MERL - Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories

Arvind Raghunathan

Arvind Raghunathan
Arvind's Quick Links

  • Biography

    Arvind's research focuses on algorithms for optimization of large-scale nonlinear and mixed integer nonlinear programs with applications in power grid, transportation systems and model-based control of processes. He previously worked at the United Technologies Research Center for 7 years developing optimization algorithms for aerospace, elevator, energy systems and security businesses.

  • Recent News & Events


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  • Awards

    •  AWARD    MERL Researchers Win Best Workshop Poster Award at the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)
      Date: June 2, 2023
      Awarded to: Yuki Shirai, Devesh Jha, Arvind Raghunathan and Dennis Hong
      MERL Contacts: Devesh K. Jha; Arvind Raghunathan
      Research Areas: Artificial Intelligence, Optimization, Robotics
      Brief
      • MERL's paper titled: "Closed-Loop Tactile Controller for Tool Manipulation" Won the Best Poster Award in the workshop on "Embracing contacts : Making robots physically interact with our world". First author and MERL intern, Yuki Shirai, was presented with the award at a ceremony held at ICRA in London. MERL researchers Devesh Jha, Principal Research Scientist, and Arvind Raghunathan, Senior Principal Research Scientist and Senior Team Leader as well as Prof. Dennis Hong of University of California, Los Angeles are also coauthors.

        The paper presents a technique to manipulate an object using a tool in a closed-loop fashion using vision-based tactile sensors. More information about the workshop and the various speakers can be found here https://sites.google.com/view/icra2023embracingcontacts/home.
    •  
    •  AWARD    Arvind Raghunathan receives Roberto Tempo Best CDC Paper Award at 2022 IEEE Conference on Decision & Control (CDC)
      Date: December 8, 2022
      Awarded to: Arvind Raghunathan
      MERL Contact: Arvind Raghunathan
      Research Areas: Control, Optimization
      Brief
      • Arvind Raghunathan, Senior Principal Research Scientist in the Data Analytics group, received the IEEE Control Systems Society Roberto Tempo Best CDC Paper Award. The award was presented at the 2022 IEEE Conference on Decision & Control (CDC).

        The award is given annually in honor of Roberto Tempo, the 44th President of the IEEE Control Systems Society (CSS). The Tempo Award Committee selects the best paper from the previous year's CDC based on originality, potential impact on any aspect of control theory, technology, or implementation, and for the clarity of writing. This year's award committee was headed by Prof. Patrizio Colaneri, Politecnico di Milano. Arvind's paper was nominated for the award by Prof. Lorenz Biegler, Carnegie Mellon University, with supporting letters from Prof. Andreas Waechter, Northwestern University, and Prof. Victor Zavala, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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  • Internships with Arvind

    • OR2104: Optimization Algorithms

      MERL is seeking highly motivated intern to work on the development of novel optimization algorithms. The target applications span a broad range of areas including power systems, control, scheduling, and transportation. Successful candidate will collaborate with MERL researchers to develop and implement new algorithms, conduct experiments, and prepare results for publication. Ideal candidate would be senior PhD student with experience in one or more of the following areas: conic programming, active-set methods, and nixed integer programs. Strong programming skills and fluency in C++ and Python are expected. Prior experience with popular optimization packages such as Ipopt, Gurobi, Cplex is a plus. The duration of the internship is expected to be 3 months. Start date is flexible.

    See All Internships at MERL

  • MERL Publications

    •  Shirai, Y., Jha, D.K., Raghunathan, A., "Contact-Aware Covariance Control of Stochastic Contact-Rich Systems", IROS 2023 Workshop on Leveraging Models for Contact-Rich Manipulation, September 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-120 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Shirai2023sep,
      • author = {Shirai, Yuki and Jha, Devesh K. and Raghunathan, Arvind},
      • title = {Contact-Aware Covariance Control of Stochastic Contact-Rich Systems},
      • booktitle = {IROS 2023 Workshop on Leveraging Models for Contact-Rich Manipulation},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = sep,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-120}
      • }
    •  Shaw, S., Jha, D.K., Raghunathan, A., Corcodel, R., Romeres, D., Konidaris, G., Nikovski, D., "Constrained Dynamic Movement Primitives for Collision Avoidance in Novel Environments", IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), September 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-121 PDF Video
      • @inproceedings{Shaw2023sep,
      • author = {Shaw, Seiji and Jha, Devesh K. and Raghunathan, Arvind and Corcodel, Radu and Romeres, Diego and Konidaris, George and Nikovski, Daniel},
      • title = {Constrained Dynamic Movement Primitives for Collision Avoidance in Novel Environments},
      • booktitle = {IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = sep,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-121}
      • }
    •  Zhang, M., Jha, D.K., Raghunathan, A., Hauser, K., "Simultaneous Trajectory Optimization and Contact Selection for Multi-Modal Manipulation Planning", Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS), July 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-078 PDF Video
      • @inproceedings{Zhang2023jul,
      • author = {Zhang, Mengchao and Jha, Devesh K. and Raghunathan, Arvind and Hauser, Kris},
      • title = {Simultaneous Trajectory Optimization and Contact Selection for Multi-Modal Manipulation Planning},
      • booktitle = {Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS)},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = jul,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-078}
      • }
    •  Raghunathan, A., Bergman, D., Hooker, J., Serra, T., Kobori, S., "Seamless Multimodal Transportation Scheduling", Informs Journal on Computing, June 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-076 PDF Data
      • @article{Raghunathan2023jun,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind and Bergman, David and Hooker, John and Serra, Thiago and Kobori, Shingo},
      • title = {Seamless Multimodal Transportation Scheduling},
      • journal = {Informs Journal on Computing},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = jun,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-076}
      • }
    •  Shirai, Y., Jha, D.K., Raghunathan, A., Romeres, D., "Chance-Constrained Optimization in Contact-rich Systems", American Control Conference (ACC), May 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-061 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Shirai2023may4,
      • author = {Shirai, Yuki and Jha, Devesh K. and Raghunathan, Arvind and Romeres, Diego},
      • title = {Chance-Constrained Optimization in Contact-rich Systems},
      • booktitle = {American Control Conference (ACC)},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = may,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-061}
      • }
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  • Other Publications

    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, "Global Optimization of Nonlinear Network Design", SIAM Journal on Optimization, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 268-295, 2013.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2013global,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U},
      • title = {Global Optimization of Nonlinear Network Design},
      • journal = {SIAM Journal on Optimization},
      • year = 2013,
      • volume = 23,
      • number = 1,
      • pages = {268--295},
      • publisher = {Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan and Sudha Krishnamurthy, "A distributed anytime algorithm for maximizing occupant comfort", American Control Conference (ACC), 2012, pp. 1059-1066.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{raghunathan2012distributed,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Krishnamurthy, Sudha},
      • title = {A distributed anytime algorithm for maximizing occupant comfort},
      • booktitle = {American Control Conference (ACC)},
      • year = 2012,
      • pages = {1059--1066},
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  Ashutosh Tewari, Michael J Giering and Arvind Raghunathan, "Parametric Characterization of Multimodal Distributions with Non-Gaussian Modes", IEEE 11th International Conference on Data Mining Workshops (ICDMW), 2011, pp. 286-292.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{tewari2011parametric,
      • author = {Tewari, Ashutosh and Giering, Michael J and Raghunathan, Arvind},
      • title = {Parametric Characterization of Multimodal Distributions with Non-Gaussian Modes},
      • booktitle = {IEEE 11th International Conference on Data Mining Workshops (ICDMW)},
      • year = 2011,
      • pages = {286--292},
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  Umesh Vaidya, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian and Arvind Raghunathan, "Transfer operator method for control in fluid flows", Proceedings of the 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, held jointly with the 28th Chinese Control Conference (CDC/CCC), 2009, pp. 1806-1811.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{vaidya2009transfer,
      • author = {Vaidya, Umesh and Ganapathysubramanian, Baskar and Raghunathan, Arvind},
      • title = {Transfer operator method for control in fluid flows},
      • booktitle = {Proceedings of the 48th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, held jointly with the 28th Chinese Control Conference (CDC/CCC)},
      • year = 2009,
      • pages = {1806--1811},
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  A Diwadkar, U Vaidya and AU Raghunathan, "Lyapunov measure and control of periodic orbit", IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology (EIT), 2008, pp. 48-53.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{diwadkar2008lyapunov,
      • author = {Diwadkar, A and Vaidya, U and Raghunathan, AU},
      • title = {Lyapunov measure and control of periodic orbit},
      • booktitle = {IEEE International Conference on Electro/Information Technology (EIT)},
      • year = 2008,
      • pages = {48--53},
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan and Umesh Vaidya, "Optimal stabilization using Lyapunov measure", American Control Conference (ACC), 2008, pp. 1746-1751.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{raghunathan2008optimal,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Vaidya, Umesh},
      • title = {Optimal stabilization using Lyapunov measure},
      • booktitle = {American Control Conference (ACC)},
      • year = 2008,
      • pages = {1746--1751},
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  Francesco Borrelli, Dharmashankar Subramanian, Arvind U Raghunathan and Lorenz T Biegler, "MILP and NLP techniques for centralized trajectory planning of multiple unmanned air vehicles", American Control Conference (ACC), 2006.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{borrelli2006milp,
      • author = {Borrelli, Francesco and Subramanian, Dharmashankar and Raghunathan, Arvind U and Biegler, Lorenz T},
      • title = {MILP and NLP techniques for centralized trajectory planning of multiple unmanned air vehicles},
      • booktitle = {American Control Conference (ACC)},
      • year = 2006,
      • organization = {IEEE}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, J Ricardo Pérez-Correa, Eduardo Agosin and Lorenz T Biegler, "Parameter estimation in metabolic flux balance models for batch fermentation - Formulation & Solution using Differential Variational Inequalities (DVIs)", Annals of Operations Research, Vol. 148, No. 1, pp. 251-270, 2006.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2006parameter,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Perez-Correa, J Ricardo and Agosin, Eduardo and Biegler, Lorenz T},
      • title = {Parameter estimation in metabolic flux balance models for batch fermentation - Formulation & Solution using Differential Variational Inequalities (DVIs)},
      • journal = {Annals of Operations Research},
      • year = 2006,
      • volume = 148,
      • number = 1,
      • pages = {251--270},
      • publisher = {Springer}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan and Lorenz T Biegler, "An interior point method for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCCs)", SIAM Journal on Optimization, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 720-750, 2005.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2005interior,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Biegler, Lorenz T},
      • title = {An interior point method for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCCs)},
      • journal = {SIAM Journal on Optimization},
      • year = 2005,
      • volume = 15,
      • number = 3,
      • pages = {720--750},
      • publisher = {Philadelphia, Pa.: The Society, c1991-}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, Vipin Gopal, Dharmashankar Subramanian, Lorenz T Biegler and Tariq Samad, "Dynamic optimization strategies for three-dimensional conflict resolution of multiple aircraft", Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 586-594, 2004.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2004dynamic,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Gopal, Vipin and Subramanian, Dharmashankar and Biegler, Lorenz T and Samad, Tariq},
      • title = {Dynamic optimization strategies for three-dimensional conflict resolution of multiple aircraft},
      • journal = {Journal of guidance, control, and dynamics},
      • year = 2004,
      • volume = 27,
      • number = 4,
      • pages = {586--594},
      • publisher = {American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, M Soledad Diaz and Lorenz T Biegler, "An MPEC formulation for dynamic optimization of distillation operations", Computers & chemical engineering, Vol. 28, No. 10, pp. 2037-2052, 2004.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2004mpec,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Soledad Diaz, M and Biegler, Lorenz T},
      • title = {An MPEC formulation for dynamic optimization of distillation operations},
      • journal = {Computers & chemical engineering},
      • year = 2004,
      • volume = 28,
      • number = 10,
      • pages = {2037--2052},
      • publisher = {Elsevier}
      • }
    •  F Borrelli, D Subramanian, AU Raghunathan, LT Biegler and T Samad, "A comparison between mixed integer programming and nonlinear programming techniques for 3d conflict resolution of multiple aircraft," Tech. Rep., Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota, 2003.
      BibTeX
      • @Techreport{borrelli2003comparison,
      • author = {Borrelli, F and Subramanian, D and Raghunathan, AU and Biegler, LT and Samad, T},
      • title = {A comparison between mixed integer programming and nonlinear programming techniques for 3d conflict resolution of multiple aircraft},
      • institution = {Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota},
      • year = 2003,
      • address = {Minnesota, Minneapolis}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, Vipin Gopal, Dharmashankar Subramanian, Lorenz T Biegler and Tariq Samad, "3D conflict resolution of multiple aircraft via dynamic optimization", AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference and Exhibit (AIAA), 2003.
      BibTeX
      • @Inproceedings{raghunathan20033d,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Gopal, Vipin and Subramanian, Dharmashankar and Biegler, Lorenz T and Samad, Tariq},
      • title = {3D conflict resolution of multiple aircraft via dynamic optimization},
      • booktitle = {AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference and Exhibit (AIAA)},
      • year = 2003
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan, J Ricardo Pérez-Correa and Lorenz T Bieger, "Data reconciliation and parameter estimation in flux-balance analysis", Biotechnology and bioengineering, Vol. 84, No. 6, pp. 700-709, 2003.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2003data,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Perez-Correa, J Ricardo and Bieger, Lorenz T},
      • title = {Data reconciliation and parameter estimation in flux-balance analysis},
      • journal = {Biotechnology and bioengineering},
      • year = 2003,
      • volume = 84,
      • number = 6,
      • pages = {700--709},
      • publisher = {Wiley Online Library}
      • }
    •  Arvind U Raghunathan and Lorenz T Biegler, "Mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPECs) in process engineering", Computers & chemical engineering, Vol. 27, No. 10, pp. 1381-1392, 2003.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2003mathematical,
      • author = {Raghunathan, Arvind U and Biegler, Lorenz T},
      • title = {Mathematical programs with equilibrium constraints (MPECs) in process engineering},
      • journal = {Computers & chemical engineering},
      • year = 2003,
      • volume = 27,
      • number = 10,
      • pages = {1381--1392},
      • publisher = {Elsevier}
      • }
    •  A Raghunathan and LT Biegler, "Barrier methods for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCCs)," Tech. Rep., Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Chemical Engineering, 2002.
      BibTeX
      • @Techreport{raghunathan2002barrier,
      • author = {Raghunathan, A and Biegler, LT},
      • title = {Barrier methods for mathematical programs with complementarity constraints (MPCCs)},
      • institution = {Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Chemical Engineering},
      • year = 2002
      • }
    •  A Raghunathan and LT Biegler, "MPEC formulations and algorithms in process engineering", Computers and Chemical Engineering, Vol. 27, pp. 1381-1392, 2002.
      BibTeX
      • @Article{raghunathan2002mpec,
      • author = {Raghunathan, A and Biegler, LT},
      • title = {MPEC formulations and algorithms in process engineering},
      • journal = {Computers and Chemical Engineering},
      • year = 2002,
      • volume = 27,
      • pages = {1381--1392}
      • }

  • Software & Data Downloads

  • Videos

  • MERL Issued Patents

    • Title: "Device for Controlling a System with Polynomial Dynamics"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Nohra, Carlos
      Patent No.: 11,782,402
      Issue Date: Oct 10, 2023
    • Title: "Method and System for Circuiting in Heat Exchangers"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Laughman, Christopher
      Patent No.: 11,704,447
      Issue Date: Jul 18, 2023
    • Title: "System and Method for Policy Optimization using Quasi-Newton Trust Region Method"
      Inventors: Jha, Devesh; Raghunathan, Arvind U; Romeres, Diego
      Patent No.: 11,650,551
      Issue Date: May 16, 2023
    • Title: "System and Method for Scheduling Multiple Modes of Transport with Incomplete Information"
      Inventors: Serra, Thiago; Raghunathan, Arvind U; Bergman, David
      Patent No.: 11,085,781
      Issue Date: Aug 10, 2021
    • Title: "System and Method for Scheduling Electric Generators using Decision Diagrams"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Bergman, David; Hashimoto, Hiroyuki
      Patent No.: 10,969,750
      Issue Date: Apr 6, 2021
    • Title: "Systems and Methods for Resource Allocation for Management Systems"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Bergman, David; Sahinidis, Nikolaos V
      Patent No.: 10,362,139
      Issue Date: Jul 23, 2019
    • Title: "Decentralized Control of Electricity Passing through Electrical Grid"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U
      Patent No.: 10,243,361
      Issue Date: Mar 26, 2019
    • Title: "Optimizing Operations of Multiple Air-Conditioning Units"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Nikovski, Daniel N.
      Patent No.: 10,161,649
      Issue Date: Dec 25, 2018
    • Title: "System and Method for Group Elevator Scheduling Based on Submodular Optimization"
      Inventors: Nikovski, Daniel N.; Raghunathan, Arvind U; Ramalingam, Srikumar
      Patent No.: 10,118,796
      Issue Date: Nov 6, 2018
    • Title: "Optimal Parameter Selection and Acceleration in ADMM for Multi-stage Stochastic Convex Quadratic Programs"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Di Cairano, Stefano
      Patent No.: 9,760,534
      Issue Date: Sep 12, 2017
    • Title: "Method for Solving Quadratic Programs for Convex Sets with Linear Equalities by an Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers with Optimized Step Sizes"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Di Cairano, Stefano
      Patent No.: 9,753,892
      Issue Date: Sep 5, 2017
    • Title: "Method for Determining Object Poses Using Weighted Features"
      Inventors: Tuzel, Oncel; Liu, Ming-Yu; Taguchi, Yuichi; Raghunathan, Arvind U
      Patent No.: 9,280,827
      Issue Date: Mar 8, 2016
    • Title: "System and Method for Optimal Power Flow Analysis"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Nikovski, Daniel N.; Gopalakrishnan, Ajit
      Patent No.: 9,280,744
      Issue Date: Mar 8, 2016
    • Title: "Method for Optimizing Power Flows in Electric Power Networks"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Gopalakrishnan, Ajit; Nikovski, Daniel N.
      Patent No.: 9,184,589
      Issue Date: Nov 10, 2015
    • Title: "Method for Globally Optimizing Power Flows in Electric Networks"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Nikovski, Daniel N.
      Patent No.: 9,093,842
      Issue Date: Jul 28, 2015
    • Title: "System and Method for Optimizing Energy Consumption in Railway Systems with Energy Storage Devices"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Xu, Yunwen; Wada, Toshihiro; Ueda, Kenji; Takahashi, Satoru
      Patent No.: 8,983,690
      Issue Date: Mar 17, 2015
    • Title: "System and Method for Optimizing Energy Consumption in Railway Systems"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U; Wada, Toshihiro; Ueda, Kenji; Takahashi, Satoru
      Patent No.: 8,831,801
      Issue Date: Sep 9, 2014
    • Title: "Method for Optimizing Power Flows in Electric Power Networks"
      Inventors: Raghunathan, Arvind U
      Patent No.: 8,756,556
      Issue Date: Jun 17, 2014
    See All Patents for MERL