Robert L. Williams II

Robert L. Williams II is a Professor and Assistant Chair of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio University's Russ College of Engineering and Technology. He specializes in robotics, biomechanics, and haptics research. Previously, he worked at NASA Langley Research Center as a space roboticist and held sabbaticals at NIST and the University of Puerto Rico. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1988.

His research focuses on parallel robots, cable-suspended systems, mobile robotics, and haptic interfaces for medical training and simulation. He has published over 47 journal articles and 136 conference papers, secured $4M in external grants, and developed patents like the 'Contour Crafting Cartesian Cable Robot.'

Williams teaches courses such as robotic manipulators and biomechanics, and advises on projects like the NASA JSC ARGOS and Arecibo Reclamation initiatives. His awards include the Russ Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and the Best Research Paper Award in Healthcare Simulation. He also engages in community outreach through robotics education for K-12 students and church music.