Precision Systems Design Laboratory

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Founder and CEO, Parallel Robotics

Dr. Shorya Awtar’s engineering interests include precision machine design, mechanisms and transmissions, mechatronic and robotic systems, and human-centric design. Via research and innovations these areas, he has created affordable medical devices for minimally invasive surgery, precision motion stages for semiconductor metrology, motion sickness mitigation solutions for autonomous vehicles, among several other technologies. Ongoing projects in his lab include powered prostheses, rehab robotics, human-machine biomechanical and sensory motor interfaces, and flexible system dynamics and controls.

Dr. Awtar has founded multiple startup companies including FlexDex Surgical, HIPERNAP, and Parallel Robotics that focus on product development, manufacturing, and commercialization. He previously worked at the General Electric Global Research Center (2004-2006) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (2003). He earned his Mechanical Engineering degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur (BTech, 1998), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MS, 2000), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (ScD, 2004). He has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed research articles and has three dozen inventions that are either patented or patent-pending in the areas of parallel kinematics, compliant mechanisms, flexible system dynamics, human factors, medical devices, MEMS actuators, electromagnetic actuators, nanopositioning stages, and advanced seals for turbomachinery.

Dr. Awtar has received the Leonardo daVinci Award and Thomas A. Edison Patent Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Goel Award for Translational Research from the American Society of Biomechanics, multiple R&D100 Awards, and several Best Paper awards for his research, innovations, tech transfer, and societal impact. He is a Fellow of the ASME and a Member of the US National Academy of Engineering. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses as well as professional industry tutorials in precision engineering, mechatronic systems, product development and innovation, and entrepreneurship. He has also served on the Board of Trustees of the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum to create educational exhibits for K-12 children.

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Click for Full List of Awards and Honors

Elected to the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE), Feb 2023.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Thomas A. Edison Patent Award, 2020. This is ASME's highest society-level award that recognizes eminent creative achievement in the form of a patented invention, which is broadly recognized as significantly enhancing the practice of mechanical engineering or having a significant industrial or commercial impact.
Best Paper in Compliant Mechanisms Application Award, 2020, at the 44th Mechanisms and Robotics Conference, International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC). Awarded by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee of the ASME Design Engineering Division

Jalgaonkar, N., Kim, A., and Awtar, S., “Design of an Ankle Rehab Robot with a Compliant Parallel Kinematic Mechanism”, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC), St. Louis MO, Paper # IDETC2020-19424

American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) Goel Award for translational research in biomechanics, 2020. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in translational biomechanics research, entrepreneurship, and societal benefit. Selection is based on originality, quality and depth of the candidate’s research, and the commercial and societal benefits in terms of human health and well-being emanating from this research.
FlexDex Needle-Driver won the 2019 Edison Award (Silver) in the Surgery Robotics category.
FlexDex Needle Driver won the Surgical Products' 2018 Excellence in Surgical Products (ESP) Award as the winner in the OR Equipment and Accessories category.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Fellow, 2017
2017 ASME DSCD Best Conference Paper on Mechatronics award for the best original paper in the area of mechatronics presented at any of the Dynamic Systems and Controls Division (DSCD) sponsored conferences in 2016 including the IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), the American Control Conference (ACC), the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (DSCC), and the IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems. Awarded by the ASME DSCD Mechatronics Technical Committee

Cui, L., Okwudire, C., and Awtar, S., “Complex Non-Minimum Phase Zeros in the Dynamics of Double Parallelogram Flexure Module based Flexure Mechanisms”, Proc. 2016 ASME Dynamic Systems and Controls Conference, Minneapolis, MN, Paper # DSCC2016-9658.

University of Michigan College of Engineering Rexford E. Hall Innovation Excellence Award, 2017, in recognition of developing a breakthrough technology and demonstrating its transformational potential in the marketplace, engineering practice, and for societal good.
Best Paper Award in Micro and Nano Systems, 2013, at the 7th International Conference on Micro and Nano Systems, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC). Awarded by the Micro and Nano Systems Technical Committee of the ASME Design Engineering Division

Olfatnia, M., Cui, L., Chopra, P., and Awtar, S.,“MEMS Based XY Stage with Large Displacement”, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Portland OR, Paper # IDETC2013-13038

Best Paper Award in Compliant Mechanisms Theory, 2013, at the 37th Mechanisms and Robotics Conference, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences (IDETC). Awarded by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee of the ASME Design Engineering Division

Beroz, J., Awtar, S., and Hart, A.J., “Extensible-Link Kinematic Model for Determining Motion Characteristics of Compliant Mechanisms”, Proc. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences, Portland, OR, Paper #IDETC2013-12582

R&D 100 Award for one of the 100 most innovative and significant technologies of the year, 2013, for High Performance Electrostatic Comb-drive Micro-Actuators, R&D Magazine
College of Engineering 1938E Award, 2013, in recognition of an outstanding teacher in elementary as well as advanced courses, an understanding counselor of students, a contributor to the educational growth of his College, and a teacher whose scholarly integrity pervades his service to the University and the profession of Engineering. This is the highest honor awarded by the University of Michigan to an Assistant Professor across the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
Ralph R. Teetor Award for outstanding contributions to engineering education, Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE), 2012
2011 ASME DSCD Best Conference Paper on Mechatronics award for the best original paper in the area of mechatronics presented at any of the Dynamic Systems and Controls Division (DSCD) sponsored conferences in 2010 including the IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), the American Control Conference (ACC), the ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Conference (DSCC), and the IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems. Awarded by the ASME DSCD Mechatronics Technical Committee

Awtar, S., and Parmar, G., “Physical and Control Systems Design Challenges in Large Range Nanopositioning”, 5th IFAC Symposium on Mechatronic Systems, Cambridge, MA

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Leonardo da Vinci Award for eminent achievement and important advances in the field of machine design, 2011
Freudenstein / General Motors Young Investigator Award for significant original contribution to the theory of mechanisms and the potential to enhance the public good, ASME, 2011
Selected by National Academy of Engineering to attend the US Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2011
ASEE / Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship, 2011
Mechanical Engineering Department Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service, University of Michigan, 2011
Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 2011
NSF CAREER Award, National Science Foundation, 2009
FlexDex Minimally Invasive Surgical Tool technology selected as one of the top six inventions out of more than 300 invention disclosures in year 2008 and show-cased at the Celebrate Invention Event, Technology Transfer Office, University of Michigan, 2009
R&D 100 Award for one of the 100 most innovative and significant technologies of the year, XY HiPER-NaP: High Precision Extended Range Nano Positioner, 2008, R&D Magazine. Video Demonstration
Inventor’s Medal, General Electric, 2005
Rosenblith Fellowship for graduate studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000-2001
Selected for Stanford Graduate Fellowship, Stanford University, 2000
Michael A. Sadowsky Award for best M.S. thesis in Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 2000
Founder’s Award for academic excellence and leadership, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 1999
Mark Darlow Memorial Award for outstanding achievement in Mechatronics, RPI, 1999
Institute Awards for academic excellence, Indian Institute of Technology - Kanpur, 1996, 1997
National Talent Search Scholarship, Government of India, 1992-1998