Hey! My name is Rohit Velankar, I’m a freshman in SSOE pursuing MSE with a minor in Architecture-Design. I’m from Pittsburgh, born and raised. I can get excited about almost anything, but my main interests right now are soft robotics, innovative manufacturing, and the intersection between materials and the built environment. All of these factors of my life are reasons that I’m excited to be a part of Plus3 South Korea!
After working with soft robots, which offer a way for technology to interact safely with humans in the physical space, I’m interested in seeing how this safe and collaborative interaction works in the digital space, where we no longer are worried about physical safety, but intuitive and constructive interactions.
In the manufacturing space too, there is a huge potential for smart systems to be implemented. Smart systems in manufacturing can be used for speed and quality optimization, automatically designing toolpaths and processes for new products based on data, and reducing material wastage and environmental impact.
But perhaps one of the most interesting factors of the South Korea program for me is the architecture. Wherever I go, I tend to take note of the architecture styles and the building materials of ordinary or historical buildings, and how they relate to available natural resources and local climate. Korea, being a nation with a somewhat extreme climate, may feature some modern and ancient solutions to extreme heat, humidity, cold, and storms.

Whether for technical knowledge or creative inspiration, I am excited to see what South Korea can offer me.