J. “ Bob” Balaram | |
|---|---|
_Balaram_(PIA23161).jpg) | |
| Born | (1959-06-28)June 28, 1959 (age 66) |
| Education | Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (MS,Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Chief Engineer forIngenuityhelicopter, which made the first extraterrestrial powered, controlled flight on April 19, 2021 |
| Awards | John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr. Award for Space Exploration from the Space Foundation.[1] |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer and Systems Engineering,space science |
| Institutions | NASAJet Propulsion Laboratory |
J. "Bob" Balaram (born 28 June 1959) is anIndian-Americanscientist andengineer currently working forNational Aeronautics and Space Administration. He is the chief engineer[2][3][4][5][6] and designer ofIngenuity (project name:Mars 2020 helicopter), the firstextraterrestrial aircraft, that was attached underside of car-sizedPerseverance rover that successfully landed on the Mars in February 2021.[7][8][9]
After schooling atRishi Valley School, Balaram completed hisBachelor of Technology course fromIndian Institute of Technology, Madras, India in 1980, and further went to receive hisMS andPh.D. inComputer and SystemsEngineering fromRensselaer Polytechnic Institute,New York.[7][10][11]
Bob joined NASA'sJPL in 1985 after finishing his doctorate.[2] He has been working atJet Propulsion Laboratory for the past 20 years in Mobility &Robotic Systems Department. During his time here, Bob has been actively engaged in the area oftelerobotics technology development for several Mars rovers, planetary balloons, descent and landing technology, and surface mobility technology.[12][13] He is recipient of two NASA awards.[7][14][15]
In 2012MiMi Aung was leading then JPL directorCharles Elachi on a tour of the Autonomous Systems Division. Looking at the drones demonstrating onboard navigation algorithms in one of the labs, Elachi asked, “ Hey, why don't we do that on Mars?” Engineer Bob Balaram briefed Elachi about feasibility, and a week later Elachi told him, “ Okay, I’ve got some study money for you”. By January 2015 NASA agreed to fund the development of a full-size model, which came to be known as the “risk reduction” vehicle.[16]
