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Mitchell B

- Research Program Mentor

Industry expert at Tufts University

Expertise

Robotics, control systems, machine learning

Bio

Focusing mainly on control and estimation under uncertainty for safety-critical applications, my research tends to explore set-theoretic methods that provide safety and performance guarantees in pursuit of forging new frontiers in autonomy. In the coming years, I aim to develop novel control, estimation, and inference techniques toward advancing our collective understanding of the robotic mind and its ability to interact with bodies both human and otherwise. I feel that there is tremendous potential still to be unlocked in the field of robotics, and every day I strive to contribute to this endeavor. Consistent with my interest in robotics of sound mind and body is my love of running, indeed there are few hobbies that demand so much of the two. Outside of the lab, you may find me striding up one of Ann Arbor’s many hills or clipping off quarter mile repeats at Michigan’s storied Ferry Field. An accomplished middle-distance runner during my time at Tufts University, I recently placed 23rd in the 800m at the 2021 US Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR. With this Olympic cycle now in the rearview, I have my sights set on two new goals: making an 800m final at the US Championships and breaking 4 minutes in the mile.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Design of a Human-Powered Flying Machine

A student would investigate some of the physics and the mechanisms that allow birds to fly. A comparative analysis would then be conducted between various birds to discover why some are better flyers than others (e.g. peregrine falcon vs. turkey). Using this knowledge, the student would then design a theoretical device to enable human-powered flight.

Coding skills

MATLAB, Python, C++

Teaching experience

Most recently I served as a Graduate Student Instructor for a senior level undergraduate course called Control for Aerospace Vehicles. I held office hours to help the students learn some of the more challenging concepts and to answer any homework or general questions they may have had. I also assisted the professor with various other planning-related tasks.

Credentials

Work experience

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (2016 - 2016)
Propulsion Academy Research Associate
Michigan Aerospace Corporation (2017 - 2020)
Research Scientist

Education

Tufts University
BS Bachelor of Science (2016)
Mechanical Engineering, Astrophysics

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