High Agility and other Aerial Robots

Overview

Abstract

Robotic flight is as old as aviation itself. It might be argued that today, the only robots to whom humans are OK trusting their lives are Airplanes, Air Trains, Elevators, and Escalators. Flying Robots can take many shapes, motions, and missions. Flying robots where dynamics matters constitute the core of this presentation. To begin with, the aerobatic flight will be discussed as it happened at a time when computer power was limited and flying machines were still running with gas engines. Then, atmospheric reduced-gravity autonomous test platforms will follow, introducing the initial idea first, and continuing with flight tests and future endeavors. Last, a modular fractal aerial robot, together with initial flights tests, will conclude this presentation.

Brief Biography

Eric Feron has been a professor since 1993, first at MIT until 2005, then at Georgia Tech until 2019, and then at KAUST within the Robotics, Intelligent Systems, and Controls (RISC) Laboratory. Feron's interests are in the analysis and design of Aerospace and Robotic systems. Feron's work leverages Computer Science, Operations Research, and Control Theory, three fields he occasionally contributes to. Feron's research also heavily relies on his exposure to and operation of aircraft, small and large boats, submarines, cars, bicycles, skis, skateboards, and rollerblades. His work can be best seen at www.feron.org/Eric