University of California (Irvine), CA
United States
Research Areas
Algorithm Anaylsis, Biomedical Electronics, Computer Science, Computing and Electronics, Control Design & Engineering, Government, Optimization & Minimization, Robots
Biography
Jim Bobrow was born in Newton, Massachusett but grew up in a Los Angeles suburb. He studied Mechanical Engineering as both an undergraduate and graduate student, earning a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1977, and a Master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1979 and 1982, respectively. Bobrow’s interest in mechanical engineering lead him to a long career in robotics, including Ph.D research in manipulation and control, a short stint at McDonnell Douglas working with CAD, and finally a position at University of Califorinia-Irvine as a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. His career interests include robotics, dynamics and control of nonlinear systems, and optimization applications. He developed optimization algorithms still in use by roboticists today. The larger part of his work has been on the development of robotics for use in patient rehabilitation.
Interview Synopsis
In this interview, Bobrow discusses his career in robotics from college to UCI. He reflects on his work in manipulation, rehabilitation robotics, and design optimization and muses the success, failures, and future challenges of the field of robotics. Additionally, he provides advice for young people interested in the field.
