J. (Bob) Balaram is Principal Member of Technical Staff at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he is with the Mobility & Robotic Systems Section. He received his Ph. D. in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. At JPL he has been active in the area of telerobotics technology development for Mars Rovers, planetary balloon aerobot systems, and multi-mission, high-fidelity Spacecraft simulators for Entry, Descent and Landing and Surface Mobility.

Ph.D Computer & Systems Engineering. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1985.
M.S. Computer & Systems Engineering. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1982.
B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering. Indian Institute of Technology, 1980.

• Principal Member Technical Staff. Mobility & Robotics Section. JPL. Current.
• Beyond Monte-Carlo - Statistical Verification and Validation of Space Systems. Principal Investigator, DRDF, JPL. Current.
• Sherpa System Principal Investigator, Mars Base Technology Program NRA, JPL, May 2004 - July 2008.
• EDL Modeling & Simulation Task Lead, Mars Technology Development Program, JPL, September 2000-Present

• high-fidelity physics-based modeling & simulation
• advanced Monte-Carlo and related methods for verification and validation of space systems
• entry, descent and landing
• applying simulation technology for EDL, rovers, autonomy validation and advanced design environments
• methods for rover and aerobot (aerial robot) navigation
• telerobotic systems