Lakshmi Madhavan Miller

Dr. Lakshmi Madhavan Miller is a Research Assistant Professor at the National Security Institute and an Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech. Her work focuses on autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), turbulence modeling, and hydrodynamic optimization.

• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech (2023)
• M.S., Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech (2023)
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida (2013)
• B.E., Mechanical Engineering, Anna University (2011)

Lakshmi’s research investigates AUV stability, drag reduction, and power optimization through innovative hull designs and turbulence models. Recent papers explore lumped parameter modeling, toroidal hull forms, and virtual planar motion mechanisms.

Her publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining marine engineering, robotics, and computational fluid dynamics. Key collaborations include work with the Virginia Tech Center for Marine Autonomy and Robotics, where she contributes to advancing underwater vehicle dynamics and autonomy.