Sunil Agrawal

Sunil Agrawal is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at Columbia University. He directs the Robotics and Rehabilitation (ROAR) Laboratory and Robotic Systems Engineering Laboratory (ROSE). His work focuses on intelligent machine design, robotic systems for rehabilitation, and neural impairment recovery. Dr. Agrawal holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (1990).

His research spans robotics, dynamics, and control systems, with emphasis on rehabilitation exoskeletons, gait training, and pediatric mobility solutions. He has pioneered methods for under-actuated dynamic systems and authored the monograph Differentially Flat Systems. His NIH- and NSF-funded projects include robotic exoskeletons for stroke survivors and infants with special needs, flapping-wing micro air vehicles, and cable-driven robotic platforms.

Dr. Agrawal has received prestigious awards including the NSF Presidential Faculty Fellowship (1994), Bessel Prize (2002), and ASME Fellow distinction (2004). He has supervised 20 PhD and 30 MS students, authored ~350 papers, and holds 8 US patents. He serves on ASME committees and editorial boards for robotics and rehabilitation journals.

• Lab Affiliations: ROAR Lab, ROSE Lab
• Key Projects: RobUST postural trainer, mTPAD gait device, cervical traction exoskeletons
• Grants: NIH (rehabilitation robotics), NSF (space robots, flapping-wing MAVs)

His work bridges robotics, biomechanics, and clinical rehabilitation, addressing mobility challenges for individuals with spinal cord injuries, stroke, and neuromuscular disorders.