Syed Muhammad Alam

• [email protected] • +92 322 873 1285 • github.com/alam121 • linkedin.com/in/syedmalam121

Objective
Innovative Robotics and Embedded Systems Engineer with extensive experience in designing, developing, and deploying advanced autonomous
systems and UAV technologies. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and proficient in a wide array of programming languages and tools,
with a deep understanding of machine learning, computer vision, and control system
• Master’s Degree
Lahore University of Management Sciences- Lahore 2021-2023
MS Electrical Engineering (Major Courses: Robotics, Embedded Systems, Machine Learning)

• Bachelor's Degree
University of Engineering & Technology- Lahore 2016-2020
BS Electrical Engineering (CGPA: 3.57)
Publication & Grants
• S. M. Alam and M. U. Faheem, "PID controller for tracking of autonomous mobile robot combined with Artificial Potential field and
Iterative learning control," 2022 International Conference on Recent Advances in Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences. (Link)

• U. Shafique et al., "Infrared Thermography Based Insulator Fault Classification via Unsupervised Clustering and Semi-Supervised
Learning," in IEEE Access, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3404930 (Link)

• S. M. Alam and H. Jaleel, “Unstructured Terrain Navigation for Mobile Agricultural Robot using Online Self-Supervised Learning”. Journal of
Field Robotics (Currently working)

• S. M. Alam, S. Khan, Z. Nasir, A. Iqbal, S. Anwar, W. Saadeh and S. Chaudhary. “Minimally invasive low-cost continuous glucose
monitoring system for the developing world” (Currently working)

Skills
• Keras, TensorFlow, OpenCV, PyTorch, NLTK, Spacy • MATLAB Simulation tools, Gazebo, V-Rep
• Python, ARM, Java, C, C++, CUDA Programming • Proteus, ETAP, Multisim
• Embedded Systems: KIEL, IAR, Segger, Raspbian, STVD • Slicer 3D
• PCB Designing, IC Designing • EAGLE CAD, Altium PCB designer
• Robotic Operating System, Linux • Cadence Tools

Employment History
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, KSA
Research Specialist 12/2023 – Present
• Developed an unmanned underwater robot for coral reef inspection for data collection and environmental monitoring.
• Developing altitude controller for underwater vehicles for autonomous pitch control for enhanced stability
• Working under the supervision of Dr. Eric Feron with a team of PhDs, PostDocs, and Research Scientists
Epazz Inc. ZenaTech
Robotics Engineer/Team Lead 12/2023 – 9/2024
• Developed a tilting octocopter framework utilizing ROS2 on the NuttX OS/PX4 architecture, enhancing UAV speed and stability.
• Engineered a GPS-denied autonomous navigation system for indoor UAVs using custom implementations of SLAM, Moveit!,
Octomap, and MAVROS.
• Working on STM32 for motor control for rotating arms mechanism used for tilting multicopters
• Coordinated with the testing team in the UAE for the successful deployment and operational testing of drone technologies.
Centre for Water Informatics & Technology - Lahore University Management Sciences 10/2021 – 11/2023
Senior Research Associate
• Member core team Development of Unmanned Ground Robot for precision agriculture
• Developed ROS based Visual path planning on Jetson Nano using Intel realsense camera with RTK GPS.
• Interfaced motor drivers, odometry, IMU, Pixhawk, and other sensors for ROS.
• Developed neural network approach to detect optimal paths in unstructured terrain.
• Developed navigation algorithm based on RGB/Depth data, DWA algorithm combined with differential flatness concept.
• Implemented Extended Kalman Filter, ORBSLAM2 for improved localization and mapping.
• Performed duties of Teaching Assistant for graduate course Mobile Robotics, Embedded Systems.

Bioinformatics Research Lab (BIRL) - Lahore University Management Sciences

Embedded Systems Engineer/Team lead (Full time) 09/2020 –10/2021
• Member core team Higher Education Commission Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensor (CGM) project
• Successfully developed CGM sensor based on Potentiostat, NRF, ESP and STM boards, resulting in a 30% reduction
in production costs compared to existing commercial solutions.
• Development of wearable custom PCB boards based on low power consumptions SMD components.
• Collaborated with veterinarians for animal testing and Byonyks medical devices startup for sensor manufacturing.
Projects

Master’s thesis: Unstructured Terrain Navigation for Mobile Agricultural Robot using Online Self-Supervised Learning
Main Features: ROS, Computer Vision, Deep learning
Language: Python, C++

• Successfully created a BLDC base differential drive autonomous ground robot capable of moving through crop rows.
• Interfaced sensors for odometry, IMU, Realsense camera, GPS for ROS (Data further used for training).
• Developed an online self-supervised network to learn a terrain’s surface properties to compute a robot-specific 2D surface cost map.
• Developed a visual crop row navigation algorithm that computes dynamically feasible trajectories by accounting for different surface costs.

Bachelor’s Senior Year Project: Autonomous Navigation System (Link)

Main Features: YOLOV5, Linux, ROS, Nearest Neighbor Algorithm, Control Systems, Power Electronics
Language: Python, C++

• Implementation of ROS based autonomous navigation with traffic signal classification & coordinates mapping using Rosserial.
• The control is implemented through Nearest Neighbor Algorithm, PID, Yaw Controller, Pure Pursuit Algorithm, and Low pass filter.
• Use of H bridge, Stepper motor, DC Gear Motor, Motor Controller, Boost converter for Carla simulator and an Electric cart.
• The Cart autonomously moves around 800 meters round the track on campus through obstacles and traffic signal with 92% accuracy.

Configuring DJI RoboMaster for ROS Navigation Stack to generate map and navigate autonomously (Link)
Main Features: ROS, LIDAR, Gmapping | Language: Python

• Configuring the robomaster EP core with RP LIDAR A3 along with teleoperation keyboard for robot movement.
• Configuring the Robomaster to implement Gmapping algorithm to map an arena with obstacles Adaptive Monte Carlo Localization is used
to localize the robot.
• Implementing ROS navigation stack to autonomously move the robot from initial position to goal position while avoiding obstacles.

Self-driving car behavior cloning (Link) & Vehicle Detection project (Link)
Main Features: Computer Vision, Deep Learning | Language: Python
• Udacity simulator was used to clone driving behavior and then trained a CNN based on NVIDIA supervised regression model.
• The project includes data pre-processing, data augmentation, and training on Google Colab.
• The end result is predicted steering angles based on road images in front of a car with 95% accuracy with custom videos.
• Implementation of Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) feature extraction on labeled images and training a Linear SVM classifier
for detection and tracking of a vehicle.
IoT based Smart farming using ARM-Cortex M4 TIVA microcontroller (Link)
Main Features: UART, ADC, PLL, LCD interface, MATLAB, ThingSpeaks IOT | Language: ARM Programming (KIEL/IAR), MATLAB
• Farming sensors deployment for Temperature, Humidity, Soil moisture and Light on Tiva Launchpad (TM4C123).
• The data is displayed on 16x2 LCD module and transmitted on the ThingSpeak IoT platform for analysis using ESP8266.
• The project enabled higher agricultural yield with 50% decrease in cost than traditional farming methods.

Virtual Telepresence Robot Using Raspberry Pi (Link)

Main Features: Linux, Raspbian, A-FRAME framework, Virtual Reality | Language: Python
• Wireless control of Pi-Cam through the IMU accelerometer sensor of a mobile phone.
• The phone sensor data is transmitted to Raspberry Pi through Wi-Fi UDP communication, which controls the servo motor.
• The live feed of the camera is available online through A-Frame web framework for virtual reality experience.

Hobbies
• Scientific communication: writing & mentoring (Spectra Magazine)
• Volunteer work: Pakistan Speaks NGO
• Music instruments/sports
• Chess

References
• Dr. Abubakr Muhammad, Professor: Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lab Director: Center for Water Informatics & Technology,
PhD: Georgia Institute of Technology, Postdoc: Caltech & UPenn, email: [email protected] (Instructor and Supervisor)
• Dr. Hassan Jaleel, Assistant Professor: Department of Electrical Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, PhD: Georgia
Institute of Technology, Postdoc: KAUST, email: [email protected] (BIRL) (Supervisor)