Vikas Shivashankar

Software Engineer

United States16 yrs 5 mos experience

Highly StableAI Enabled

Key Highlights

Expert in AI planning algorithms for robotics.
Developed global decision-making algorithms at Amazon.
Published multiple peer-reviewed articles in AI.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Robotics and AI specialist with a focus on optimization and planning algorithms.

Contact

vikasshiv1987@gmail.com LinkedIn

Skills

Core Skills

OptimizationArtificial Intelligence (ai)Original Research

Other Skills

AlgorithmsC++Combinatorial OptimizationComputer ScienceData AnalysisData StructuresDiscrete OptimizationJavaMotion PlanningOperations ResearchOptimization AlgorithmsOptimization TechniquesPython (Programming Language)RoboticsSearch Algorithms

About

I am deeply passionate about applying my expertise in automated planning, control, and optimization to solve challenging problems in the robotics and autonomous systems space. At Amazon, the decision-making algorithms I developed for fulfilling customer orders using our mobile robotic fleet is currently deployed worldwide across our network of fulfillment centers. My current research is focused on adapting these optimization techniques to micro-fulfillment centers that operate under tighter deadline and space constraints. My PhD dissertation focused on developing scalable and robust AI planning algorithms that can compute high-quality plans of action for autonomous systems.

Experience

Aescape

Staff Software Engineer

Apr 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 11 mos · Boston, Massachusetts, United States · Remote

Amazon robotics

2 roles

Senior Research Scientist

Apr 2021 – Apr 2023 · 2 yrs

I am researching planning and scheduling algorithms for micro-fulfillment centers. This optimization problem is challenging because microFCs are significantly smaller than traditional FCs (more robots in a smaller space) and have more challenging deadline constraints (e.g. click-to-delivery in a few hours).

OptimizationData StructuresCombinatorial OptimizationJavaPython (Programming Language)Artificial Intelligence (AI)+14

Research Scientist

Oct 2017 – Apr 2021 · 3 yrs 6 mos

I designed new planning and optimization algorithms to improve efficiency of order fulfillment at Amazon Robotics fulfillment centers. I worked closely with the engineering teams to transition them into production across our worldwide network of robotic warehouses.

OptimizationData StructuresCombinatorial OptimizationJavaPython (Programming Language)Artificial Intelligence (AI)+14

Knexus research corporation

Senior AI Scientist

Jul 2015 – Sep 2017 · 2 yrs 2 mos

I worked with scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory on developing novel decision-making algorithms, with applications to human-robot teaming in civilian search-and-rescue operations. This work resulted in several peer-reviewed articles at AI conferences such as IJCAI, ECAI and AAAI.

Data StructuresCombinatorial OptimizationJavaArtificial Intelligence (AI)Discrete OptimizationOriginal Research+7

University of maryland

Graduate Research Assistant

Aug 2009 – May 2015 · 5 yrs 9 mos · College Park, Maryland, United States

My doctoral research was in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and involved the development of a new automated planning framework called Hierarchical Goal Networks. HGNs enable the development of more flexible and lightweight decision-making algorithms that provide stronger theoretical guarantees and practical performance when compared to the state of the art.
This research was published at multiple AI conferences like AAMAS, IJCAI and ICAPS.

Data StructuresCombinatorial OptimizationArtificial Intelligence (AI)Discrete OptimizationOriginal ResearchMotion Planning+9