Jonathan Hurst

Portrait of Johnathan Hurst

Jonathan Hurst

Professor
Organizations
Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering
Address

320 Graf Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
United States

Biography

Jonathan W. Hurst is a Professor of Robotics, co-founder of the Oregon State University Robotics Institute, and Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Agility Robotics. He holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in robotics, all from Carnegie Mellon University. His university research focuses on understanding the fundamental science and engineering best practices for legged locomotion. Investigations range from numerical studies and analysis of animal data, to simulation studies of theoretical models, to designing, constructing, and experimenting with legged robots for walking and running, and more recently, using machine learning techniques merged with more traditional control to enable highly dynamic gaits. Agility Robotics is extending this research to commercial applications for robotic legged mobility, working towards a day when robots can go where people go, generate greater productivity across the economy, and improve quality of life for all.

He has been at Oregon State University since 2008.

Research Interests

Hurst's research focuses on understanding the fundamental science and engineering best practices for legged locomotion. Investigations range from numerical studies and analysis of animal data, to simulation studies of theoretical models, to designing, constructing, and experimenting with legged robots for walking and running, and more recently, using machine learning techniques merged with more traditional control to enable highly dynamic gaits.

Selected Publications
Awards/Accolades
2018 Oregon State University Faculty Innovator Award
2014 OSU College of Engineering Engelbrecht Young Faculty Award
2012 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovators Award
2012 International Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots, Best Technical Paper

Related Podcasts

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Faculty is posing with his robot.
Robots: Will they walk among us?
For robots to be more useful around people, they’ll need to go where we go. But how? Associate Professor Jonathan Hurst thinks the answer is simple. Walking. But…
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Season 5 episode 1 main image
Teaming with robots
How do you talk to a robot? How about 250 robots? Julie A. Adams, professor of computer science, describes her research on human-robot interaction and the benefits and…