Student Project Topics

Our research group is always looking for motivated students (pursuing B.Tech, Dual Degree, M.Tech, MS and PhD). A list of topics available for students to work on is provided below. Depending on the degree the student is pursuing, the scope of work will be determined. You are always welcome to come discuss your interests with me and are also free to propose topics not listed below. For a list of funded positions available check MS/PhD/PA positions page

HydRA Development

HydRA (Hydrdynamic Response Analysis) is a web application that our group has developed. More information about the application can be obtained here. Some of the topics in this area that I am interested in working on are given below. If any of these interest you or you are interested in discussing an idea of your own under this theme contact me by email.


  1. Mooring module: This project involves the development of a mooring module for HydRA to extend its capabilities to simulate coupled motions of moored offshore structures. The first aspect of the project is the development and validation of a finite element based mooring line module. The second aspect of the project is the development of a visualization of the mooring lines in the web application. The former requires programming in Python while the latter requires proficiency with Javascript.

  2. Forward speed hydrodynamics for ships: This project involves the extension of HydRA for bodies with moderate forward speed. This project will involve the development and validation of the forward speed hydrodynamics while maintaining backward compatibility of the web application. The work will require significant programming in Python and also decent proficiency with understanding the mathematics of the problem.

  3. Second order force calculations: This project involves the development of a module to calculate the second order hydrodynamic forces on floating bodies. These forces are particularly important for simulating the motions of offshore structures like semi-submersibles and TLPs (Tension Leg Platforms). The work will require significant programming in Python and also decent proficiency with understanding the mathematics of the problem.

  4. Irregular frequency removal: When evaluating the frequency dependent hydrodynamic forces on floating bodies, at certain frequencies (known as irregular frequencies) numerical instabilities are observed. On a very broad level, this happens due to numerical resonance. When such spurious frequency results are present, the simulated motions of the vessel exhibit unphysical motion characteristics. This project aims at coming up with methods (rooted in mathematics) to avoid these resonances and hence make simulations more accurate. This work will require significant proficiency with mathematics and good programming skills in Python.

  5. Hydroelastic response computation: Traditionally the floating bodies are considered to be rigid bodies for the purpose of computing hydrodynamic forces on the vessel. However, as the size of these floating structures are increasing over the past years, it is no longer possible to consider these structures are rigid. An example is modern containerships of more than 25000 TEU capacity that span almost 400 meters. Another example is the floating offshore wind turbines (FOWT), where the flexibility of the tower of the turbine plays a significant role in the motions of the platform in the ocean. These structures are more flexible than similar structures from the past and necessitate the consideration of coupled hydrodynamic and structural displacements. This work will involve the extension of HydRA to account for the flexibility of the structure to account for coupled hydroelastic simulations. This work will require significant proficiency with mathematics and good programming skills in Python.

AI and ML Application to Ocean Engineering Problems

Artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques have had a significant success in the development of autonomous cars and now have expanding applications to other fields too. Some of the topics in this area that I am interested in working on are given below. If any of these interest you or you are interested in discussing an idea of your own under this theme contact me by email.

  1. Hydrodynamic object detection using lateral line systems: This project involves the identification of location, size and shape of an object in a flow based on pressure and/or velocity measurements made downstream from the object. The identification approach is designed using neural networks and is inspired from lateral line systems employed by blind fish in mapping their environment by sensing the hydrodynamic flow around thier bodies.

  2. Developing autonomy for a ship to follow COLREGS: This project involves the use of reinforcement learning to develop autonomy for a surface vessel to enable safe operation in the vicinity of other manned and unmanned vessels. The end goal is to ensure that the vessel follows the collision regulations set forth by IMO (COLREGS – Traffic rules for ships).

  3. System identification of hydrodynamic derivatives and coefficients of a vessel from maneuvering data: This project invloves the identification of hydrodynamic derivatives and coefficients from either free running or Planar Motion Mechanism (PMM) test data. The challenge lies in identifying the nonlinear coefficients effectively due to an issue known as multi-colinearity.

  4. Prediction of the occurance of parametric roll: This project involves the use of data driven methods for predicting the occurance of parametric roll incidence in real time to allow the ship master to remedial measures in time to avoid severe roll motion and resulting damage to hull and cargo.

Control Theory Applications to Marine Systems

Some of the topics in this area that I am interested in working on are given below. If any of these interest you or you are interested in discussing an idea of your own under this theme contact me by email.


  1. Active heave compensation: This project involves developing a control strategy for stabilization of a payload suspended from a winch on board a vessel subjected to random seas. These applications require the design of a control algorithm for a winch connected to the load to ensure that the motions of the load and the vessel on which the load is to be positioned are matched while ensuring that the cable does not lose tension at any point in time.

  2. Underactuated control of ships: Ships are usually underactuated, which means that there are two control inputs (propeller speed and rudder angle) that need to control three degrees of freedom (surge, sway and yaw).This project will involve the development and analysis of different nonlinear control algorithms for achieving trajectory tracking and dynamic positioning.

  3. Simultaneuos Localization and Mapping (SLAM): This work requires the development of an environment in ROS and Gazebo for the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) that our group has built. After the development of the environment, the investigation of different coopertaive strategies will be undertaken to map an environment using multiple ASVs. Finally a field deployment of the vehicles will be undertaken for validation. This project requires good mathematical and programming skills and also requires proficiency with ROS, Gazebo and Python.

  4. Controlled berthing of a ship with cooperative autonomous tug boats: Cooperative control of two autonomous tug boats to berth an autonomous ship entering a port channel