Sonia Chacko

Sonia Chacko is an Assistant Professor at Bowling Green State University's College of Technology, Architecture and Applied Engineering. She specializes in applied robotics research, including AR/VR integration, human-robot interaction, and K-12 STEM education. Previously, she served as Lead Roboticist at a construction robotics firm, developing productivity-enhancing painting robots. She also holds industry experience in embedded systems and semiconductor sectors in India. Her NSF-funded work focuses on training NYC public school teachers to integrate robotics into science/math curricula.

Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (NYU, 2020), MTech in Mechatronics (NITK Surathkal, 2012), BTech in Electronics and Communications (Mahatma Gandhi University, 2007).

Research Interests:

• Applied AR/VR for robotics applications
• Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) in unconstrained environments
• Autonomous mobile robots and construction robotics
• STEM education through robotics integration
• Measuring professional development impact for educators

Publications highlight advancements in AR interfaces for robotics teaching, pandemic-era teleoperation systems, and curriculum design aligned with NGSS standards. Over 13 peer-reviewed journal/conference papers since 2017 demonstrate contributions across robotics, education technology, and pattern recognition. A recent patent (2023) covers autonomous paint application systems.

Advising and Grants: Actively involved in NSF-funded robotics education initiatives. Mentors students through capstone projects focusing on AR/VR and HRI applications. Research supported by grants emphasizing STEM equity and robotics innovation in education.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the College's Robotics Engineering program and Falcon BEST Robotics Competition. Engaged in NSF Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing RET Program to advance manufacturing technologies through robotics.