Robotics & Autonomy
Duke MEMS researchers are at work on new control, optimization, learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) methods for autonomous dynamical systems that can make independent intelligent decisions and learn in uncertain, unstructured, and unpredictable environments. We design autonomous systems that span robotics, cyber-physical systems, internet of things, and medicine.
Research Areas
- Autonomous devices and systems
- Control theory and optimization
- Cyber-physical systems
- Human-autonomy systems
- Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Networked and distributed systems
- Nonlinear dynamics
- Robotics and autonomous robotic systems
- Medical and surgical robotics
Centers & Initiatives
Efforts in autonomy led by or in partnership with Duke include:
- US Air Force Office of Scientific Research Center of Excellence for Assured Autonomy in Contested Environments
- NSF TAST: Research Traineeship Program for the Advancement of Surgical Technologies
- Duke Robotics Research Group
Associated Faculty
Joanna Deaton Bertram
Visiting Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Leila Bridgeman
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Boyuan Chen
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Xianyi Cheng
Assistant Professor in the Thomas Lord MEMS Department (starting December 1)
Henri P. Gavin
W.H. Gardner Jr. Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor in the Department of CEE
Brian Mann
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Xiaoyue Ni
Assistant Professor of the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Siobhan Rigby Oca
Assistant Director of Master’s Studies for Robotics and Autonomy, Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Thomas Lord Department of MEMS
Miroslav Pajic
Director of Master’s Studies, Professor in the Department of ECE
Rebecca Simmons
Professor of the Practice in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Lawrence N. Virgin
Director of Graduate Studies, Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of MEMS
Michael Zavlanos
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Other Research Specialties
Explore additional specialty research areas in Duke MEMS and throughout the Pratt School of Engineering.