Robotic Systems Lab - People

  2.  

    Mark A. Minor, PhD

    Robotics Systems Lab, Director

    University of Utah Robotics Track, Mechanical Engineering Co-Director

    NSF Style Bio-sketch

    Current PhD. students:

    1.  Kim, Youngshik, “Motion Planning and Kinematic Control of Cooperative Wheeled Mobile Robots Subject to Physical Constraints,” Start: January 2003,  Expected Graduation:  May 2008.

    2.  Kulkarni, Sandip, "Under-actuated nonlinear control strategies for distributed parameter systems," Start: August 2004,  Expected Graduation:  May 2009

    3. Vogt, Andrew, “Terrain Localization, Mapping, and Planning in Wheeled Mobile Robots,” Start:  July 2006, Expected Graduation: August 2011.

    4. Phipps, Cristian, "Dynamic Planning and Control in Hybrid Mobility Robots", Start: September 2007, Expected Graduation August 2011.

    5. Zhe, Leng, "TBD", Start September 2007, Expected Graduation August 2011.

    Current MS students:

    1.  Fisher, Charles, “Design and Characterization of the Full Scale TreadPort Active Wind Tunnel”, Start: May 2006, Expected Graduation May 2008.

    2.  Hetrick, Andrew, “Trajectory Tracking Control and Speed Moderation in Autonomous Vehicles,” Start: August 2006, Expected Graduation: August 2008.

    3.  Bandaru, Ramya, “Control of autonomous vehicle dynamics,” Start January 2007, Expected Graduation December 2008.

    4.  Fallgater, Cale, “Rapid Prototyping of Complex Objects using a Dexterous Robot,” Start January 2007, Expected Graduation December 2008.

    PhD. Students Graduated:

    1.  Zhu, Xiaorui (Rachel),  “Robust Motion Control Strategies for Cooperative Wheeled Mobile Robots,” August 2002-December 2006.  Occupation:  Assoc. Prof, School of Computer Science and Information Technology, China Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

    Masters Students Graduated

    1.  Phipps, Cristian, “Quasi Steady Rolling Locomotion in Hybrid Mobility Robots,” July 2004-August 2007. Doctoral Student, University of Utah.

    2.  Shigeoka, Katie, “Stabilization and tracking control of ornithopter flight locomotion,” Aug 2004 - December 2006.

    3. Terry, Jared, “Prediction and Control of Terrain Interaction in Wheeled Mobile Robots,” July 2004 - December 2006., Occupation:  Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer, ATK, Magma, UT

    4.  Flickinger, Dan, “Planning and Coordination of mobile robot behavior for medium scale distributed wireless network experiments,” August 2004-December 2006, PhD Student, University of Notre Dame.

    5.  Parker, Craig, “Energetic and Biomechanical Comparisons of Treadmill Slope Display Using Tilt Versus Torso Forces,” Master of Science, May 2002 – Aug. 2005.  Co-advised with John Hollerbach, Occupation: L-3 Communications.

    6. Shores, Benjamin, “Hybrid Climbing and Rolling Mobility for Mobile Robotic Systems,”     Master of Science, Aug. 2002 – Aug. 2005.  Occupation:  Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer, ATK, Magma, UT.

    7.  Merrell, Roy, “Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robots:  Sensor Fusion for Self-Sensing and Global Localization,” Master of Science, Aug. 2001 – Aug. 2005.  Occupation:  Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer, ATK, Magma, UT.

    8.  Norton (formerly Mohammidi), Amir,  “Pneumatic Microactuator Powered by the Deflagration of Sodium Azide,” Master of Science, Aug. 2002 – Dec. 2004, Occupation:  Principal Mechanical Engineer, 1” Mobile Hard Drive Servo Development, Western Digital Corporation, . 

    9.  Krosuri, Satya, “Design, Modeling, Control, and Evaluation of a Hybrid Hip Miniature Climbing Robot,” Master of Science, Jan. 2001 – Dec 2004. Occupation:  Automation Engineer, Boston Scientific, Salt Lake City, UT

    10.  Park, Sungyong, “Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robots:  Control Techniques for Dynamic Stabilization,”            Master of Science, Jan. 2002 – May 2004. Occupation:  Doctoral Student, University California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.

    11.  Hirschi, Chris, “Automated Tether System for Microgravity Extravehicular Activities,” Master of Science, May 2001 – Dec. 2003.  Occupation:  Research Engineer, Sarcos Research, Salt Lake City, UT

    12.  Albiston, Brian, “Compliant Framed Modular Mobile Robots: Motion Planning for Point Stabilization and Path Following,” Master of Science, Jan. 2002-May 2003.  Occupation: Senior Controls Engineer, Sagetech, Inc, Hood River, OR.

    13.  Kim, Youngshik, “Control System Prototyping:  From DSP to Micro-Controller,” Master of Science, Aug. 2001-Jan. 2003. 

    14. Schwensen, Corey, “Control Of A Compliant Fixed-Wheeled Vehicle Via Independent Wheel Control,” Master of  Science, Aug. 2000 - Aug. 2002, Occupation: Senior Automation Engineer, Rosetta Inpharmatics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Seattle, WA.

    15. Jensen, Kent, “An Interactive Robot for Educating College Bound Student about Engineering Disciplines,” Master of Engineering, Aug.  2000 - Aug. 2001, Occupation: US Air Force Pilot, Germany.

    Undergraduate Researchers

    Past NSF (REU) Students:

    1.  Vowles, Marty,  “Embedded control and autonomy of compliant framed wheeled modular mobile robots,” Duration: May 2005-August 2006.

    2.  Fischer, Charles, “Terrain sensing and odometric compensation in wheeled mobile robots,”
      Duration: May 2005-May 2006.

    3.  Merrill, Rob, “Advanced Manufacturing of Terrain Adaptive Mobile Robotic Systems”, Duration:  September 2005-May 2006.

    The following undergraduate research projects were advised as Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) projects or as Independent study projects (ME EN 5920 or ME EN 5950).

    1. Roberts, Jared, “Sonar array integration into an autonomous vehicle for obstacle avoidance”, ME EN 5920, Summer 2007.

    2. Sani, Hamid, “Vision based stop line detection for an autonomous vehicle,” ME EN 5950, Spring 2007.

    3. Scott, Jacob, “Miniature Suction Foot for Climbing Robots,” ME EN 5950, Fall 2002.

    4. Truscott, Tadd, “Selection and Characterization of Inertial Instrumentation Hardware,” ME EN 5950, Spring 2001, Fall 2002.

    5. Fox, Arthur, “Boundary Condition Characterization of a Flexible Frame Element,” ME EN 5920, Summer 2002.

    6. Allison, James, “Instructional Tutorials for Lessons in Particle Dynamics using a Serial Link Manipulator,” UROP, Spring – Summer 2002.

    7. Hoffman, Chad, “Selection and Characterization of a Global Positioning System,” UROP, Spring 2002.

    8. Merrell, Roy, “Micro-controller Interface Programming for a Serial Link Manipulator,” ME EN 5950, Summer 2001.

    9. Anderson, Julia, “Encoder Interfacing for a Serial Link Manipulator,” ME EN 5950, Spring 2001.

    10. Blanchard, Danny, “Instrumentation of a Serial Link Manipulator,” UROP, Spring-Summer 2001.