# DATASHEET: Shantanu Maratha
00. Professional Snapshot
I'm an engineering sophomore at Thapar Institute working at the intersection of hardware and software. I build systems that sense and respond to the real world, with a current focus on IoT and embedded systems.
My core stack includes Embedded C, ESP32, IoT architecture, Python, and the Google Gemini API. I explore how embedded devices can work with modern AI services, with Zephyr Station as one example of my environmental-monitoring work.
Top Skills
PCB Design · Soldering · Electrical Engineering
Languages
English, Hindi, and Punjabi — Native or bilingual proficiency. Japanese — Elementary proficiency.
01. Origin Story
My interest in engineering started when robotics was introduced in school. It wasn't just another subject — it was the first time I actually got pulled into how things work.
While most people treated it like a class, I kept going deeper — opening things up, experimenting, and trying to understand systems instead of just using them.
That curiosity stayed. Now I mostly learn by building — breaking things, fixing them, and repeating the cycle.
02. Why I Build
I don't like building things just to show them off. If something doesn't solve a real problem, it's not worth the time.
Most of my projects are centered around practical impact — whether it's assistive systems like a Smart Blind Stick or environmental monitoring like Zephyr Station.
The goal is simple: make things that actually work in the real world, not just on paper.
03. Startup Experience
Being a core engineer at Ragastra gave me direct exposure to what building a product from scratch actually feels like. Working on a modular maglev-inspired mobility system meant dealing with electromagnetic suspension, wireless power transfer, and system-level cost optimization — all while keeping things buildable.
There was no fixed roadmap — we had to figure things out as we went. From shaping ideas to turning them into working systems, I was involved in making decisions, solving problems, and pushing things forward.
At Grosity, I worked as an early-stage founding engineer, contributing to R&D for autonomous payload-delivery drone systems and helping align engineering decisions with business strategy. It taught me how to move fast in an early-stage environment.
Both experiences forced me to think beyond just code — handling uncertainty, adapting quickly, and focusing on execution instead of overplanning.
It made one thing clear: real-world building is chaotic, and you learn by doing, not by waiting.
04. Offline Mode
When I'm not building, I'm usually reading or thinking about ideas.
I read a mix of self-improvement, philosophy, and technical research — mostly to understand how people think and where technology is heading.
Music is a big part of my routine, and a lot of project ideas actually come from just sitting and thinking.
05. The Dream Build
If I had the resources, I'd work on a Neural-Feedback Prosthetic System.
The idea is to build a prosthetic limb that doesn't just move, but also provides real sensory feedback — allowing the user to feel touch.
It combines embedded systems, sensor integration, and assistive technology — everything I'm currently exploring, but at a much deeper level.
Right now, I'm focused on building smaller systems that move in that direction.
Proud Indian