Aaron Ames

Aaron Ames is the Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Control and Dynamical Systems at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He serves as the Undergraduate and Graduate Option Representative for Control and Dynamical Systems and the Undergraduate Option Representative for Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on robotics, nonlinear control, hybrid systems, and cyber-physical systems, with emphasis on bipedal robotic walking and assistive devices.

Education:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, University of St. Thomas (2001)
• M.A. in Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley (2006)
• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California, Berkeley (2006)

Research Interests: Ames’ work bridges theoretical foundations and experimental validation in bipedal robotics, including hybrid systems stability, Zeno behavior, and prosthetic device design. His AMBER Lab develops humanoid robots and exoskeletons to mimic human locomotion. Key themes include safety-critical control, control barrier functions, and real-time optimization.

Awards and Honors:

• NSF CAREER Award (2010)
• Donald P. Eckman Award (2015)
• IEEE Fellow (2021)
• Leon O. Chua Award (2005)

Grants and Labs: Ames leads the AMBER Lab, funded by agencies such as the National Science Foundation, NASA, and industry partners like Disney Imagineering. His research addresses challenges in robotic locomotion, safety, and human-robot interaction. Current projects include humanoid push recovery, exoskeleton gait training, and autonomous inspection robots.