Minimalist Resilient Robotics for the Planet

Our research lab focuses on the design and control of minimalist robots in challenging environments where environment geometry and dynamics cannot be ignored.

Minimalism is a lens for robotics design that challenges us to solve problems with minimal resources such as energy expenditure, computational complexity, sensor power, etc. Resulting problems and solutions are interesting from both:

• the theoretical perspective (akin to analyzing algorithm run-time/space usage); and
• the practical challenge of scaling up ecological data collection and restoration with robotic technology, while minimizing our environmental impact.

While investigating the boundary of what is possible, we often study systems that use embodied intelligence and/or collective intelligence. Information-processing systems such as robots or animals often “outsource” information processing to their bodies (reflexes, compliant interactions) and/or to other agents (swarms, stigmergy, distributed protocols). We seek to better understand how to rigorously analyze and design such systems to enhance the resiliency of future mobile robotic systems.

We are part of the Department of Computer Science at Western Washington University. Our group develops algorithms, simulators and computer-aided design tools for robotic and cyber-physical systems. We aim to bring theoretical insights to bear on real-world systems, with the goal of maximizing system capabilities while minimizing overall resource usage.

Our research spans topics such as:

• motion, path, and task planning
• resource-denied planning
• underactuated robots
• robot-environment interactions
• energy harvesting
• bio-inspiration and bio-mimicry
• automated design
• formal verification