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{{short description|Roboticist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and driver of the Mars rovers}}
{{Infobox scientist
| honorific_prefix = Dr.
| name = Vandi Verma
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
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| image = Vandi Verma.jpg
| image_size =
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| alt =
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| birth_name = Vandana Verma
| birth_date = 
| birth_place =
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| other_names = Vandi Verma Tompkins<ref name="maas2019" />
| citizenship =
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| fields = [[Robotics]], [[artificial intelligence]], [[Autonomous robot|autonomous robotic systems]]
| workplaces = [[NASA]]'s [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
| patrons =
| education = [[Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Halwara]]<ref name="mng2019" />
| alma_mater = [[Punjab Engineering College]]<br>[[Carnegie Mellon University]]<ref name="maas2019">{{cite web |title=Getting a Martian driving licence with Vandi Verma Tompkins (JPL) |url=https://maas.museum/program/getting-a-martian-driving-licence-with-vandi-verma-tompkins-jpl/ |website=Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>
| thesis_title = Tractable Particle Filters for Robot Fault Diagnosis<ref name="ri2019">{{cite web |last1=Vandana |first1=Verma |title=Tractable Particle Filters for Robot Fault Diagnosis |url=https://www.ri.cmu.edu/publications/tractable-particle-filters-for-robot-fault-diagnosis/ |website=Robotics Institute Carnegie Mellon |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>
| thesis_url = [https://www.ri.cmu.edu/publications/tractable-particle-filters-for-robot-fault-diagnosis/ thesis]
| thesis_year = 2005
| doctoral_advisor =
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| notable_students =
| known_for = [[Mars Exploration Rover]]s <br/> [[Mars Science Laboratory]]<br>[[PLEXIL]]
| awards =
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}}
'''Vandana "Vandi" Verma''' <ref name="maas2019" /> is a space roboticist at [[NASA]]'s [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] known for driving the [[Mars rover]]s, notably ''[[Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]'' and ''[[Perseverance (rover)|Perseverance]]'', using software including [[PLEXIL]] programming technology that she co-wrote and developed.<ref name="sm2019" /><ref>{{cite web |title=PLAN EXECUTION INTERCHANGE LANGUAGE (PLEXIL) FOR EXECUTABLE PLANS AND COMMAND SEQUENCES |last1=Estlin |first1=Tara |last2=Jonsson |first2=Ari |last3=Pasareanu |first3=Carina |last4=Simmons |first4=Reid |last5=Tso |first5=Kam |last6=Verma |first6=Vandi |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228341796 |website=ResearchGate |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

==Biography==
Verma was born and grew up partly in [[Halwara]], India; her father was a pilot in the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="sm2019">{{cite web |last1=Venkatraman |first1=Vijaysree |title=The space roboticist |url=https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2015/07/space-roboticist |website=Science magazine |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref> She gained her first qualification, a [[bachelor's degree]] in [[electrical engineering]] at [[Punjab Engineering College]] in [[Chandigarh]], India.<ref name="mng2019">{{cite web |title=Vandi Verma |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/people/info.cfm?id=22882 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327131949/http://mars.nasa.gov/people/info.cfm?id=22882 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 March 2015 |website=Mars.nasa.gov |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref> She went on to gain a [[Master's degree|masters]] in [[robotics]] from [[Carnegie Mellon University]] (CMU)
followed by a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] also in robotics from Carnegie Mellon in 2005, with a thesis entitled ''Tractable Particle Filters for Robot Fault Diagnosis''.<ref name="ri2019" /><ref name="rg2019">{{cite web |title=Vandi Verma |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vandi_Verma |website=ResearchGate |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>

At CMU she was involved in a 3-year [[astrobiology]] experimental station in the [[Atacama desert]]. The desert was chosen because of the similarities between its hostile environment and the surface of [[Mars]].<ref name="cmu2019" /> Also at university she won a competition to create a robot that was capable of navigating a maze and collecting balloons which started her interest in robotics in unknown environments.<ref name="maas2019" /> As a student, Verma tested robotic technologies in the Arctic and Antarctic.<ref name="jpl2019" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=Bryan P. |last2=Verma |first2=Vandi |title=The AAAI-2001 Robot Exhibition |journal=AI Magazine |date=2002 |volume=23 |issue=1 |url=https://www.questia.com/magazine/1P3-113907097/the-aaai-2001-robot-exhibition |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

Between studies she gained her pilot's license.<ref name="cmu2019">{{cite web |title=Vandi Verma - Flying High and Achieving Her Dreams |url=http://www.women.cs.cmu.edu/What/Interviews/vandiVerma.php |website=Women @SCS |publisher=Carnegie Mellon University |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Verma |first1=Vandi |title=Anecdotes from Rover Field Operations |url=https://www.ri.cmu.edu/pub_files/pub3/verma_vandi_2000_1/verma_vandi_2000_1.pdf |website=Robotics Institute CMU |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref> She worked first at [[Ames Research Center]] as a [[research scientist]].<ref name="sm2019" />

In 2006 Verma was one of the co-writers of [[PLEXIL]], an [[open source]] programming language now used in automation technologies such as the NASA K10 rover, Mars ''Curiosity'' rover's [[Timeline of Mars Science Laboratory#Images|percussion drill]], [[International Space Station]], [[Mars habitat#NASA|Deep Space Habitat and Habitat Demonstration Unit]], [[Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks]], [[LADEE]] and Autonomy Operating System (AOS).<ref name="ntrs2019">{{cite web |last1=Estlin |first1=Tara |last2=Jonsson |first2=Ari |last3=Pasareanu |first3=Carina |last4=Simmons |first4=Reid |last5=Tso |first5=Kam |last6=Verma |first6=Vandi |title=Plan Execution Interchange Language (PLEXIL) |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20060019246.pdf |website=NASA Technical Reports Server |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="plex2019">{{cite web |title=Bibliography of PLEXIL-related publications, organized by category. |url=http://plexil.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/References |website=Plexil souceforge |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Main page: NASA applications |url=http://plexil.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page#NASA_Applications |website=PLEXIL sourceforge |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

In 2007 Verma joined NASA's [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL) with a special interest in robotics and flight software and became part of the Mars rover team in 2008.<ref name="jpl2019">{{cite web |title=Dr. Vandi Verma Group Supervisor |url=https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Vandi_Verma/personFull.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414102401/http://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Vandi_Verma/personFull.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 April 2009 |website=Jet Propulsion Laboratory |publisher=CIT |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref> She is currently group leader of Autonomous Systems, Mobility and Robotic Systems at JPL.<ref name="rg2019" />

Verma has written academic papers in her field on subjects such as the AEGIS (Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science) targeting system,<ref>{{cite journal|last1 = Francis|first1= Reena| last2=Estlin |first2=Tara |last3=Doran|first3= G |last4=Johnstone|first4= Sancia| last5=Gaines|first5= D |last6=Verma |first6= Vandi|last7=Burl|first7=M |last8=Frydenvang|first8=J |last9=Montaño|first9= S |last10=Wiens|first10=R |last11=Schaffe| first11= S |last12=Gasnault| first12= O |last13=DeFlores|first13= L |last14= Blaney|first14=D |last15=Bornstein|first15=Ben|title = AEGIS autonomous targeting for ChemCam on Mars Science Laboratory: Deployment and results of initial science team use|date= June 2017|pages = 4582|volume = 2|issue= 7|journal = Science Robotics|doi = 10.1126/scirobotics.aan4582|pmid= 33157897|doi-access=free}}</ref> NASA [[Lunar rover]] operation<ref>{{cite web |last1=Verma |first1=Vandi |last2=Baskaran |first2=Vijay |last3=Utz |first3=Hans |last4=Harris |first4=Robert |last5=Fry |first5=Charles |title=Demonstration of Robust Execution on a NASA Lunar Rover Testbed |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228743525 |website=ResearchGate |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref> and robot fault detection, an area she has worked consistently.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Verma |first1=Vandi |last2=Simmons |first2=Reid |title=Scalable robot fault detection and identification |journal=Robotics and Autonomous Systems |date=February 2006 |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=184–191 |doi=10.1016/j.robot.2005.09.028 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223031155 |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

Verma is currently also working on developing flight and flight simulation software systems to be used by the [[Mars 2020]] rover.<ref name="jpl2019" />

Verma also participates in frequent 'open house' events at the lab and online as a [[science communicator]] to encourage children (and particularly girls) into [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] careers.<ref name="mltv2019" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Siders |first1=Jennifer Torres |title=Women from JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech, address high school students. Prospective Applicants Explore Opportunities for Women at Caltech |url=http://www.caltech.edu/news/prospective-applicants-explore-opportunities-women-caltech-79367 |website=Caltech |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="twig2019">{{cite web |title=Life on Mars |url=https://twigeducation.com/blog/life-on-mars/ |website=Twig Education |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

==Mars robotics==
[[File:Mars Opportunity Rover Rock Sample2.JPG|thumb|Mars rover ''Opportunity'' drilling into a rock to retrieve a sample using its robotic arm]]
[[File:Mars Exploration Rover team members on July 21, 2009.jpg| thumb|[[Mars Exploration Rover|MER]] team members Alfonso Herrera, Vandana Verma, Bruce Banerdt, testing ''Spirit'' rover]]
[[File:Mars 'Curiosity' Rover, Spacecraft Assembly Facility, Pasadena, California (2011).jpg|thumb|Mars rover ''Curiosity'', Spacecraft Assembly Facility, Pasadena (2011)]]

Verma has worked on NASA's [[Mars Exploration Rover]] projects since 2008 and has operated all three rovers: MER-A ''[[Spirit (rover)|Spirit]]'' MER-B ''[[Opportunity (rover)|Opportunity]]'' and [[Mars Science Laboratory]]'s ''[[Curiosity (rover)|Curiosity]]''. Verma explains that in order to operate [[robotic spacecraft]] efficiently the team must adjust to the [[Sol (day on Mars)|sol]], or Martian day which is 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35.244 seconds, by beginning each day 40 minutes later. This kind of shift work involves covering the windows at home and work. Verma says "We tend to live by the Mars clock and many have Mars watches."<ref name="bm2019">{{cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Guy |title=Interplanetary driver's licence required |url=http://www.brainstormmag.co.za/innovation/14432-interplanetary-driver-s-licence-required |website=Brainstorm magazine |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref> As of 2018 there have been approximately 12 rover drivers. She explains how driving the rover is an extremely slow operation as commands can take up to 20 minutes to reach the device, so commands are usually performed first as a [[Computer simulation|simulation]] and multiple commands uploaded at a time via NASA's [[NASA Deep Space Network|Deep Space Network]], relaying signals using Mars [[2001 Mars Odyssey|Odyssey orbiter]].<ref name="scot2019" />

Operating the rover involves a large team effort with scientists performing experiments across different fields. A typical set of commands will have involved evaluating previous [[3D reconstruction|3D images]], developing a plan and route to maximize [[Curiosity (rover)#Instruments|exploratory potential]] without risking the rover's safety (including using ''Curiosity'''s 2 meter [[Curiosity (rover)#Robotic arm|robotic arm]]), [[Choreography|choreographing]] and simulating moves and then integrating each step of the sequence into a detailed set of instructions.<ref name="bm2019" /><ref name="mltv2019">{{cite web |title=Vandi Tompkins talk to the Mars Lab |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=U5bQNoeITO0 |website=Mars Lab TV (on YouTube) |time=19'45|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

Verma said in 2012,<ref name="scot2019">{{cite web |title=Scientist whose working day is on Mars |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/scientist-whose-working-day-is-on-mars-1-2452203 |website=The Scotsman |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

{{Cquote|I do realise that I possibly have one of the coolest jobs in the world}}

==Awards==
Verma has received numerous awards for her team work including:
*2008 [[NASA Earth Science]] team award for Intelligent Autonomy Technology Transition Team
*2010 NASA Honors award to the [[Mars Exploration Rover|MER]] Electro-mechanical Failure Mitigation Team
*2013 NASA Honors Award to the [[Mars Science Laboratory|MSL]] to the Motor Control Team
*2013 NASA Honors Award to the MSL Surface Sampling and Science Systems Team
*2013 NASA Honors Award to the MSL Testbed and Simulation Support Equipment Team
*2014 NASA Software of the Year Award, awarded to the Mars Science Laboratory Flight Software Team
*2016 MSL AEGIS Team Award
*2017 MSL CHIMRA (Collection and Handling for In-Situ Martian Rock Analysis) Award for Tunnel Anomaly Recovery<ref name="jpl2019" />

==Other media==
In 2011 Verma appeared in and directed an episode of ''[[Nova ScienceNow]]'' called ''Can We Make It to Mars?''<ref>{{cite web |title=The Other Side of Mars |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809886/fullcredits?ref_=ttspec_sa_1 |website=IMDb |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Shattuck |first1=Kathryn |title=What's On Today |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9E01E6DC143EF93AA25752C0A9679D8B63.html |website=New York Times archive |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>

Verma appears in [[US Air Force]] documentary ''Science in the Extremes'' series 3, episode 6 by [[Seeker (media company)|Seeker]] explaining her 2020 work on Mars' surface.<ref>{{cite web |title=How NASA's Rover Team Reimagined Mars 2020 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=O9YBPRF3o5w |website=Seeker Channel on YouTube |access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref>

In 2018 [[Finland|Finnish]] director Minna Långström made a documentary about Verma and her work with the Mars rover ''Curiosity'' titled ''The Other Side of Mars'' (original Finnish title ''Mars kuvien takaa''). The film focuses on the way images are made, their manipulation and use which shapes our understanding of space and technology.<ref>{{cite web |title=THE OTHER SIDE OF MARS |url=https://cineuropa.org/film/365564 |website=CineEuropa |access-date=7 February 2019}}</ref>
{{wide image|PIA19803-MarsCuriosityRover-AeolisMons-20150411.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|A southward-looking panorama combining images from both cameras of the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover}}

==See also==
*[[Adam Steltzner]]
*[[Anita Sengupta]]
*[[Bobak Ferdowsi]]
*[[List of missions to Mars]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Vandi_Verma/personFull.cfm}}
*[https://napafilms.fi/mars-kuvien-takaa-the-other-side-of-mars-2019/ The Other Side of Mars film site with trailer]
*[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/can-we-make-it-to-mars/ Can We Make It to Mars? Nova episode]
*[https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/lifestyle/how-nasa’s-rover-team-reimagined-mars-2020/vp-BBRUV08 Verma explains NASA's vision for Mars 2020 mission (video on MSN)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verma, Vandi}}
[[Category:Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]
[[Category:Mars Exploration Rover mission]]
[[Category:Mars Science Laboratory]]
[[Category:Mars 2020]]
[[Category:American women computer scientists]]
[[Category:American computer scientists]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Women in space]]
[[Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni]]
[[Category:Robotics software]]
[[Category:Punjab Engineering College alumni]]
[[Category:Women from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Ames Research Center]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Vandi Verma - Revision history

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 2 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5