Dr. Yashwanth Nakka

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Yashwanth Nakka is the director of the Aerospace Robotics Laboratory at Georgia Tech, focusing on the design of aerospace autonomous systems, spacecraft autonomy, planning and guidance, uncertainty, and nonlinear dynamics control. He has previously worked as a Robotics Technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory from 2021 to 2024, leading research in planning, controls, and estimation for projects such as CADRE, EELS, and DARPA LINC. Nakka earned his Bachelor of Technology in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in 2011, followed by a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016, and a Ph.D. in Space Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, which he completed in 2021. His engineering experience includes working on GSAT-15 and GSAT-16 missions with the Indian Space Research Organization from 2011 to 2014. He received the JPL CADRE Team Award for his contributions to multi-agent autonomy and was recognized with a student paper award at the AIAA Guidance and Controls Conference in 2021 for his work presented at the 11th International Workshop on Satellite Constellations and Formation Flying.

Research Interests

Awards

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory CADRE Team Award

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Student Paper Award AIAA Guidance, Control Conference

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David Catherine Thompson Graduate Fellowship Fund Space

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Paper Award 11th International Workshop Satellite Constellations Formation Flying

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Excellent Reviewer Nomination

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Darryl G. Greenmayer Fellowship

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Outstanding Performance Award

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Indian Space Research Organization Scholarship

Requirements for Georgia Institute of Technology

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:19
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:19
Speaking
Required:19
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:5.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Undergraduate degree in computer science or related field
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
Specialization Notes

Department of Computer Science: GRE scores are optional for Fall 2026.