Rodney Brooks: As the former director of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and a co-founder of iRobot and Rethink Robotics, Brooks has deeply influenced both theoretical and practical aspects of robotics. His work on behavior-based robotics changed the way robots are designed and controlled.
Dr. Daniela Rus: Currently the director of MIT’s CSAIL, Rus’s research has spanned a multitude of robotic technologies, from modular and self-reconfiguring robots to algorithms for autonomous systems.
Dr. Hiroshi Ishiguro: Based in Japan, Ishiguro is known for his humanoid robots, particularly the Geminoid series, which resemble humans incredibly closely. He investigates human-robot interaction and what it means to be human.
Dr. Cynthia Breazeal: Recognized as a pioneer of social robotics, Dr. Breazeal’s work at MIT focuses on human-robot interaction. Her famous robot, Kismet, was one of the first to recognize and simulate emotions.
Sebastian Thrun: Founder of Google X and known for his work on autonomous vehicles, Thrun has been a significant figure in robotics and AI. He’s also the co-founder of Udacity, an online learning platform that offers courses in robotics.
Dr. Marc Raibert: Founder of Boston Dynamics, Raibert’s work has been pivotal in the domain of dynamic legged locomotion. Robots like BigDog, Spot, and Atlas are testaments to his vision of highly mobile and agile robots.
Dr. Andrew Ng: While primarily known for his work in machine learning, Ng’s efforts in promoting and developing robotics, especially during his tenure at Stanford and Google, have been noteworthy. His online courses have trained many budding robotics experts.
Dr. Pieter Abbeel: A professor at UC Berkeley, Abbeel’s work bridges AI and robotics, especially in deep reinforcement learning for robots. His research has enabled robots to learn complex tasks just by observing.
Dr. Ayanna Howard: With a focus on assistive and therapeutic robotic systems, Dr. Howard’s work at Georgia Tech encompasses both software and hardware aspects of robotics to aid differently-abled individuals and children.
Melonee Wise: As the CEO of Fetch Robotics, Wise has been driving innovations in the field of warehouse robotics. Her practical experience brings a distinct industry perspective to the academic-heavy world of robotics.
