معرفی
Mark A. Minor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah's College of Engineering, where he serves as Director of the Robotics Systems Lab and Coordinator of the Robotics Track within Mechanical Engineering. His research spans multiple domains of robotics including climbing robots, terrain adaptable mobile robots, virtual interfaces, autonomous vehicles, and flying robots. The Robotics Systems Lab under his direction synergizes design, modeling, and control to create novel robotic embodiments with enhanced adaptability, mobility, and immersion.
Dr. Minor's research focuses on the synergistic integration of design, modeling, and control of robotic systems. His lab specializes in several types of robotic systems including climbing robots, terrain adaptable mobile robots, virtual interfaces, autonomous vehicles, and flying robots. With extensive expertise in the design and control of under-actuated nonholonomic systems, kinematic motion control, dynamic motion control, state estimation, sensor development, and data fusion, his work pushes the boundaries of what robotic systems can achieve in challenging environments.
His research portfolio demonstrates a consistent focus on practical robotic applications across multiple domains. Recent work shows increasing emphasis on immersive virtual environments with wind, olfactory, and thermal displays, as well as sophisticated control systems for autonomous vehicles and terrain-adaptive locomotion. The integration of haptic feedback, multi-sensory stimulation, and soft robotics components represents an emerging trend in his research trajectory, bridging the gap between physical robotics and human perception.
Dr. Minor has successfully advised numerous graduate students through completion of their degrees, with alumni now working at institutions including Harbin Institute of Technology, University of Utah, Orbital Sciences Corporation, and Western Digital Corporation. His research has been supported by prestigious sponsors including the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army Night Vision Lab, and industry partners such as ATK Launch System and Kairos Autonomi.
The Robotics Systems Lab, directed by Dr. Minor, maintains several active research projects including Hybrid Mobility Research (investigating robots capable of rolling, walking, and climbing), Autonomous Vehicle Research (particularly related to the DARPA Urban Challenge), Traction Sensing and Control in Wheeled Mobile Robots, Immersive Virtual Environments (including the TreadPort Active Wind Tunnel), and Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robots. The lab continues to push the boundaries of robotic mobility, control, and human-robot interaction.
