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Michael RubensteinView profile

Associate Professor

• Multi-Robot Systems
• Swarm Robotics
• Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robots
• +4 more

Michael Rubenstein is an Associate Professor with joint appointments in the Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering departments at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. He holds the Lisa Wissner-Slivka and Benjamin Slivka Professorship. His research focuses on multi-robot systems, swarm robotics, and bio-inspired robotics, emphasizing scalable control and design for large robotic collectives. Ph.D. in Computer Science from University of Southern California (2009) M.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Southern California (2005) B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University (2003) Research interests include swarm intelligence, self-assembly, and fault-tolerant systems. He has pioneered platforms like Kilobot and FireAnt, enabling affordable, large-scale robotic swarms. His work bridges robotics with biology, addressing challenges in distributed control and collective behavior. Key publications highlight advancements in swarm formation control, self-healing algorithms, and modular robotics. Recent trends emphasize environmental adaptation and decentralized systems. He has received awards such as the Sloan Fellowship and holds patents in robotic connectivity and sensing. Advises PhD students including Hanlin Wang and Petras Swissler Recipient of grants from DARPA and NSF Develops courses like 'Applied Mechatronics' and 'Special Topics in Swarms' Labs/Teams: Lead researcher in the Self-Organizing Systems Group, contributing to open-source robotics tools and educational platforms.

Shuhei MiyashitaView profile

Lecturer

• Robotics
• Microrobotics
• Self-assembling systems
• +5 more

Dr. Shuhei Miyashita is a Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Sheffield's Automatic Control and Systems Engineering Department. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich (2011) and has held positions at MIT (2011–2015), Carnegie Mellon University (2011–2015), and the University of York (2016–2018). His research focuses on microrobotics, self-assembling systems, biomedical robotics, and metamaterials, with applications in medical technology and 4D printing. He leads the Sheffield Microrobotics Lab, advancing innovations in programmable materials and robotic systems for healthcare and engineering. Dr. Miyashita's academic journey includes postdoctoral research at top institutions and teaching roles in mechatronics and robotics. His work bridges theoretical robotics with practical applications, emphasizing self-assembly, adaptive systems, and medical robotics. His lab develops cutting-edge solutions for tissue regeneration, ingestible robots, and modular robotic systems. Key research themes include magnetic actuation, origami-inspired engineering, and temperature-responsive materials. He collaborates internationally, contributing to advancements in robotic systems for surgery and environmental adaptation. His publications span journals like Science Robotics , IEEE Transactions , and Nature -affiliated journals, reflecting interdisciplinary impact. Awards and recognition are not explicitly listed in the provided texts, but his prolific publication record and leadership in robotics innovation highlight his contributions to the field. Teaching responsibilities include courses on mechatronics, emphasizing hands-on design and control systems.

James SturmView profile

Professor

• Microelectronics
• Macroelectronics
• VLSI Technology
• +5 more

James C. Sturm is the Stephen R. Forrest Professor of Electrical Engineering and Associated Faculty at the Princeton Materials Institute. He leads the Sturm Lab, focusing on materials, processing, and devices for microelectronics and macroelectronics. His work spans silicon-based heterojunctions, three-dimensional integration, and large-area electronics for flexible displays and biomedical applications. He holds a B.S.E. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. His research bridges nanoscale device scaling and low-cost, large-area manufacturing technologies for organic semiconductors and TFTs. Key research areas include VLSI scaling, optoelectronics, and applications of zinc-oxide thin-film transistors (ZnO TFTs) for GHz circuits. He has pioneered methods for microfluidic cell processing and structural health monitoring using sensing sheets. His lab develops soft robotics and hybrid LAE-CMOS systems for tactile sensing skins. Education: Ph.D., Stanford University, 1985 M.S.E.E., Stanford University, 1981 B.S.E., Electrical Engineering (Engineering Physics), Princeton University, 1979 His publications highlight breakthroughs in GHz-frequency electronics, piezoelectric robotics, and large-area RFID systems. Awards include the IEEE Fellowship and Princeton’s President’s Distinguished Teaching Award. He advises students in microelectronics, macroelectronics, and biomedical engineering. Recent work integrates AI with large-area electronics for smart spaces and explores drug gradient effects on cancer cell evolution. The Sturm Lab collaborates on projects like the 'evolution accelerator' for real-time cancer cell observation and 3D semiconductor integration with industrial FDSOI platforms.

Jamie PaikView profile

Professor

• Soft Robotics
• Origami Robotics
• Wearable Technologies
• +4 more

Prof. Jamie Paik is a Full Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), where she serves as Director of the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) and is a core member of the Swiss NCCR robotics group. She holds multiple academic appointments across EPFL's School of Engineering, including positions in the Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IGM), STI-SMT SMT-ENS, and STI-SGM SGM-ENS. Additionally, she serves as a PhD program committee member for the Doctoral Program in Robotics, Control and Intelligent Systems. Her research focuses primarily on soft robotics , origami-inspired robotics , and wearable technologies . Prof. Paik's work leverages multi-material fabrication and smart material actuation to develop novel robotic designs that push the physical limits of materials and mechanisms. Her current research includes self-morphing Robogami (robotic origami) that transforms from planar shapes to 2D or 3D structures through predefined folding patterns, similar to traditional paper origami. Prof. Paik has published extensively on robotic origami, haptic feedback systems, and soft actuators, with her most recent work (2024-2025) focusing on vibration of soft twisted beams for locomotion, semi-autonomous surgical assistance, plug-and-play pneumatic systems, and data-driven kinematic modeling. Her research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward more adaptive, reconfigurable robotic systems with applications in surgery, human-robot interaction, and wearable technologies. Among her notable achievements, she developed a 7-DoF humanoid arm during her PhD at Seoul National University (sponsored by Samsung Electronics), which was the lightest in literature at that time (3.7kg including the 8-DoF hand). During postdoctoral work at Pierre Marie Curie University, she developed the internationally patented JAiMY laparoscopic tools now commercialized by Endocontrol-medical.com. PhD: Seoul National University (Humanoid Arm and Hand Design) Postdoc: Institut des Systems Intelligents et de Robotic, Université Pierre Marie Curie Postdoc: Harvard University's Microrobotics Laboratory Prof. Paik has supervised numerous PhD students, both current and past, including Bakir Alihan, Demirtas Serhat, Jiang Shaopeng, Kanno Ryo, Schüssler Alexander Michael, and Wang Ziqiao. Her teaching includes Topics in Autonomous Robotics, Mechanical Product Design and Development, and Advanced Design for Sustainable Future.

Rodrigo Moreno GarciaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Robotics
• Evolutionary Robotics
• Modular Robots
• +5 more

Rodrigo Moreno Garcia is an Assistant Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen, specializing in Robotics, Evolutionary Computation, and Systems Engineering. He actively contributes to research in modular robots, human-robot interaction, and automated chemical processes, with affiliations to the Robotics, Evolution, and Art Lab and Robotics, Evolution and Artificial Life Lab. Academic Rank: Assistant Professor Institution: IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) Research Focus: His work spans evolutionary robotics, sensor design for liquid-liquid extraction, AI-driven morphological optimization, and materials acceleration platforms for battery research. Key areas include modular robotics , human-machine interfaces , and self-reconfigurable systems . Recent Publications explore neural cellular automata for classification, constraints in hardware evolution, and sensor innovations for industrial processes. Trends highlight interdisciplinary integration of AI, robotics, and chemical engineering. Awards: Recipient of the Honorable Mention for Technical Achievement at GECCO 2017 for virtual creatures research.

Jonathan M. AitkenView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Autonomous robotics
• Computer vision
• Spatial awareness in robotic systems
• +4 more

Dr. Jonathan M. Aitken is a Senior Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Sheffield's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Previously a Research Fellow at the Autonomous Control Laboratory (ACSE), his work focuses on autonomous robotic systems with emphasis on quadcopters, computer vision, spatial awareness, and multi-robot collaboration. Expert in safe autonomous drone deployment Specializes in collaborative robotics (cobots) Qualified UK commercial drone pilot Research spans: Autonomous reconfiguration of robotic systems Dynamic risk assessment for systems-of-systems Visual SLAM for feature-sparse environments Formal verification of UAS systems Human-robot co-working interfaces Recent publications examine: Robust localization in sewer pipes Visual saliency algorithms for mobile robots Cobotic safety controller synthesis Modular digital twinning frameworks Spatial awareness for multi-robot teams Major grants include EPSRC Programme Grants for buried pipe sensing and Lloyds Registry Foundation funding for cobot safety integration.

Frederico Fernandes Afonso SilvaView profile

Research Fellow

• Robotics
• Robot Dynamics
• Dual Quaternion Algebra
• +3 more

Frederico Fernandes Afonso Silva is a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, working on the Reconfigurable Robots for Inhospitable Environments (REINE) project, funded through UKRI Horizon Europe. His research focuses on robot dynamics and dual quaternion algebra, with applications in nuclear decommissioning and modular robotics. Education: PhD in Electrical Engineering (2017–2022), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil) MSc in Electrical Engineering (2015–2017), UFMG BSc in Control and Automation Engineering (2009–2015), UFMG Research Interests: Robotics dynamics, dual quaternion algebra, modular robotics systems, control strategies for mobile manipulators, and nuclear robotics applications. Recent Research Trends: His work emphasizes dual quaternion-based approaches for modeling and control, particularly in mobile manipulators and reconfigurable systems. Key areas include real-time motion planning, dynamic modeling of branched robots, and feedback linearization techniques. Awards: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023) Advising/Grants: Postdoctoral research at UFMG (2022–2023) and Technische Universität München (2023). Current funding via REINE project under UKRI Horizon Europe guarantee (EP/Y024508/1). Labs/Teams: Involved in the REINE project team at the University of Manchester, focusing on modular self-reconfigurable robotics for harsh environments.

José Fernando Lopes BarbosaView profile

Adjunct Professor

• Cyber-Physical Systems
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Manufacturing Automation
• +3 more

José Barbosa is a Senior Researcher at the Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI) and an Invited Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal. He holds a PhD in Automation and Computer Science from the University of Valenciennes (France) and has extensive experience in European-funded projects like ARUM, GRACE, DA.RE, GO0DMAN, and PERFoRM. His expertise spans Cyber-Physical Systems, Multi-Agent Systems, and manufacturing automation, with over 40 international publications. Research focuses on self-organizing manufacturing architectures, digital twins, and bio-inspired mechanisms. He teaches courses including Microcontroller/Microprocessor Systems, Automation, and Electric Propulsion. Projects emphasize Industry 4.0, zero-defect manufacturing, and intelligent products. His work intersects IoT, data analytics, and human-machine integration in industrial systems.

Yildirim HurmuzluView profile

Professor

• Robotics
• Control Systems
• Dynamics and Vibrations
• +3 more

Yildirim Hurmuzlu holds the dual distinguished professorships of Altshuler Distinguished Professor and University Distinguished Professor within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University. His primary affiliation is explicitly stated with his office located in Embrey 301C, confirming active faculty status in mechanical engineering research and instruction. His research interests focus on Robotics, Control Systems, and Dynamics and Vibrations, particularly examining rigid body collision mechanics, bipedal locomotion stability, and magnetic actuation for micro-scale robotics. Key specialties include impact dynamics in kinematic chains, nonlinear control of inverted pendulum systems, haptic interface design for medical applications, and aerospace robotics for space debris mitigation. This work bridges theoretical dynamics with practical implementations in robotic inspection systems and human digital twin technologies. Recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a strategic shift toward magnetic millirobotics for industrial inspection and modular assembly, while maintaining foundational work in impact dynamics. Aerospace applications now dominate new research strands, especially human digital twins for manufacturing quality assurance and tethered satellite control for space debris removal. Medical haptics remains a consistent theme with continued development of virtual palpation systems. Awards include: Altshuler Distinguished Professor University Distinguished Professor No student advising records or grant funding details were provided in the source material. His departmental affiliation confirms leadership in robotics and dynamics research without explicit mention of labs or teams, though his work implies substantial involvement in experimental robotic systems development through repeated references to design, control, and implementation.

Casper SchouView profile

Associate Professor

• Smart Manufacturing
• Robotics and Automation
• Modular Production Systems
• +4 more

Casper Schou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Materials and Production, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University. He leads the AAU Smart Production Lab and AAU 5G Smart Lab, focusing on adaptable material flow technologies, matrix/swarm manufacturing, and skill-based robot programming. Research spans industrial robotics, smart manufacturing, and 5G-enabled autonomous systems Collaborates with WZL Aachen, LEGO, Danfoss, and Novo Nordisk Research Interests: His work bridges theoretical insights with industrial applications, emphasizing modular production topologies, mobile robot assistants, and digital twins. Projects include 5G-enabled autonomous mobile robots and swarm production systems for kitting. Article Trends: Recent publications address multi-robot simulation frameworks, digital twin integration, and 5G-enabled automation. Keywords include swarm production, Industry 4.0, and pharmaceutical manufacturing innovations. Scientific Awards: Finalist for Otto Mønsted Foundation's MADE Award (2020) Network and Labs: Coordinates EU and national projects, maintains labs for smart production, and collaborates with international institutions like University of California and Seoul National University.

• Industrial Management
• Digital Twins
• Manufacturing Systems
• +4 more

Irinakis Pavlos is an Associate Professor at the University of Piraeus, affiliated with the Department of Industrial Management and Technology within the School of Shipping and Industry. His academic career spans industrial engineering, digital transformation, and optimization methodologies applied to manufacturing and maritime sectors. His research interests encompass a broad spectrum of industrial technologies including digital twins for industrial applications, manufacturing systems optimization, process industries, and maritime technology. His work bridges theoretical computer science concepts with practical industrial implementations, demonstrating a strong focus on Industry 4.0 technologies and their applications. Recent publications (2021-2025) reveal a significant emphasis on digital twin technology for industrial water management, production re-configurability, energy-efficient robotics, and optimization of LPG production. His research demonstrates a consistent progression from theoretical optimization methods toward practical industrial applications, particularly in manufacturing and maritime contexts. His work shows strong connections between operations research, mathematical optimization, and industrial applications, with increasing focus on cognitive systems and real-time analytics in recent years. The publication trend indicates active research engagement with multiple high-impact papers annually across leading industrial engineering and operations research venues. Pavlos maintains strong institutional affiliation with the University of Piraeus, contributing to both teaching and research activities within the Department of Industrial Management and Technology, which serves as a nexus between industrial engineering principles and technological innovation in Greek manufacturing and maritime sectors.

Benoit PirandaView profile

Associate Professor

• Distributed Algorithms
• Modular Robotics
• Programmable Matter
• +4 more

Benoit Piranda is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Franche-Comté , affiliated with the FEMTO-ST Institute and its Complex Networks Team (DISC/OMNI) . He leads the development of VisibleSim , a parallel behavioral simulator for modular robots. University: University of Franche-Comté Institute: FEMTO-ST Team: DISC/OMNI Role: Researcher & Software Developer Research Focus: Distributed algorithms for modular robots, programmable matter, physical simulations, and parallel execution environments. His work spans self-reconfiguration, communication protocols, and efficient scene encoding for large-scale robotic systems. Article Trends: Recent publications highlight advancements in 2D/3D lattice modular robot algorithms Porous structure reconfiguration Time synchronization protocols VisibleSim simulation framework Multi-scale distributed displays Security protocols for programmable matter Conference Involvement: Active in program committees for DARS, IEEE ATC, IROS, and AINA. Former Publicity Chair positions.

• Robotics
• Self-Reconfigurable Robots
• Computer Science Education
• +3 more

Zack J. Butler is a Professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology , with a career spanning robotics, self-reconfigurable systems, and computer science education. He has co-authored over 75 publications from 1998–2025, focusing on distributed control, task allocation, and educational innovations. Key Research Areas: Robotics, self-reconfigurable modular systems, computer science education, distributed algorithms, and educational propagation. Article Trends: Recent work explores conversational propagation of educational methods (e.g., with Philip Guo, Joanna Goode) and AI-driven research assistance (e.g., ChatGPT applications). Earlier robotics research includes locomotion algorithms for large modular robots and decentralized control systems. Collaborations: Notable co-authors include Daniela Rus, David P. Bunde, Ivona Bezáková, and Christopher Hovey. He has contributed to journals like Inroads and conferences such as SIGCSE, ICRA, and IROS.

Rodrigo I. SilveiraView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Geometry
• Combinatorial Geometry
• Geographic Information Science (GIS)
• +7 more

Rodrigo I. Silveira is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), where he conducts research in computational and combinatorial geometry. He is a member of the UPC research group on Discrete, Combinatorial and Computational Geometry and has a strong academic background, having earned his PhD at Utrecht University under Marc van Kreveld and completed prior studies at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. His research focuses on Computational Geometry , particularly problems arising from Geographic Information Science (GIS) , such as map construction, trajectory analysis, and visibility. He also works on Graph Drawing and algorithms for geometric structures. His work combines theoretical algorithm design with practical applications in spatial data. His recent publications reflect a consistent trend in geometric algorithms, including shortest paths in complex environments (e.g., portalgons), Voronoi diagrams with color constraints, robot motion coordination, and map inference from GPS data. These works appear in top-tier journals and conferences such as Algorithmica , Computational Geometry: Theory and Applications , SoCG, WADS, and LATIN. He has received scientific recognition, including a Best Paper Award at AGILE 2009 and another at SpatialGems 2021. He has supervised several PhD students to completion, including Guilermo Esteban (2024) and Pilar Cano (2020), and continues to advise current students. Rodrigo has been deeply involved in the academic community, organizing major events such as the European Workshop on Computational Geometry (EuroCG 2023), Graph Drawing 2018, and the Intensive Research Program on Discrete Geometry (2018). He has served on the program committees of SoCG, WADS, LATIN, and CCCG, and has chaired tracks for EGC and CG:YRF. His work is supported by collaborations with leading researchers such as Kevin Buchin, Maarten Löffler, Prosenjit Bose, and Vera Sacristán, and he contributes to both theoretical advances and practical implementations in geometric computing.

Florian HartmannView profile

Researcher

• Soft Robotics
• Additive Manufacturing
• Sustainable Technology
• +3 more

Dr. Florian Hartmann is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems , where he heads the Biomimetic Materials and Machines Group . His work bridges soft robotics , functional material design , and sustainable technology , with applications in environmental monitoring and agriculture . PhD in Technical Sciences (2021), Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria Postdoctoral research (2021–2023) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland His research focuses on: Soft robotics and electrohydraulic actuators Additive manufacturing of functional materials Biodegradable and sustainable components Stretchable electronics for robotics The Biomimetic Materials and Machines Group develops technologies like self-healing actuators , biogels , and degradable robotics , emphasizing environmental impact reduction and agricultural applications . Publications highlight interdisciplinary innovation in microfabrication , polymer chemistry , and electromagnetic actuation . Contact: hartmann@is.mpg.de