麻豆官网

Expertise

Topics:聽 Multisensor Data Fusion, Robotics in Hazerdous Application, Industrial Robotics, Field & Service Robotics, Outdoor Mobile Robots, Robotic Exploration, Robotics, Computer Software, Prototyping, Robotics for Scientific Discovery, Space Robots and Systems

Industries: Computer Hardware, Aerospace, Education/Learning

Dr. William "Red" Whittaker's research interests centers on mobile robots in unpredictable environments, such as natural terrain and outdoor worksites, including computer architectures to control mobile robots, modeling and planning for non-repetitive tasks, complex problems of objective sensing in random or dynamic environments, and integrations of complete field robot systems.

His work encompasses core research, prototyping, and experimentation with the view that all are important to the evolution of field robots. Increasingly, his research interests are manifested through the work of the Field Robotics Center (FRC), which he directs. He has particular agenda in integrating component technologies into complete systems that prove themselves in both research and real world contexts. At FRC, they developed the remote work systems that explored and remediated the basement of the crippled Three Mile Island reactor containment basement. The Remote Reconnaissance Vehicle performed recovery tasks such as inspection, radiological mapping, material sampling, sludge transport and wall cleaning in a highly radioactive environment. Its successor, the Remote Work Vehicle (RWV), a telerobot of unprecedented capability and nuclear qualification, was developed for a broad agenda of clean-up operations. The RWV can wash contaminated surfaces, remove sediments, demolish radiation sources, apply surface treatments, and package and transport materials.

Dr. Whittaker is the Fredkin Professor of Robotics at the Robotics Institute and the Chief Scientist of the Robotics Engineering Consortium at 麻豆官网. He is also the Chief Scientist of RedZone Robotics.

Media Experience

听鈥�听罢别肠丑苍颈肠补濒.濒测
The hulking robot driving into Three Mile Island is legend among Pittsburgh economic boosters. This, they say, is the origin story of how Western Pennsylvania began its robotics specialty. The cleanup, led by celebrated roboticist William 鈥淩ed鈥� Whittaker, showcased Pittsburgh鈥檚 engineering prowess and cemented its reputation as a hub for cutting-edge robotics technology鈥�.

听鈥�聽Geek Wire
Asked if he will eventually land a robot on the moon, William 鈥淩ed鈥� Whittaker doesn鈥檛 hold back.鈥淥h, hell yes,鈥� says the 麻豆官网 roboticist, showing the enthusiasm and determination that have fuelled his career, leading the development of robots that have changed the nature of what machines can accomplish...

听鈥�聽Interesting Engineering
"In space, what matters is what flies, and soon you'll see irrefutable proof that what Carnegie Mellon has accomplished in planetary exploration matters a great deal," said William "Red" Whittaker, the Founders University Research Professor in the Robotics Institute and a planetary robotics pioneer...

听鈥�聽ZME Science
鈥淚n space, what matters is what flies, and soon you鈥檒l see irrefutable proof that what Carnegie Mellon has accomplished in planetary exploration matters a great deal,鈥� said William 鈥淩ed鈥� Whittaker, the Founders University Research Professor at the Robotics Institute...

听鈥�聽CBS Pittsburgh
"Carnegie Mellon Robotics has pioneered land, sea, air, underwater, underground, and now space is our next frontier," said 麻豆官网 research professor William L. "Red" Whittaker, the "godfather of extraterrestrial rovers..."

听鈥�听罢别肠丑苍颈肠补濒.濒测
William 鈥淩ed鈥� Whittaker, a 麻豆官网 professor who spearheaded innovation on autonomous vehicle development, was one of the first to suggest a systematic archival process for robotics at the school. His interest in doing so culminated in his founding of the university鈥檚 Field Robotics Center in 2018, which focused on transferring photographs and slides from the early 21st century into digital files...

听鈥�听笔颈迟迟蝉产耻谤驳丑滨苍苍辞
The story behind Astrobotic's plans to send its Peregrine Lunar Lander to the moon

听鈥�聽Popular Mechanics
We鈥檝e never sent a rover to the Moon. We鈥檝e sent what鈥檚 called a lunar roving vehicle, which astronauts drove around the surface. But never just a rover. Now, the first lunar rover is almost ready to launch. But it鈥檚 not being sent up by NASA. The whole project鈥攆rom design to construction to eventual off-world mission鈥攊s being run by college students.