Abstract

Localization is a fundamental need for autonomous robotic systems. Access to reliable localization signals, such satellite-based GNSS, is often unavailable or unreliable in many environments. This seminar will discuss some approaches toward approving localization in GNSS-denied environments such as subterranean robots and drones and planetary rovers. It will will consider use of a range of technologies including motion planning, cooperative localization, motion constraints, and factor graphs and show experimental field tests from researchers at West Virginia University. The seminar will also touch on a variety of other robotics related research projects that Dr. Gross's labs has been working on.

Speaker

Dr. Jason Gross

Gross received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from WVU in 2011 and his undergraduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from WVU in 2007. From 2011 to December 2013, he worked as a Technologist in the Near Earth Tracking Applications Group at Caltech's NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His research focuses on robotic systems and unmanned aerial systems, emphasizing perception and localization. He directs the WVU Navigation Lab, coordinates WVU’s growing robotics program, and led WVU’s Space Robotics Challenge 2 team. Gross has received several awards for his research, including the WVU Statler College New Researcher of the Year (2016), WVU Statler College Outstanding Research – Senior Level (2021), Institute of Navigation Per Enge Early Achievement award (2024), and Institute of Navigation Samuel M. Burka award (2024). In 2024, he was elevated to AIAA Associate Fellow. For his teaching, Gross received the WVU Statler College Outstanding Teaching Award (2017) and WVU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Academies of Distinguished Alumni Teaching Award (2019). For his service contributions, he has been awarded the WVU Values Coin (2019), WV State Journal 40 under 40 (2023), Scouting America North Star Award (2025), and WVU Richard T. Feller Outstanding Alumni Award (2025). Since 2022, Gross has served as the Chair of the MMAE Department, which houses degree programs in Mechanical Engineering (Minor, BS, MS, PhD), Aerospace Engineering (Minor, BS, MS, PhD), Materials Science Engineering (MS and PhD), and Robotics Engineering (Minor and BS). WVU’s MMAE department boasts one of the largest research enterprises at the university and sponsors numerous hands-on, award-winning, faculty-mentored engineering student design competition teams each year.