Interview with Madhavan Sudakar
Former Robotics Engineer at Edda Technologies
Description of Previous Work
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Q: Can you describe your current position, and what field or space you work in?
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A: Right now I’m looking for a job opportunity. In my previous company, Edda Technologies, I worked in the surgical robotics space as a robotics engineer. I was involved in algorithm coding and algorithm design, which I would later integrate into different types of robots—primarily robotic arms. This work helped improve and enhance the capabilities of the robotic arms when performing different types of operations on patients.
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Typical Daily Tasks
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Q: In your previous job, what would a normal day look like for you?
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A: Mostly coding, along with some research into the current existing technology to see if we were up to date. If we weren’t, I would look for ideas from the most recent advancements to implement in our system. Part of my day went into reading and researching, and part went into coding specific features or control algorithms for robotic systems. I also spent time integrating that code and testing it on real systems.
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Career Path
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Q: Can you give a quick overview of your career journey, including your education and what got you interested in the work you’ve done?
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A: I did my bachelor’s degree in India at NIT Surat. I then did my master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, specializing in robotics and controls.
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Emerging Career Opportunities
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Q: In your current field, what are some interesting career opportunities you see emerging in the near future?
A: Right now is a great time for the robotics field—it’s expanding into almost every area. A few years ago, robotics was limited to specific industries, but now I see it in semiconductors, surgical applications, space, defense, and even ocean-related work like aquatic robotics. Miniaturization is making robotics more versatile, especially for industries like semiconductors where small-scale precision is important. Deep learning and AI have also become very significant over the last few years, and I think in the next 5–10 years, robotics will increasingly integrate these technologies. Traditional controls work well when you know your environment, but deep learning and AI are powerful when you want a robot to learn and adapt on its own.
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AI in Robotics
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Q: Can you talk more about how AI can work with robots to make them better?
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A: AI is mainly used in areas where you want the system to learn on its own, rather than being told exactly what to do. It’s similar to how a child learns—you give guidance but let them discover on their own. AI allows a robot to adapt and improve through experience instead of following only pre-programmed instructions.
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Experience in Aquatic Robotics
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Q: Have you ever worked with aquatic robotics?
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A: No, I haven’t. I’ve seen many job opportunities in that area recently, but I’ve never worked with underwater robotics myself.
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Advice for Aspiring Roboticists
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Q: Do you have any specific advice for someone interested in robotics, such as colleges to consider, companies to target, or how to gain experience?
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A: Robotics is a huge and varied field—automation and machinery, drones and aviation, autonomous vehicles, and more. It’s important to first learn about the different areas within robotics and figure out what you enjoy most. Reading, asking people in the field, and exploring different specializations will help you decide. Hands-on experience is essential; theoretical knowledge like math and calculations is important, but applying it in real-world scenarios is just as critical.
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Math in Robotics
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Q: Do you use calculus or other advanced math in your coding work?
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A: Absolutely—calculus, trigonometry, Jacobians, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, all of it. These concepts are especially important in research-oriented work, but they also play a big role in industry applications.
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Career Reflections
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Q: Is there anything you would have done differently in your career journey?
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A: Not exactly. If anything, I might have done more hands-on hardware work instead of so much simulation work.
Why the Career is Cutting-Edge
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Q: Why would you consider your work cutting-edge?
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A: My work requires understanding and implementing the highest levels of mathematics and physics. That complexity makes it challenging and, in that way, cutting-edge.
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Career Goals
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Q: What are your short- and long-term goals?
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A: In the short term, I want to continue working in the robotics space. It takes about 4–5 years to fully understand and get a grip on a general robotic system, so I plan to keep building that expertise. After that, I’ll decide my path based on industry changes.
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Best Coding Languages for Robotics
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Q: What do you think is the best coding language for robotics?
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A: There’s no single “best” language, but C++ is used a lot because it’s highly compatible with hardware. Python is also good, but C++ tends to be preferred in many robotics applications.
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Favorite Part of the Work
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Q: What is your favorite part about your work?
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A: I really enjoy algorithm design. It’s a creative process that requires imagination, problem-solving, and a good understanding of the physical system. I like coming up with new techniques for specific problems—it’s challenging and satisfying.
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We would like to thank Mr. Sudakar for the time he spent speaking with us, and we hope you were able to learn something from the insight he provided.
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From,
Cooper