Robotic, Autonomous, and Aerospace Systems

Our research concentrates on developing intelligent systems; robots that can help the elderly pick up their glasses or grab a tissue require a combination of automated control, actuators, and sensors. Our professors work with cognitive scientists to better understand how to get robots to think and assist people. In another lab, faculty use automation to increase safety, developing algorithms to help quad-copters accurately know where they are and ensure that planes can land safely. We research large systems, with robots such as the Nao or the Baxter, and can make very small systems in our nano-manufacturing facility, where we can fabricate arrays of very small microphones to better understand and control the acoustics in an airplane.

  • Pratap Misra - GPS, emerging satellite navigation systems
  • Jason Rife - Navigation, robotics, controls
  • Chris Rogers - Assistive robotics, educational technology development, engineering education
  • Elaine Schaertl Short - Robotics, assistive technology, human-robot interaction
  • Jivko Sinapov - Developmental robotics, computational perception, artificial intelligence, machine learning
  • Igor Sokolov - Controls in atomic force microscopy, acoustics
  • Robert White - Acoustics, vibrations, MEMS, sensors
  • Matthew Woodward - Robot locomotion, biomechanics, soft robots, multi-agent/swarm, morphological intelligence