BALA NAGA PRANAV

Bala Naga Pranav S is an emerging robotics and neuroscience-focused innovator working on applied projects that connect sensing, automation, and sustainability. His work centres on building practical technology solutions using robotics, embedded systems, and intelligent sensing. 

He has led and contributed to multiple research and development projects, including a freshness estimation system for fruits and vegetables using MQ gas sensors, which was later published at an international IEEE conference. His projects combine algorithms, sensor integration, and real-world deployment.

He is also associated with Polymanure, a sustainability-focused project developed with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, which converts plastic waste into nutrient-rich manure using biological processes involving fungi. In addition to project work, he has published research on plant signal extraction, classification, and automated irrigation systems. 

His contributions have been recognised with awards, including a Top 10 selection at an international IoT and machine learning symposium and a Special Jury Award at a national technology fair. He actively shares insights on robotics and neuroscience and continues to build hands-on systems across hardware and software domains.

Bala Naga Pranav S was born in India. He completed his early education at a.k.t. Memorial Vidya Saaket CBSE School from 2013 to 2015 and then attended Modern Senior Secondary School for classes 11 and 12 in 2016-2017. From a young age, he showed interest in science, technology, and problem-solving.

In 2018, Pranav joined Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering, completing it in 2022. During his undergraduate studies, he developed skills in Microsoft Office, software design, algorithms, control systems, and actuators. He also actively participated in projects related to plant signal extraction and analysis, automated irrigation systems, and technology experiments such as SEM filament temperature characterisation and maximum gain detection algorithms for antenna data.

During this period, Pranav worked on the Freshness Estimator for Fruits and Vegetables using MQ Sensors, a project focused on measuring the freshness of produce using gas sensors. This project combined sensor integration, algorithms, and real-world deployment and was later published at the international ICACC 2021 conference.

Pranav was also involved in Polymanure, a sustainability-focused project with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, which converts plastic waste into nutrient-rich manure using fungi. The project focused on providing practical solutions for environmental sustainability by transforming harmful plastics into useful organic manure.

Another early project, AIR ECG, was a wireless device designed for telemedicine. The device allowed individuals to connect ECG electrodes themselves and transmit the data to hospital servers. He also contributed to research on plant signal extraction and classification, integrating automated irrigation systems.

Pranav gained recognition for his work through awards including a Top 10 selection at the International Symposium on IoT and Machine Learning for Ecosystem Restoration & Multi-hazard Resilience (ISIM 2021) and a Special Jury Award at the Anokha National Technology Fair in 2020, sponsored by Cisco.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Pranav joined CynLr in Bengaluru, India. From August 2022 to April 2023, he worked as an Associate in Technology Exploration, focusing on project management, design thinking, and technology evaluation. He was promoted to Founders’ Staff – Technology Exploration in April 2023, holding this role until July 2023.

In February 2022, Pranav undertook an internship as an Application Engineer, gaining practical experience in project implementation and technology solutions. He also worked as a Student Intern at Urban Campus in 2019, contributing to social media and presentation design work.

In 2023, Pranav moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master’s degree in Computational Neuroscience and Cognitive Robotics at the University of Birmingham, completing it in 2024. During this programme, he gained expertise in computational modelling, robotics, intelligent sensing, and design thinking.

In 2024, Pranav co-founded Autman Robotics in London, where he currently serves as Co-Founder and CTO. Autman Robotics focuses on practical robotics and automation solutions. Concurrently, he worked as an Associate Researcher at the University of Wolverhampton (Aug 2024 – Aug 2025) and as a Robotics Engineer at Robocode UK (Feb 2024 – Feb 2025). His work includes hardware and software integration, intelligent sensing, automation, and sustainability-focused projects.

Pranav has published several papers, including:

• Freshness Estimator for Fruits and Vegetables using MQ Sensors (ICACC 2021)
• Plant Signal Extraction and Classification with Built-in Automatic Irrigation System (IEEE Xplore)
• Realisation of SLAM and Object Detection using Ultrasonic Sensor and RGB-HD Camera (IEEE)
• Plant Signal Extraction and Analysis with the Influence of Sound Waves (IEEE)

These publications demonstrate his focus on combining robotics, sensing, algorithms, and real-world deployment.

Currently, Bala Naga Pranav S continues to develop applied robotics systems, intelligent sensing projects, and sustainability-focused innovations. He actively contributes to research in neuroscience, automation, and embedded systems while leading Autman Robotics and collaborating on international research projects.

Bala Naga Pranav S aims to create practical technology solutions that connect robotics, sensing, and sustainability. His work focuses on developing systems that can sense, analyse, and respond to real-world environments efficiently. He believes technology should not only automate tasks but also improve everyday life and the environment. From smart sensing for agriculture to converting plastic waste into useful resources, he combines robotics, embedded systems, and intelligent algorithms to solve real problems. His goal is to build systems that are reliable, scalable, and sustainable, helping both industries and communities through applied innovation.

Pranav’s contributions to robotics, sensing, and sustainability have been recognised internationally and nationally. He was selected as a Top 10 innovator at the International Symposium on IoT and Machine Learning for Ecosystem Restoration & Multi-hazard Resilience (ISIM 2021). He also received a Special Jury Award at the Anokha National Technology Fair in 2020, sponsored by Cisco, for his work on technology projects with real-world impact. His research has been published in IEEE conferences, including work on plant signal extraction, automated irrigation systems, and freshness estimation using sensors, establishing him as a contributor to both academic research and applied technological solutions.