Aaron Ames (Photo – Caltech)
Aaron Ames, Bren Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at Caltech, has been appointed director and Booth-Kresa Leadership Chair of the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST), succeeding founding director Mory Gharib.
By Kimm Fesenmaier, Caltech
“It is truly an honor to follow in the footsteps of Professor Gharib,” says Ames, who also leads Caltech’s programs in control and dynamical systems and mechanical engineering. Harry Atwater, Chair of Caltech’s Division of Engineering and Applied Science, praised Ames’s vision and leadership in robotics and autonomy.
Since its founding in 2017, CAST has pioneered breakthroughs in autonomous systems—from drone stabilization and bioinspired robots to AI-driven self-driving cars and spacecraft navigation. Ames looks forward to advancing this work: “We have an exciting opportunity to deploy intelligent robotic systems—from drones to humanoids—in real-world environments,” he says.
Ames directs the AMBER Lab, which focuses on robotics, bipedal locomotion, and assistive technologies. A recognized leader in humanoid robotics and safety-critical control, he joined Caltech in 2017 after roles at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech. He is an IEEE Fellow and recipient of numerous honors, including the NSF CAREER Award and multiple best paper awards at top robotics conferences.
Aaron Ames is also the son of Kate Bartlett, longtime copy editor at our own Colorado Boulevard newspaper.
Read the full article at this link.
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