David Saldaña

David Saldaña is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Lehigh University. He leads the SwarmsLab and contributes to the Autonomous and Intelligent Robotics (AIR) Lab. His research focuses on multi-robot systems, swarm robotics, and aerial manipulation, with applications in environmental monitoring, disaster response, and construction. Saldaña’s work emphasizes resilient and adaptive robotic systems for dynamic environments.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science (2017) from Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
• M.Sc. & B.Sc. in Systems Engineering (2012 & 2005) from Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Research interests include artificial intelligence, robotics, resilient robot swarms, and environmental monitoring. His NSF CAREER Award supports research on aerial robotics manipulating flexible materials in real-time. Notable projects include the MochiSwarm testbed and the Spinning Blimp design. Saldaña’s work bridges theoretical robotics with practical applications like disaster response and autonomous systems.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award

Grants include funding from the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research. His research team has achieved recognition in drone competitions and media coverage for innovative aerial robotics solutions.

Labs/Teams: SwarmsLab (lead), AIR Lab (collaboration). Focus areas include modular robotics, swarm coordination, and fault-tolerant systems.