Thomas Sugar

Thomas Sugar is an Associate Dean at the Barrett Honors College, Polytechnic, and a Professor in the Polytechnic School at Arizona State University. He chairs the graduate programs in engineering and manufacturing engineering. His research focuses on wearable robotics, particularly exoskeletons and prosthetics for improving mobility and worker wellness. Sugar earned degrees in mechanical engineering and business from the University of Pennsylvania. He has held industry roles at W.L. Gore and Associates and has been recognized with awards including ASME Fellow (2015), IEEE Senior Member (2016), and President's Professor (2022). His work spans projects like the SPARKy robotic ankle and collaborations in biomechanical research.

Education: Ph.D. (1999), M.S.E. (1992), and B.S.E. (1991) in Mechanical Engineering, and B.S.E. in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

Research interests include compliant robots using tunable springs and pneumatic actuators, stroke rehabilitation systems, and perceptual principles in human navigation. Key projects include the Spring Ankle with Regenerative Kinetics (SPARKy) and the Hip Exoskeleton for Superior Assistance (HeSA). He has led over 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds patents in robotic actuation and energy harvesting.

Grants include DARPA-funded initiatives like the Four Minute Mile Running project and collaborations with the U.S. Army and Air Force. Sugar advises on wearable robotics standards via ASTM and has served on academic committees at ASU. His lab, part of the Human Machine Integration Lab, develops devices like the Pogo Suit for load assistance and the Cool Suit for thermal regulation in harsh environments.