

Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) interacts with Russell while Profs. Sarkar and Warren, look on. Fattah is the ranking Democrat on the appropriations subcommittee that funds the National Science Foundation. (Charles Votaw/APA) On May 7, Russell the Robot was engaging the movers and shakers on Capitol Hill. Normally, the… Read More

March 26, 2014 CNN.com: Ten visionary women School of Engineering alumna Kimberly Bryant used her experience at Vanderbilt to develop a computer science curriculum specifically aimed at girls of color. March 20, 2014 History Today: The new drones club A Vanderbilt University team has developed mapping… Read More

By David F. Salisbury In the foreseeable future, robots will stick steerable needles in your brain to remove blood clots, and capsule robots will crawl up your colon to reduce the pain of colonoscopies. “Bionic” prosthetic devices will help amputees regain lost mobility, and humanoid robots will help therapists give… Read More