William R. Michalson

William R. Michalson is a Professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), with dual affiliations in Computer Science and leadership of the Center for Advanced Integrated Radio Navigation (CAIRN). He joined WPI in 1991 after a 12-year engineering career at Raytheon Company.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University (1981)
• MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from WPI (1985)
• PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from WPI (1989)

Professor Michalson's research specializes in navigation systems for GPS-denied environments, with significant contributions to indoor positioning, real-time multiprocessor systems, and parallel computing architectures. His work bridges theoretical navigation principles with practical implementations for public safety applications, particularly through CAIRN's Public Safety Integration Center initiative that combines communications, navigation, and information technologies for emergency response scenarios.

His research group actively develops autonomous systems like SailBot (which won international robotic sailing competitions in 2018 and 2024) and student race car platforms, demonstrating applied navigation solutions in challenging operational environments. The lab focuses on translating theoretical navigation concepts into field-tested systems for both military and civilian use cases.

Professor Michalson teaches robotics curriculum at all academic levels and has pioneered educational approaches including laboratory kit development for robotics engineering. His industry-informed teaching emphasizes system integration and practical problem-solving, preparing students for real-world engineering challenges in navigation and robotics.