Robotics, Dynamics, and Autonomous Systems

“The Robotics, Dynamics, and Autonomous Systems research area integrates principles from mechanics, control theory, mathematics, and systems engineering to understand, model, and control dynamic systems. These systems include robotic manipulators, wearable and assistive robotics, autonomous vehicles, aerial and underwater platforms, and spacecraft and hypersonic vehicles operating in complex and uncertain environments. Core research topics include nonlinear dynamics, feedback control, stability analysis, system identification, motion planning, and real-time optimization. Applications include autonomous navigation, human-robot collaboration, smart infrastructure, intelligent manufacturing systems, and autonomous operation in space and high-speed flight. Current faculty in this area pursue research in multi-robot coordination, adaptive and optimal control, autonomy for aerial, underwater, and space vehicles, and the integration of robotics in cyber-physical system, smart and connected health, and smart manufacturing systems.” 

Lab: https://engineering.virginia.edu/labs-groups/link-lab 

Core Faculty

Hilary Bart-Smith

Professor

Professor Bart-Smith joined the University of Virginia faculty in the fall of 2002. Dr. Bart-Smith came to UVA from Princeton University where she worked at the Princeton Materials Institute with A.G. Evans. Bart-Smith has founded the Multifunctional Materials and Structures Laboratory and the Bio-inspired Engineering Research Laboratory.
Google Scholar Bart-Smith Labs
Email hilary@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-0701

Qing (Cindy) Chang

Professor
Qing Chang’s current research interests include math-based and data-enabled modeling and analysis of dynamic manufacturing systems, improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability through adaptive control and machine learning-based methods, and driving innovation in human-robot collaborations…
Google Scholar ResearchGate Intelligent Systems Lab
Email qc9nq@virginia.edu

Tomonari Furukawa

Professor and Zinn Faculty Scholar Director of VICTOR Lab
Professor Furukawa received his B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from Waseda University, Japan, in 1990, and a M.Eng. (Research) in Mechatronic Engineering from University of Sydney, Australia, in 1993 and a Ph.D in Quantum Engineering and Systems Science from University of Tokyo, Japan, in 1996. He…
Google Scholar
Email tf4rp@virginia.edu

Gavin Garner

Associate Professor

Gavin Garner joined the University of Virginia faculty in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Colby College and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia in both Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. 
Google Scholar Mechatronics Lab
Email gtg7g@Virginia.EDU
Phone (434) 924-7366

Gregory J. Gerling

Interim Department Chair Professor Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Courtesy)

My research interests span the fields of haptics, computational neuroscience, biomechanics, human–machine interaction, UX/UI, and human factors and ergonomics. We investigate cutaneous and proprioceptive cues that convey an object’s softness, and neural and biomechanical bases of social and emotional touch, and soft tissue manipulation or massage.
Google Scholar ResearchGate Gerling Touch Lab YouTube
Email gg7h@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-0533

Christopher Goyne

Professor Director of the UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory

Professor Goyne, after groundbreaking research at his alma mater University of Queensland, Australia, and UVA Engineering, continues his work in hypersonic air-breathing propulsion, supersonic aerodynamics, hypersonic ground and flight test techniques, diagnostic and measurement technique development, controls and advanced manufacturing.
Google Scholar Hypersonic Research at the University of Virginia UVA Hypersonics Research Complex UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics
Email goyne@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-5355

Frank Lagor

Associate Professor

Professor Lagor's current research interests focus on estimation and control for autonomous systems interacting with their fluid environments. He received his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland in 2017, prior to which he worked for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company where he was a Certified Principal Engineer.
Google Scholar
Email flagor@virginia.edu

Daniel Quinn

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering

Associate Professor Quinn first came to the University of Virginia as an undergraduate student in 2006. After graduating, he left to get his PhD at Princeton University, then returned in 2017 to be on the UVA faculty.
Email danquinn@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-9576

Shawn Russell

Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professo, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (Courtesy)

Russell's research interests lie in the increased understanding of the mechanisms of human movement
Google Scholar ResearchGate

Ye (Sarah) Sun

Associate Professor

Sun joined UVA as an associate professor in 2021. Prior to her position at UVA, Sun was an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University.
WEARLab
Email dzv7sg@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 243-5140