Aabha Tamhankar

I am a Robotics Engineering PhD candidate at WPI associated with the FuTURE Lab. My research focuses on autonomous navigation of pre-bent catheterization tools for acute ischemic stroke interventions.

Previously, I completed my Master’s in Robotics Engineering at WPI, where I developed an automated guidance system for lumbar puncture procedures. My thesis, “Automated Guidance for Lumbar Puncture Process”, explored real-time needle localization using ultrasound imaging to enhance procedural accuracy.

My educational values are deeply influenced by insights of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. I believe that excellence comes from a contant pursuit of knowledge, the humility to question what we know, and the courage to embrace what we don’t.

News

• January, '26 - Gave an invited talk at the WPI Robotics Colloquium Series on Towards Autonomous Neuroendovascular Interventions
• January, '26 - An Anatomy-specific Guidewire Shaping Robot for Improved Vascular Navigation accepted at ISMR 2026!
• January, '26 - Contact-aware Path Planning for Autonomous Neuroendovascular Navigation accepted at Robotics & Automation Letters (R-AL)!
• February, '25 - Towards Autonomous Navigation of Neuroendovascular Tools for Timely Stroke Treatment via Contact-aware Path Planning accepted at ISMR 2025!
• August, '24 - Started my PhD at WPI with FuTURE Lab

More...

• May, '24 - Graduated with a Master's in Robotics Engineering from WPI
• April, '24 - Successfully defended my Master's Thesis titled Image Guidance and Safe Insertion Region Localization for Lumbar Puncture using Ultrasound. See post.
• February, '24 - Won People's Choice for GRIE Poster Presentation for my master's thesis. See post
• May, '23 - Started my summer internship at MathWorks, Natick, as an EDG intern.
• August, '22 - Started my Master's in Robotics Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA.