• Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • J. Mike Walker '66 Chair Professor
  • University Distinguished Professor
  • Member, National Academy of Engineering
  • Associate Director, Texas A&M Space Institute
  • Director for Space and Robotics Initiatives, TEES
  • Affiliated Faculty, Aerospace Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering
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Dr. Robert Ambrose

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin — 1991
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis — 1987
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis — 1986

Research Interests

    • Robot Manipulation
    • Robot Mobility
    • Wearable Robotics
    • Electro Mechanical System Design

Awards & Honors

  • Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor, 2024
  • ASME Thomas A Edison Patent Award, 2022
  • Robo-Glove, NASA Commercialized Invention of the Year, 2020
  • Elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 2020
  • Selected for Senior Executive Service (SES), 2016
  • Robonaut 2, NASA Invention of the Year, 2015
  • Robo-Glove: R&D Magazine One of the 100 Most Significant New Products of the Year, 2013
  • University of Texas Distinguished Alumni Award, 2013
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, for leading NASA’s Multi-center human robotics team, 2013
  • GM Most Valuable Colleague Award, 2010
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, for leading the Human-Robotic Systems team, 2010
  • NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, for advancing dexterous space robotics, 2005
  • NASA JSC Director Commendation, 2005
  • Rotary Stellar Award Nominee, 2003

Selected Publications

  • Siddharth Shrivastava, Andras Karsai, Yasemin Ozkan Aydin, Ross Pettinger, William Bluethmann, Robert O. Ambrose, Daniel I. Goldman,, “Material remodeling and unconventional gaits facilitate locomotion of a robophysical rover over granular terrain”, Science Robotics (2020), Vol.5, Issue 42.
  • Bluethmann, W., Herrera, E., Hulse, A., Figuered, J., Junkin, L. Q., Markee, M., Ambrose, R.O., "An active suspension system for lunar crew mobility", Proceedings of the IEEE Aerospace Conference 2010, Big Sky Montana, March 2010.
  • Ambrose, R.O. and Ambrose, C.G., “Primate Anatomy, Kinematics and Principles for Humanoid Design”, International Journal of Humanoid robots, Volume 1, Pages 175-198, 2004.
  • O’Malley, M.K., Hughes, K.J., Magruder, D.F. and Ambrose, R.O., “Simulated Bilateral Teleoperation of Robonaut”, Journal Environments, Volume 8, September 2003.
  • Bluethmann, William, Ambrose, Robert, Diftler, Myron, et. al., “Robonaut: A Robot Designed to Work with Humans in Space”, Jou. of Autonomous Robots, Volume 14, pages 179-197, December 2002.
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