FACULTY PROFILE

Dr Avinash S Pramod is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT). He previously served as a postdoctoral researcher in the Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chung-Ang University. He earned his M S and PhD in Robotics from the Department of Engineering Design at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Vimal Jyothi Engineering College.

His research focuses on wearable robotics, biomechanical mechanisms, human–robot interaction, assistive and rehabilitation robotics, exosuit and exoskeleton design, mobile robotic systems, soft robotics, and serial manipulators. He specializes in the design, modeling, prototyping, and experimental validation of intelligent robotic systems, with primary contributions centered on human-centric robotics.

Education
MS & PhD Engineering Design (Robotics) 2025 Indian Institute of Technology Madras
B Tech Mechanical Engineering 2019 Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Kannur 
Experience
September, 2026 - Till Date Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology
November 01, 2025 – September 01, 2026 Postdoctoral Researcher, Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics Lab, Chung-Ang University
October 15, 2025 – September 01, 2026 Technical Advisor (SME), HUROTICS Inc., Seoul, South Korea 
Courses
  • ME319 Additive Manufacturing
  • ME313 Manufacturing Process II
Research Interest
  • Wearable Robotics
  • Exoskeletons and Exosuits
  • Product Design
  • Biomechanical Mechanism Design
  • Soft Robotics
  • Mobile Robotics
  • Human–Robot Interaction
  • Member, Early-Career Technical Committee (ECTC) | IEEE ARM 2026 (Paris, France), 2026
    • Key Contributions: Contributed to conference organization, community outreach, and promotion of special sessions for the 11th International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics.
  • Admin & Teammate (G20 Education Working Group) | IIT Madras / G20 India, 2023
    • Key Contributions: Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding contribution to the 1st G20 Education Working Group Meeting. Recognized by the Director and Registrar of IIT Madras for excellence in administrative support.
Journal Publications
  • Pramod, A. S., Park, S., Choo, J., & Lee, G. (2026). Anchor-Point Modulation for Multiplanar Hip Torque Generation in Cable-Driven Exosuits: A Geometry-Based Empirical Model. Biomimetics, 11(8), 579. (Q1)
  • Pramod, A. S., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). Human-Centric Shoulder Exoskeleton: A Novel Assistive Device with A Self-aligning Mechanism to Reduce Interaction Forces. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics, 8(1), 347-356. (Q1)
  • Pramod, A. S., Palani, P., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2025). Stability of Glenohumeral Joint Due to Humeral Head Translation and Its Impact on Exoskeleton Design: A Review. Sadhana, 50, 333. (Q2)
  • Pramod, A. S., R. N. A., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2025). Design, development, and evaluation of a novel shoulder phantom testbed for analyzing interaction forces and reachability of wearable exoskeletons. Wearable Technologies, 6, e24. (Q1)
  • Pramod, A. S., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2025). A modified human shoulder model considering the migration of the humeral head from the scapular glenoid fossa for the design of shoulder exoskeletons. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 239(5), 1441-1456. (Q2)
Conference Publications
  • Pramod, A. S., Ravichandran, Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). Computational assessment of impact forces on the humerus during boxing punches: Cross, hook, and uppercut. In Computational Kinematics (Mechanisms and Machine Science, Vol. 203, pp. 197–207).
  • Adithya, R. N., Pramod, A. S., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). Design of a single-actuator driven upper limb shoulder exoskeleton for assisted arm elevation. In Computational Kinematics (Mechanisms and Machine Science, Vol. 203, pp. 209–217). Springer.
  • Ansari, U., Pramod, A. S., Varala, N. V., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). Design and analysis of multi-chamber, multi-curvature soft pneumatic actuator for controlled directional bending actuation. Proceedings of the 2025 7th International Conference on Advances in Robotics (AIR '25), Article 23, 1–8. (Best Poster Award)
  • Varala, N. V., Pramod, A. S., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). Design and Experimental Validation of a Novel Multidirectional, Single-Chamber Soft Pneumatic Actuator. In 2026 International Conference on Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics (ICARM) (Accepted). IEEE.
  • Palani, P., Panigrahi, S., Pramod, A. S., & Thondiyath, A. (2025). Prediction of muscle fatigue using force myography: A preliminary and feasibility study. In 2025 IEEE 6th India Council International Subsections Conference (INDISCON) (pp. 1–6). IEEE. (Best Paper Award)
  • Nirmal, A. B., Pramod, A. S., & Thondiyath, A. (2024). Active 2-axis ankle-foot exoskeleton using single actuator for physiotherapy. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO) (pp. 2019–2024). IEEE.
  • Kizhakkethil, A. M., Panigrahi, S., Singh, K. S., Pramod, A. S., Varala, N. V., Usama, A., & Thondiyath, A. (2024). Self-evolving fuzzy-based control of soft pneumatic rotary actuators. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO) (pp. 939–944). IEEE.
  • Pramod, A. S., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2024, November). Design and Analysis of a Human-Centric Shoulder Exoskeleton to Improve the Range of Motion. In 2024 IEEE International Conference on Cyborg and Bionic Systems (CBS) (pp. 267-272). IEEE.
  • Pramod, A. S., Adithya, R. N., Palani, P., Varala, N. V., Panigrahi, S., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2024, February). Development of a Novel Three-Axis Force Sensor-Based Monitoring Device for Static Shoulder Therapy. In 2024 Second International Conference on Emerging Trends in Information Technology and Engineering (ICETITE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. (Best Student Paper Award)
  • Pramod, A. S., Palani, P., Mohan, S., & Thondiyath, A. (2023, May). Development of a Passive Ankle-Foot Exoskeleton for Variable Force Resistance Training. In International Workshop on Medical and Service Robots (pp. 144-151). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. (Special Mention Best Student Paper Award)
  • Pramod, A. S., & Jithinmon, T. V. (2019). Development of mobile dual PR arm agricultural robot. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1240, 012034.
Patents
  • Pramod, A. S., & Moon, J. (2026). Passive industrial lumbar support exoskeleton and operating method thereof. Korean Intellectual Property Office, Patent Application No. 10-2026-0034079.
  • Pramod, A. S., Thondiyath, A., & Mohan, S. (2026). Wearable shoulder exoskeleton. Intellectual Property India, Patent Grant No. 584950.
  • Pramod, A. S., Thondiyath, A., Vasanthi, A. G., Giridharan, V., & Veeraraghavan, S. N. C. (2026). A passive foot drop elevator. Intellectual Property India, Patent Application No. 202641015687.
  • Varala, N. V., Pramod, A. S., & Thondiyath, A. (2026). A multidirectional soft pneumatic actuator. Intellectual Property India, Patent Application No. 202641000306.
  • Pramod, A. S., Thondiyath, A., & Mohan, S. (2025). Biomimetic human shoulder phantom mechanism for testing wearable exoskeleton. Intellectual Property India, Patent Grant No. 557685.
  • Pramod, A. S., Thondiyath, A., Mohan, S., Adithya, R. N., Palani, P., Varala, N. V., & Panigrahi, S. (2025). Development of a novel three-axis force sensor-based monitoring device for static shoulder therapy. Intellectual Property India, Patent Grant No. 567998.
  • Pramod, A. S., Beckham, A., & Thondiyath, A. (2024). Active 2-Axis Ankle-Foot Exoskeleton Using Single Actuator for Physiotherapy. Intellectual Property India, Patent Application No. 202441050130.
  • Pramod, A. S. (2019). Multifunctional poultry cleaning robot. Intellectual Property India, Patent Application No. 201941017517.
  • Pramod, A. S., & Sudheer, A. P. (2018). Design of multifunctional seedbot. Intellectual Property India, Patent Application No. 201841029227.
Grants and Fellowships
  • IPTIF Doctoral Research Fellowship & Technology Development Grant
    • Awarding Organization: IIT Palakkad Technology IHub Foundation
    • Duration: Aug 9, 2021 – Aug 31, 2025
    • Project: Development of a wearable upper limb exoskeleton mechanism for reducing interaction forces due to misalignment
    • Reference: IPTIF/HRD/DF/014
  • KSCSTE INNOVATE Scheme Financial Grant
    • Awarding Organization: Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment
    • Year: 2018
    • Project: SEEDBOT
    • Reference: C15/23/INNOVATE/2018/KSCSTE
  • Best Paper Award – IEEE 6th India Council International Subsections Conference (INDISCON), NIT Rourkela (2025)
  • Best Poster Award – Advances in Robotics (AIR), organized by the Robotics Society of India, IIT Jodhpur (2025)
  • Best Student Paper Award – 2nd IEEE International Conference on Emerging Trends in Information Technology and Engineering, VIT Vellore (2024)
  • Special Mention Best Paper Award – International Workshop on Medical and Service Robots (MESROB), Romania (2023)
  • Third Prize – Open Innovation Contest, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), World Space Week, VSSC Thiruvananthapuram (2017)
  • Second Prize – Technical Poster Presentation, Shaastra, IIT Madras (2017)

Dr Avinash S Pramod

Assistant Professor
Robotics and Product Design
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