Creating technology to help us go further

Robots captivate the human imagination because their designs so often mirror us, or the animal world around us. Researchers at URI are looking into ways robots can work safely and collaboratively alongside humans, enabling us to achieve more than we could on our own, and gain more knowledge.

Brennan Phillips, of the Undersea Robotics and Imaging Lab uses robotics to observe and study marine animals.

Taking their inspiration from the animal physiology, Stephen Licht and his team are developing robots able to react to complex underwater environments just as marine animals do. They have also developed a technique that combines aerial imaging by small autonomous robotic helicopters and biomass collection surveys performed by ground vehicles to help predict and mitigate harmful macroalgal blooms. Paolo Stegnano and Chengzhi Yuan are working in the Intelligent Control and Robotics Lab to develop robotic aerial vehicles, UAVs, with the ability to respond to simple instructions: technology that could change the way humans and robots interact.

Blue Economy Leaders Express Their Support for URI’s Bay Campus - As companies have formed and flourished in Rhode Island’s blue economy, the demand for URI’s talented ocean engineering students has never been greater. Companies have also increasingly turned to URI for support with research and product development needs.
Using Robots to Study Icebergs - Icebergs can impact the environment by affecting sea-level rise and local ecosystems, damage offshore equipment and disrupt marine transportation. URI researchers are developing multi-robot systems to study icebergs above and below the surface.

Deep-Sea Research Was Eye-Opening Experience for URI Student - Phil Parisi came to URI to pursue a master’s degree in ocean engineering so that he could work with autonomous systems and interact with nature. In his first deep-sea expedition to the Puerto Rico Trench, he got to do both.
Wave of the Future - Faculty and students in URI’s College of Engineering are partnering with federal defense and private industries to advance naval technology and keep the U.S. submarine fleet ahead of those from other countries.