Dr. Vikram Kapila
Professor
Mechanical Engineering
- Phone: (718) 260-3161
- Email: vkapila@poly.edu
- Location: RH504
- Website:
Education
Georgia Institute of Technology
Doctor of Philosophy,
Florida Institute of Technology
Master of Science,
Regional Engineering College , Calicut, India
Bachelor of Technology,
Experience
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Professor
Instruction in graduate and undergraduate system dynamics and control courses and development of externally funded research program in robust control.
From: April 2011 to present
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Associate Professor
Instruction in graduate and undergraduate system dynamics and control courses and development of externally funded research program in robust control.
From: September 2002 to April 2011
Polytechnic Institute of New York University
Assistant Professor
Instruction in graduate and undergraduate system dynamics and control courses and development of externally funded research program in robust control.
From: September 1996 to August 2002
Georgia Institute of Technology
Research Associate
Developed theoretical and computational tools for robust fixed-order controller synthesis.
From: January 1996 to August 1996
Georgia Institute of Technology
Adjunct Faculty
Undergraduate instruction in Vibrations and System Dynamics.
From: March 1996 to June 1996
Georgia Institute of Technology
Teaching Assistant
Undergraduate laboratory instruction in Flight Mechanics and Control.
From: January 1996 to March 1996
Georgia Institute of Technology
Graduate Research Assistant
Conducted research to develop robust controller analysis and synthesis tools for uncertain systems.
From: January 1994 to January 1996
Florida Institute of Technology
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Undergraduate instruction in Statics, Dynamics, and Materials Laboratory. Conducted research to develop periodic and multirate control algorithms.
From: September 1991 to December 1993
Production, Rajinder Pipes and Leasings Limited, India
Trainee Engineer
Developed production tools for electrical resistance welding (ERW) tubes and supervised shift production.
From: October 1989 to February 1990
Machine Tools, Progressive Spark Systems Private Limited, India
Project Engineer
Developed machine tool hardware for electro-discharge machines (EDM) and CNC wire EDM.
From: October 1988 to September 1989
Courses Taught
- ME 2514-Measurement Systems ME 3484-Mechatronics ME 4484-Smart Systems
Primary Teaching Area
Automatic Control, Measurement Systems, Mechatronics, Mechanical Vibration, Linear Control Theory and Design, Optimal Multivariable Feedback Control, Nonlinear Control, Robust Control, Digital Control, Robotics, Measurement Systems Laboratory, and Real-Time Control Laboratory.
Research Interests
K-12 STEM education; mechatronics; robotics; smart sensors; engineering applications of chaos; cooperative control; distributed spacecraft formation control; linear/nonlinear control with applications to robust control, saturation control, and time-delay systems; closed-loop input shaping; spacecraft attitude control; DSP/PC/microcontroller-based real-time control.
Awards + Distinctions
- Received NYU-Poly’s leadership award (2012), Jacobs Excellence in Education Award (2011, 2008, 2002), and the Distinguished Teacher Award (2003).
- Invited to the U.S. National Science and Engineering Expo, Washington, DC, April 27—29, 2012. Our showcase “Mobile Apps for Robotics,” was one of only 16 NSF-funded research and education projects selected by NSF to be featured at the event.
- Awarded the 2011 Outstanding Project Award for Efforts in Sustainability and Media by the National Science Foundation at the GK-12 Fellows Project Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, March 13, 2011.
- Invited to the U.S. National Science and Engineering Expo, Washington, DC, October 23—24, 2010. Our showcase “Mechatronics Mania,” was one of only 15 NSF-funded research and education projects selected by NSF to be featured at the event.
- Selected for a three-year term as a Senior Faculty Fellow of NYU-Poly’s Othmer Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (Fall 2004—Summer 2007).
- Presented an invited Plenary Lecture titled “Hands-on Mechatronics Education: A Brooklyn Poly Perspective,” at the 17th Florida Conference on the Recent Advances in Robotics held at the University of Central, Orlando, FL, May 2004.
- Inducted as an eminent engineer in Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society, upon invitation from student members of Polytechnic chapter, the NY Rho (November 2003).
Event Participation
Professional Societies
- AIAA
- ASME
- ASEE
- IEEE
Journal Articles
- K. Williams, I. Igel, R. Poveda, V. Kapila, and M. Iskander, “Enriching K-12 Science and Mathematics Education Using LEGOs,” Advances in Engineering Education, Vol. 3, No. 2, summer 2012.
- C. Dubey and V. Kapila, “Wave Fractal Dimension as a Tool in Detecting Cracks in Beam Structures,” Chaotic Modeling and Simulation (CMSIM), 1: 241—256, 2012.
- M. Iskander and V. Kapila, “Revitalizing Achievement by Using Instrumentation in Science Education (RAISE), A GK-12 Fellows Project,” Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, Vol. 138, 62—72, 2012.
- I. Igel, R. Poveda, V. Kapila, and M. Iskander, “Examining the Efficacy of a LEGO Robotics Training for Volunteer Mentors and K-12 Teachers,” Proc. Amer. Soc. Eng. Ed., Session: W146A, San Antonio, TX, June 2012.
- A. Faisal, V. Kapila, and M. Iskander, “Using Robotics to Promote Learning in Elementary Grades,” Proc. Amer. Soc. Eng. Ed., June 2012, Session: T446, San Antonio, TX, June 2012.
- C. Dubey and V. Kapila, “Detection and Characterization of Cracks in Beams via Chaotic Excitation and Statistical Analysis,” in Application of Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics in Engineering, S. Banerjee, M. Mitra, and L. Rondoni (Eds.), 137—164. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2011, ISBN-10: 3642219217.
- C. Dubey, H. Wong, V. Kapila, and P. Kumar, “Web-Enabled Remote Control Laboratory Using an Embedded Ethernet Microcontroller,” in Internet Accessible Remote Laboratories: Scalable E-learning Tools for Engineering and Science Disciplines, A.K.M. Azad, M.E. Auer, and V.J. Harward (Eds.), 338—361, IGI Global, USA, 2011, DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61350-186-3.
- N. Abaid, C. Yuvienco, V. Kapila, and M. Iskander, “Mechatronics Mania at the Inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival,” IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Vol. 31, 105—110, 124, 2011.
- S.-H. Lee, V. Kapila, M. Porfiri, and A. Panda, “Master-Slave Synchronization of Continuously and Intermittently Coupled Sampled-Data Chaotic Oscillators,” Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, Vol. 15, 4100—4113, 2010.
- I. Ahmed, H. Wong, and V. Kapila, “Internet-Based Remote Control using a Microcontroller and an Embedded Ethernet Board,” ASEE Computers in Education Journal, Vol. I, 15—21, 2010.
Favorite Books + Authors
Link to CV
Interesting links related to your field you’d like to share
- http://mechatronics.poly.edu/
- http://mechatronics.poly.edu/smart/
- http://gk12.poly.edu/amps-cbri/
- http://www.livescience.com/17271-controlling-robots-cell-phone-applicati...
- http://www.asme.org/kb/news---articles/articles/robotics/iphone-apps-for...
Please provide a brief description of your teaching philosophy
In a global, competitive marketplace, to sustain the U.S. quest for leadership through the creation of an “innovation economy,” there is an acute need to train tomorrow’s engineering workforce in cooperative, active-learning environments with students from diverse educational backgrounds. Moreover, I strongly believe that students’ fascination with modern technologies (e.g., robotics, tablets, gaming, and sensing) can be used to deliver engaging educational curricula in engineering disciplines. Recognizing the challenges and opportunities inherent in interdisciplinary engineering education, I have developed education, training, and outreach programs in mechatronics, robotics, and advanced control technologies. I have introduced innovations in teaching and learning by a balanced emphasis on analytical problem solving and judicious usage of modern computer aided control system analysis and design tools. I emphasize the fundamental principles guiding the system analysis and control synthesis disciplines, numerical implementation of advanced control design methodologies, and validation of advanced control designs on real-world experimental testbeds available in NYU-Poly’s mechatronics lab. This approach affords students opportunities to (1) visualize and practice engineering concepts that they otherwise find difficult to comprehend and (2) learn tools and techniques that are used by engineers and technologists in real-world.
What do you enjoy most about teaching at Poly?
As an educator and researcher, I have the privilege to train and work with the next generation of engineers. Through coursework, term projects, and thesis research, I guide my students to explore new theoretical and experimental research directions and create new bodies of knowledge. I find immense satisfaction when my students experiment with and develop new concepts and teach something new to me. In addition to sharing our results with the engineering community, I enjoy being able to broadly disseminate our findings to K-12 teachers, students, and the general public.
Aside from textbooks, what other reading material would you recommend to your students?
MIT Technology Review, NY Times (Science and Education sections), reports and books from the National Academies, books for general audiences (math, science, engineering, technology, computing, finance, etc.)
Is there a particular person who has made a significant positive impact on your life?
Wassim M. Haddad, a professor of aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has tremendously influenced my thinking as a researcher. He was my graduate mentor during my M.S. and Ph.D. studies. The foundational theoretical training that I received under his supervision held me in good stead even as I explored and developed an experimental research, education, and mentoring program.
Favorite Activities
Outside interests or hobbies:
Bollywood (Hindi) movies and songs, NPR, etc.
Favorite quote:
"Genius is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration." - Thomas Edison
"Good education costs a lot, but poor education costs a lot more. "- Unknown