Group Director:
Administrative assistant
Narin Seraydarian (from October 1, 2023)
Research Scientists/Engineers and POSTDOCs
Dr. Matt Anderson
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of SydneyDr. James Preiss (co-advised with Prof. Yisong Yue)
Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Southern CaliforniaDr. Xingxing Zuo (co-advised with Prof. Georgia Gkioxari)
Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityJoshua Cho
B.S, M.S. in Robotics, Northwestern UniversityHannah Grauer
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, CaltechJedidiah Alindogan
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, CaltechVincenzo Capuano (guest)
Ph.D. Students
Sorina Lupu (GALCIT)
M.S., EPFL
M.S. in Aerospace, CaltechJimmy Ragan (GALCIT)
M.S. in Space Engineering, Caltech
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of WashingtonNikhil Ranganathan (GALCIT)
M.S. in Space Engineering, Caltech
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Cornell UniversityJohn Lathrop (CDS)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, University of MarylandFengze Xie (CMS), co-advised with Prof. Yisong Yue
M.E in Electrical Engineering, Caltech
B.S. in Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignJoshua Ibrahim (CDS), co-advised with Prof. Eric Mazumdar
B.S., M.S., University of PennsylvaniaYujin An (BE)
M.S. KAISTJoudi Hajar (EE), co-advised
M.S. ETH, ZurichSatvik Kumar (GALCIT)
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Georgia TechHaeyoon Han (CDS)
B.S., M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, KAIST
Visiting Faculty and Visiting PhD Students
Anthony Clark, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Pomona College
Dzenan Lapandic, Former Visiting PhD student, KTH
Daniel Mitchell, Former Visiting PhD student, University of Glasgow
Arion Zimmermann, Visiting MS student, EPFL
SURF/WAVE/AMP Undergraduate students
2019. Brian Cruz, Aaron Feldman, Yvette Lin, Jamie Littman, Austin McCoy, Zoe Rock, Jennifer Sun; Saskia Van Nieuwstadt, Yasmin Veys, Anya Vinogradsky, Asta Wu, Sarah Zou, Isaac Perrin; Kasey Adams, Sauhaarda Chowdhuri, Brad Villacis, Gabriel Goch, Muhammad Moughal
2018. Anuj Chadha, Asta Wu, David Elliott, Elaine Lowinger, Evan Yu,Irene Crowell, Joshua Fernandez, Juliette Hu, Karen Chen, Michael Brown, Michael Iovine, Qifan Wang, Ruoyun Zheng, Anuj Chadha, Brendan Hollaway
2017. Michelle Zhao, Aditya Telikicherla, Jui Hung (Ray) Sun, Suzanne H. Oliver, Prinesh K. Mistry, Qifan (William) Wang, Hyung Ju (Terry) Suh, Yunsang Choi.
Former MemBERs who are professors
Prof. James Preiss, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, University of California, Santa Barbara
Prof. Yashwanth Nakka, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Prof. SooJean Han, Assistant Professor of Electrical Enginering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Tecnology
Prof. Lu Gan, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Prof. Giusy Falcone (former visiting MS student), Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering (starting in January 2024), University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor
Prof. Hiroyasu Tsukamoto, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering (starting in 2024), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Prof. Kyunam Kim, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University
Prof. Guanya Shi, Assistant Professor, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
Prof. Wolfgang Hoenig, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Technical University of Berlin
Prof. Alireza Ramezani, Assistant Professor, EECS, Northeastern University
Dr. Aditya Paranjape, Associate Professor, Monash University, Previously, Lecturer in Aerial Robotics, Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London
Prof. Ashwin Dani, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Connecticut
Prof. Jingjin Yu, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University
Prof. Animesh Chakravarthy, Associate Professor, University of Texas, Arlington
Former PhD Students
Benjamin P. Riviere (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Aeronautics, Caltech
M.S. in AE, Caltech
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford UniversityConnor T. Lee (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, Caltech
M.S. in Aeronautics, Caltech
B.S. in Computer Science, CaltechKai Matsuka (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, Caltech
M.S. in AE, Caltech
B.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
Currently with TeslaHiroyasu Tsukamoto (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, Caltech
M.S. in AE, Caltech
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Kyoto University
Currently with Caltech and JPL, Incoming Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignMichael O’Connell (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, Caltech
M.S. in AE, Caltech
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Currently with Northrop Grumman CorporationSooJean Han (CDS), co-advised with Prof. John Doyle
Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems, Caltech
B.S. in EECS and Applied Mathematics, University of California, Berkeley
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyEllande Tang (MCE)
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Caltech, 2022
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Caltech
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Currently with the Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins UniversityGuanya Shi (CDS), co-advised with Yisong Yue
B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University
Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems, Caltech, 2022
Currently, Assistant Professor, Robotics Institute, CMUYashwanth Kumar Nakka (GALCIT)
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2021
M.S. in AE, Caltech
M.S. in AE, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.S. in AE, Indian Institute of Space Science and technology (IIST)
Currently with the Jet Propulsion LaboratoryKarena Cai (CDS), co-advised with Prof. Richard Murray
Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems, California Institute of Technology, 2021B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
Currently with CruiseXichen Shi
Ph.D. in Space Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2021B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Currently with WaymoMichael Duffy
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Defended in August 2019)
Co-advised with Larry Bergman
Currently with RaytheonRebecca Foust
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (August 2019, defended in May 2019)
Currently GNC Engineer in the Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins UniversityKevin Meier
Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2018, Defended January 2018)
Ph.D. Thesis (Thesis Supervisors: Seth Hutchinson and Soon-Jo Chung): Visual-Inertial Curve SLAM
Currently with the US Army Research LaboratorySaptarshi Bandyopadhyay
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2016, Defended December 2015)
Ph.D. Thesis: Novel Probabilistic and Distributed Algorithms for Guidance, Control, and Nonlinear Estimation of Large-Scale Multi-Agent Systems
Currently, Robotics Technologist at Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMichael Dorothy
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (December 2015)
Ph.D. Thesis: Neuroinspired Control Strategies with Applications to Flapping Flight
Currently, Aerospace Engineer at the Army Research LaboratoryJunho Yang
Ph.D. in Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (December 2015)
Ph.D. Thesis (Thesis Supervisors: Soon-Jo Chung and Seth Hutchinson): Vision based Estimation, Localization, and Mapping for Autonomous Vehicles
Currently, Senior Engineer at Hyundai Motor CompanyDaniel Morgan
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (May 2015)
Ph.D. Thesis: Guidance and control of swarms of spacecraft
Currently, Senior GNC Engineer at SpaceXAditya Paranjape
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (December 2011)
Ph.D. Thesis: Dynamics and Control of Robotic Aircraft with Articulated Wings
Assistant Professor, Imperial College London (2017) (formerly Assistant Professor at McGill University and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)
Former Postdoctoral Associates
Prof. Lu Gan, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. SooJean Han, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Dr. Hiroyasu Tsukamoto, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Kai Matsuka, Tesla Motors
Dr. Michael O’Connell, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Dr. Anthony Fragoso, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
Dr. Vincenzo Capuano, Samsung Research Lab
Dr. Yashwanth Nakka, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Serin Lee, EpiSys Science
Dr. Kyunam Kim, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University
Dr. Wolfgang Hoenig, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Technical University of Berlin
Dr. Alireza Ramezani, Currently, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University
Dr. Shahrouz Ryan Alimo, Currrently with Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay, Currently, Robotics Technologist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Christian Chilan, Currently Research Assistant Professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Aditya Paranjape Postdoctoral Associate (1/2012-10/2013, co-advised with Prof. Seth Hutchinson)
Assistant Professor, Imperial College London (2017) (formerly Assistant Professor at McGill University and Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay)Dr. Ashwin Dani (co-advised with Prof. Seth Hutchinson) Postdoctoral Associate (8/2011-8/2013)
Currently, Assistant Professor, Department of ECE, University of ConnecticutDr. Jingjin Yu (co-advised with Prof. Petros Voulgaris) Postdoctoral Associate (3/2013-8/2013)
Currently, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Rutgers UniversityDr. Animesh Chakravarthy Postdoctoral Associate (50%, 2009-2010)
Currently, Assistant Professor at Wichita State UniversityDr. Keehong Seo (Postdoctoral Associate, 2008)
Currently with Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Former MS thesis Students, engineers, and Members
Yuta Takahashi
Visiting PhD student, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyTommaso Ravanelli
Visiting M.S. student, Politecnico di MilanoPatrick Spieler
B.S., M.S., EPFLAlexei Harvard
B.S. in Mathematics, CaltechThayjes Srivas (Research Staff at Caltech November 2017-November 2018)
Sorina Lupu (M.S. EPFL)
Shripad Gade (PhD student UIUC under S.-J. Chung supervision during 2014-2016.
Martin Miller (ECE UIUC), co-advised w/ Prof. Seth Hutchinson
M.S. Thesis: Hardware and Software Considerations for Monocular SLAM in A Riverine Environment
Currently, Ford Motor CompanyAyush Saxena M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, UIUC, December 2017
Francesca Baldini Visiting MS student from the University of Pisa, Italy
M.S. in AE, CaltechGiusy Falcone Visiting MS student from the University of Pisa, Italy
Lingyu Ma (co-advised with S. Hutchinson), M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UIUC, December 2016
M.S. Thesis: Monocular Vision Based Navigation Using Image Moments of Polygonal FeaturesYashwanth Kumar Nakka (co-advised with J. Allison) M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, UIUC, December 2016
M.S. Thesis: Nonlinear Attitude Control of Spacecraft with Strain-Actuated Solar ArraysMingyo Seo (co-advised with S. Hutchinson) M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, UIUC, August 2016
M.S. Thesis: Application of a Model-Based Nonlinear Attitude Control for Quadtoror UAVsGiri Prashant Subramanian, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, August 2015
M.S. Thesis: Nonlinear Control Strategies for Quadrotors and CubeSatsNitish Sanghi, M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, May 2013
M.S. Thesis: Design of Flexible Actuators using Electro-Active Polymers And CPG-based Control Strategies
Currently, Mechanical Engineer on Surgical Instruments, Intuitive Surgical IncDushyant Rao, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, August 2012
M.S. Thesis: CurveSLAM: Utilizing Higher Level Structure in Stereo Vision-based Navigation (Advisors: Soon-Jo Chung and Seth Hutchinson)
Currently, Postdoc at University of Oxford, UK.Jin Yu Guan, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mary 2012
M.S. Thesis: Design and Control Strategy of a Flexible, Hyper-Redundant Robotic Arm using Electroactive Dielectric Polymers
Currently, GNC Systems Engineer, Lockheed Martin CorporationP. Daniel Kuang, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, December 2011
M.S. Thesis: Robobat: Dynamics and Control of Flapping Flight Micro Aerial Vehicles
Currently, Control Engineer at Cummins, Inc.Daniel Morgan, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, August 2011
M.S. Thesis: Swarm Keeping Strategies for Spacecraft under J2 and Atmospheric Drag Perturbations
Currently, Senior GNC Engineer at SpaceXKoray Celik (PhD student under S.-J. Chung’s supervision during 2007-2009)
Insu Chang (PhD student under S.-J. Chung’s supervision during 2007-2010)
VISITORS
Prof. Mark Balas, Texas A&M University
Prof. Tom Richardson, Bristol University
Prof. Atsuhiko Senba Visiting Scholar (7/2012-7/2013)
Assistant Professor Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan
Undergraduate Research Assistants (OLD)
Swarm Spacecraft Testbed Development (6/2010-Current): Elliot Schwartz, Jenny Roderick, David Hanley, Mike Looby, Li Pan, Ricardo Toro (MS NT), Patrix Haddox (MS-NT)
Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Vision Tracking Challenge (since 1/2012): Rasheed Ibrahim, Xichen Shi, Shubham Gupta, Oliver Cai, Guanyang Luo, Sunil Patel, Jonathan Yong (MS-NT), Shravan Gupta, Derek Chen, Christian Howard, Hong-bin Yoon, Niclas Mueller, Gregory Doidge
Bio-inspired Flight Mechanics and Control of MAVs: Harry Rocha (ISGC UROP), Joseph Kim, Jim Holtman, Andy Meister, Matt Schipp, Dan Chuchawat, Nihir Ghandi, Robert Cachro, Or Dantsker
Swarm Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization (8/2010-5/2011): Austin Nicholas (Winner of NSF Graduate Fellowship, currently at MIT)
Design, Fabrication, and Control of Cellular, Flexible Robotic Arms and Control: Daniel Park, Eric Reisenbuckler, Ryan Cook (FPGA Based Central Pattern Generator)
Control of Bipedal-Walking Humanoid Robot: Sudarshan Rangan; Alex Cheung
Maulik Choksi, James Holtman, Michael Looby, Andrew Meister, Sudarshan Rangan, Matt Schipp, Jonathan Yong, Alex Leung, Harry Rocha, Austin Nicholas
Kito Berg-Taylor, Mark Kane, Keegan Gartner
Ravi Sharma, Shuang Gao
Brad Smith, Anid Monsur, Ryan Paul, Antonella Albuja, Chris Massina, Merritt Tennison