Department of Electrical Engineering

Arun D.
Mahindrakar

Professor · Control & Optimization

Room ESB 204-A, IIT Madras
Chennai — 600036, India
arun_dm[AT]iitm.ac.in  ·  +91-44-2257-4445
Research Areas Get in Touch

Biography

Bridging rigorous theory with experimental reality

I have been a faculty member in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras since 2006, working in the area of control systems with a specialisation in nonlinear control. My research spans robotic control, geometric control, and dynamical systems approaches to nonlinear optimisation.

Prior to joining IIT Madras, I completed my Ph.D. in Systems and Control Engineering at IIT Bombay under the supervision of Prof. Ravi N. Banavar. I hold a Master's degree in Control Systems from VJTI, Mumbai (1997) and a B.E. from Karnatak University, Dharwad (1994).

In recent years, my research has focused on dynamical systems approaches to solving smooth and non-smooth, convex and non-convex optimisation problems — bridging control theory with modern machine learning.

Education

Ph.D. Systems & Control Engg., IIT Bombay
M.E. Control Systems, VJTI Mumbai, 1997
B.E. Electrical & Electronics, Karnatak University, 1994

Affiliation

Senior Member, IEEE Control Systems Society

Faculty Since

2006 · IIT Madras, Chennai

Professor Arun D. Mahindrakar
18+ Years at IITM
PhD IIT Bombay

Current research
interests

My work sits at the intersection of mathematical control theory and real-world engineering, with a focus on problems that are both theoretically challenging and experimentally relevant.

Use of Control Barrier Functions for Safe Optimization

CBFs integrated into optimization frameworks to guarantee safety in autonomous systems, ensuring that optimization-driven control policies never violate critical constraints.

Geometric Control Theory

Exploiting the geometric structure of control systems — particularly on manifolds — to design elegant, coordinate-free control laws for mechanical and robotic systems.

Multi-Agent Robotic Networks

Designing decentralised control strategies for networks of autonomous robots — covering formation control, consensus, and cooperative task execution in dynamic environments.

Nonsmooth Optimization via Dynamics

Applying dynamical systems theory to solve smooth and non-smooth, convex and non-convex optimisation problems — bridging control theory with modern machine learning and data science.

Opportunities

Prospective
MS & PhD
Students

I am actively looking for motivated MS and Ph.D. students who have the aptitude and drive to take on challenging mathematical control problems — and who are equally excited to complement rigorous theory with hands-on experimental work.

If you are passionate about control theory, robotics, or optimisation, and are comfortable with advanced mathematics, I encourage you to apply. The right candidate will find an intellectually stimulating environment with strong support for both analytical and experimental research.

1

Eligibility & Intake

Admissions are conducted twice a year (January and July cycles) through IIT Madras. Details are available on the Electrical Engineering Department website.

2

Application

Apply through the official IIT Madras admissions portal. Shortlisted candidates are invited for a written test and/or interview.

3

What We Look For

Strong mathematical foundations (linear algebra, analysis, differential equations), exposure to control systems, and genuine curiosity to explore open problems at the frontier of the field.

4

Get in Touch

Feel free to email me with your CV and a brief statement of research interest before applying — I am happy to discuss whether there is a good mutual fit.

Contact

Let's connect

Whether you are a prospective student, collaborator, or colleague, I welcome correspondences. The best way to reach me is by email.

Office Room ESB 204A
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
IIT Madras, Chennai — 600036
Email arun_dm@iitm.ac.in
Phone +91-44-2257 4445
Institute www.iitm.ac.in
IIT Madras · Chennai