Daigo Shishika

Daigo Shishika is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at George Mason University's College of Engineering. His research focuses on autonomy, dynamics, controls, and robotics, particularly in multi-agent systems and cooperative control of robot teams in adversarial environments.

• PhD, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
• Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park
• Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering, University of Tokyo

Dr. Shishika's research interests lie at the intersection of robotics and game theory, with a strong emphasis on multi-robot systems, cooperative control, and adversarial engagement. He explores bio-inspired swarming behaviors—such as those observed in mosquitoes—to design scalable and robust distributed algorithms. His work also investigates deception through motion, dynamic resource allocation, and perimeter defense games, aiming to enable robot teams to operate effectively under uncertainty and limited sensing.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in applying game-theoretic models to multi-robot coordination, especially in security and defense contexts. Themes include dynamic games, adversarial resource allocation, perimeter defense, and distributed decision-making on graphs. These works combine control theory, artificial intelligence, and robotics to solve real-world challenges in autonomous teaming.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Nominated for Best Paper in Cognitive Robotics at IROS 2023

Dr. Shishika advises several PhD students including Vi Rostobaya, Goutam Das, James Berneburg, Manshi Limbu, and Sara Oughourli. His research is supported by funding from DCIST and involves collaborative projects with institutions such as Georgia Tech, University of Pennsylvania, and UC Santa Barbara. He actively recruits motivated students for research in robotics, control, and game theory.

He leads the Collaborative Robotics, Autonomy, and Dynamics Lab at George Mason University, where his team develops autonomous blimps and quadrotors for competitive and research purposes, including participation in the DTR autonomous blimp competition. The lab emphasizes both theoretical advances and practical implementations in robotics.