Robotics and Motion Control

Machine assistance to improve our quality of life

Vision-guided robotics, autonomous robots, artificial muscles, creative movements—machine-guided solutions and robotic assistance can help us communicate better, tackle labor-intensive and dangerous tasks, conduct surgery and visit harsh environments. 

Whether we’re looking to access a sewer pipe, disarm a bomb or even assist in the caring of our aging population, robots can drastically improve our quality of life. Motion-control innovations like harmonic dampening on buildings to reduce the impact of earthquakes and power electronics to control the loading conditions on wind turbines keep us safer and our infrastructure stronger. From vibration analysis to friction-and-wear optimization to robotic assistance, we’re pushing forward the capabilities of machines to better serve our society. 

Centers and institutes that conduct research in Robotics and Motion Control

Rethink Robotics Baxter robot

Integrated Robotics Institute

Using a cross-discipline approach to bring creativity, knowledge and expertise to the creation of robotic systems, with a specific focus on exploration, intelligence, movement, manufacturing and health care

 

Faculty who conduct research in Robotics and Motion Control

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Alexis E. Block

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
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Changyong (Chase) Cao

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Study the mechanics, designs, and manufacturing of smart multifunctional materials, soft robotics, soft electronics, and self-powered sensing systems.

Soft Machines & Electronics Lab

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M. Cenk Cavusoglu

Nord Professor of Engineering
Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering
Director, Medical Robotics and Computer Integrated Surgery Laboratory

Develops next-generation medical robotic systems for surgery and image-guided interventions

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Zonghe Chua

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

I develop intelligent telerobotic systems that sense and reason about their operator to deliver smart multisensory feedback that enhances the human-robot system performance.

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Kathryn Daltorio

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Co-Director, Biologically-Inspired Robotics Lab

Develops robots that can traverse and operate in new environments, inspired by biological models of smart physical systems

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Robert Gao

Department Chair, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Cady Staley Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Develops multi-physics sensing and stochastic modeling methods for improving observability in dynamical systems

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Mario Garcia-Sanz

Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

Bridges the gap between advanced control theory and energy, industrial and space applications

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Greg Lee

Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

Develops robotic systems

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Michael Lewicki

Professor, Computer and Data Sciences Department

Develops theoretical models of computation and representation in sensory coding and perception

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Wei Lin

Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

Researches nonlinear control, time-delay systems, adaptive control, stochastic stability/control with applications to renewable energy, power systems and smart grid.

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Wyatt Newman

Professor Emeritus, Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering

Designs intelligent robots, machines and software for diverse applications

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Roger Quinn

Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Biologically Inspired Robotics

Develops neural and mechanical models of animals and uses data to design and control robots and exoskeletons

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Brian Taylor

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Uses engineering approaches to understand biological sensation and navigation, and leverages biological understanding to develop novel engineered autonomous systems.