Dr. Narasimhamurthi “Nattu” Natarajan Sportsmanship Award 

    It is with a heavy heart the entire Competition, including team members, volunteers, and organizers, mourn the loss
    of a fierce, loyal, and fun-loving competitor of Dr. Narasimhamurthi Natarajan (often called “Nattu”) from the
    University of Michigan, Dearborn.

   

    Nattu led over ten competition teams at the Autonomous Snowplow Competition during the first six years,
    one year (2014) competing with three teams from his university. He also led a number of teams at the ION’s past
    Robotic Lawnmower Competitions held in Dayton, Ohio.

    He was an inspiration to his students and those who met him, and was always quick with an insightful analysis,

    followed by a joke and a smile. Nattu will be sadly missed.

    Unfortunately, Nattu passed away from his lung illness on Saturday morning of the 2016 competition, while his two
    University of Michigan, Dearborn teams were competing.  Fittingly, both his teams did well, with one of his teams
    winning the overall 2016 competition.

    In honour of his leadership, the ION’s Autonomous Snowplow Competition has proudly renamed

    its team sportspersonship award as the “Dr. Nattu Golden Smile Award”.

                                          Dr. Narasimhamurthi “Nattu” Natarajan

                                                            The University of Michigan, Dearborn