Millen Kanabar

Hello there! I am a PhD Student at the
School of Computer and Communication Sciences, EPFL.

About Me

Hello! I am a second-year PhD student in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL, working with Prof. Michael Gastpar at the Laboratory for Information in Networked Systems (LINX).

I’m primarily interested in information theory, estimation, stochastic optimization, and the applications of the tools used in and/or created for these fields in the inspection of real-world scenarios. In general, I love applied probability (and, to a significant extent, applied mathematics) and modelling and analyzing conceptually complex systems.

I received my B.Tech and M. Tech degrees in electrical engineering, with a Master's specialization in communication and signal processing, from IIT Bombay, where I worked on differentially private distribution estimation with Prof. Nikhil Karamchandani and Prof. Bikash Kumar Dey for my Master's thesis.

I was also fortunate to work with Prof. Jonathan Scarlett at the National University of Singapore, and Prof. Jayakrishnan Nair during my time at IIT Bombay. I was a member of the IIT Bombay Student Satellite Program, where I worked on the Closed Loop Simulation framework as a controls engineer, and later on the team's star tracker as an electrical and systems engineer. More details on these projects can be found below.

Outside of research, I like reading, quizzing, hiking, listening to music, playing cricket, and (especially) complaining. I adore Calvin and Hobbes, and I'm a huge fan of Sandman (now a Netflix series! And while it is quite well-done, I still think the comics did it better :p) and the Warhammer 40k universe (click here for an awesome introduction to WH40k). I also play the tabla and a little bit of the Hindustani flute.

Publications

Journal Papers

Mismatched Rate-Distortion Theory: Ensembles, Bounds, and General Alphabets

Millen Kanabar and Jonathan Scarlett
Under review, IEEE Transactions on Information Theory

In this paper, we consider the mismatched rate-distortion problem, in which the encoding is done using a codebook, and the encoder chooses the minimum-distortion codeword according to a mismatched distortion function that differs from the true one. For the case of discrete memoryless sources, we establish achievable rate-distortion bounds using multi-user coding techniques, namely, superposition coding and expurgated parallel coding. We give examples where these attain the matched rate-distortion trade-off but a standard ensemble with independent codewords fails to do so. On the other hand, in contrast with the channel coding counterpart, we show that there are cases where structured codebooks can perform worse than their unstructured counterparts. In addition, in view of the difficulties in adapting the existing and above-mentioned results to general alphabets, we consider a simpler i.i.d.~random coding ensemble, and establish its achievable rate-distortion bounds for general alphabets.

Conference Papers

Multi-User Random Coding Techniques for Mismatched Rate-Distortion Theory

Millen Kanabar and Jonathan Scarlett
Presented at IEEE ISIT 2022

In this paper, we consider the mismatched rate-distortion problem, in which the encoding is done using a codebook, but the encoder chooses the minimum-distortion codeword according to a mismatched distortion function that differs from the true one. We establish achievable rate-distortion bounds using multi-user coding techniques, specifically, superposition coding and expurgated parallel coding. We give examples where these attain the matched rate-distortion curve but a standard random coding ensemble with independent codewords fails to do so. On the other hand, in contrast with the channel coding counterpart, we show that there are cases where structured codebooks can perform worse than their unstructured counterparts.

Sizing and management of storage and demand response in the renewables-rich smart power grid

Millen Kanabar and Jayakrishnan Nair
Presented at ACM e-Energy 2021 (Notes Paper)

The intermittency and unpredictability of solar and wind generation remains a key challenge as we attempt to transition to a predominantly renewables-powered electricity grid. Two key mechanisms will play a key role in addressing this challenge: dynamic operation of large-scale energy storage, and demand response. In this paper, we analyse the joint management of storage and demand response from the standpoint of a utility. Specifically, we consider a contract-based demand response (DR) model, whereby the utility is allowed curtail the electricity consumption of participating customers (industrial or retail) by at most a certain prescribed amount, subject to a further constraint on how often this curtailment can be applied. Under these constraints, we consider a storage management mechanism, which triggers DR when the charge level on the battery drops below a certain threshold. We derive large buffer asymptotics for this model, which provides tractable approximations of the loss of load probability and the frequency of demand curtailment, as a function of the battery size and the DR parameters.

Survey and Analysis of Payloads for Missions on PSLV’s Orbital Platform

Aniruddha Ranade, Millen Kanabar et al.
Presented at the 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum

In this paper, prospects of the utilization of the 4th stage of ISRO’s PSLV, after the completion of the launch mission, as an orbital platform, to host scientific payloads have been discussed. Payloads from 4 domains - Technological Demonstration, Earth Observation, Microgravity, Biology Experiments and the associated mission concepts have been surveyed, and comments have been made on their suitability to be launched onboard the orbital platform. Technological challenges in achieving these have been highlighted. Based on this analysis, two technology demonstration missions have been proposed by the team.

An Approach to Star Tracker Design for Nano-Satellite Applications

Virul Katla, Millen Kanabar et al.
Presented at NCSSTA 2020

This paper aims to describe the methodology for designing a Star Tracker-based Attitude Determination System (STADS) for small satellites from an overall design- perspective. It intends to fill the void created by the absence of such viewpoints in the existing literature on CubeSat star trackers. The primary focus here is on the system design of the star tracker, currently being developed as a potential payload for ISRO’s PSLV Stage 4 Orbital Platform (PS4- OP). We aim to indigenously develop a star tracker for small satellite applications and make it available for the Indian market. In this paper, we have compiled some of the insights that have helped in making critical design decisions for the star tracker.

Projects

Hover and expand for details. For a more complete list, please refer to my CV.

  • All
  • Research Projects
  • IITB Student Satellite Program

Estimation Under
Label Differential Privacy

Master's Thesis, 2022-Present

Private Information Retrieval
in Multi-Access Channels (MACs)

Research Project, 2021-22

Mismatched Decoding in
Rate-Distortion Theory

Summer Internship, 2021-22,
National University of Singapore

Star Tracker-based
Attitude Determination System (STADS)

Technical Project, 2020-21

Demand Response in Renewable Energy Grids

Research Project, 2020-21

CLS - Advitiy

Closed Loop Simulation framework for
validating satellite attitude control, 2019-20