At the SMART Lab, we conduct both basic and applied research on robotics with regard to its scientific and engineering aspects, and combine practical and theoretical approaches to solve real-world problems. Our research topics include Multi-Robot Systems, Human-Robot Interaction, Robot Learning, and Robot Design & Control. We focus on design, planning, control, and algorithms in these areas, and apply them to field robotics and to assistive technology and robotics. Recently, we have been working on developing algorithms and systems that allow multiple robots to collaborate with each other in a distributed way and to work with humans as a multi-human-multi-robot team. We have also studied how learning methods can enable robots to flexibly interact with any humans, in any situation, anywhere. To learn more about our specific projects and research, please visit the links on the left of this page and our publication section.
Our YouTube channel and GitHub repositories offer additional information about our past and current projects, including demo videos and programming codes. To access these resources, click the logos below!
Current Funded Projects in the SMART Lab are:
FW-HTF-P: Interactive Multi-Human
Multi-Remote-Robot Operations for the Future of Construction
Work, Role: Co-PI (PI: Jin Wei-Kocsis), Sponsor: National
Science Foundation, Amount: $150,000 (10/01/2022 -
09/30/2023). (Link)
- CAREER: Adaptive Human Multi-robot
Systems, Role: PI, Sponsor: National Science Foundation,
Amount: $500,000 (02/15/2019 - 01/31/2024). (Link)
CPS: Medium: Collaborative
Research: Closed Loop Sustainable Precision Animal
Agriculture, Role: Co-PI (PI: Richard Voyles), Sponsor:
National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Amount: $541,448
(09/01/2018 - 08/31/2022). (Link)
- PFI-RP: Partnerships for Innovation
in Interoperable Building Information Modeling Technology
for Applications in Automated Building Code Compliance
Checking and Modular Construction Automation, Role: Co-PI
(PI: Jiansong Zhang), Sponsor: National Science Foundation,
Amount: $1,108,003 (09/15/2018 - 08/31/2023). (Link)
I/UCRC Phase I: Robots and Sensors for the Human
Well-being, Role: Senior Personnel (PI: Richard Voyles),
Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Amount: $637,202
(09/15/2014 - 08/31/2022). (Link)
Past Funded Projects are:
Detecting Humans’ Adaptive
Behavior Using Deep Learning Application to Provide Active
Thermal Comfort Controls in Occupancy Spaces, Role: Co-PI
(PI: Kyubyung Kang), Sponsor: Polytechnic Institute, Amount:
$8,000 (11/04/2021 - 06/30/2022).
2021-22 COVID-19 Research
Disruption Fund, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue University,
Amount: $25,000 (10/05/2021 - 04/30/2022).
UNSA NEXUS: Robotic Water Quality Monitoring and
Distribution Systems: A Pilot Study, Role: PI, Sponsor:
Universidad Nacional de San Agustin, Amount: $365,439
(01/01/2018 - 02/15/2022). (Link) 
Cybersecurity and Safety Challenges in Autonomous
Vehicles: Threats Identification and Countermeasures
Development, Role: PI, Sponsor: National Institute of Justice,
Amount: $147,131 (08/01/2017 - 8/31/2021). 
PRF Research Grants: Human-Delivery Robot Social
Interaction for Last-mile Delivery, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue
University, Amount: $31,119 (05/10/2020 - 09/15/2021). Wheeled Mobile Parallel Robots with Hybrid Moving
and Manipulation Functions, Role: Co-PI (PI: Dongming Gan),
Sponsor: Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Amount: $8,000
(08/01/2020 - 06/30/2021).Reconfigurable Cyber-Physical Simulators for
Multi-Robot Systems, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue Polytechnic
Institute, Amount: $8,000 (08/01/2020 - 06/30/2021). Workshop to Explore US/Korean Collaboration in
Human-Friendly Co-Robotic Technologies, Role: Co-PI (PI: Richard
Voyles), Sponsor: National Science Foundation, Amount: $14,980
(09/01/2017 - 03/31/2020). (Link) PRF Research Grants: Towards
Autonomous Robotic Systems for Control of Harmful Algae Blooms,
Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue University, Amount: $30,144
(05/10/2018 - 09/14/2019). 18-19 Laboratory and University Core Facility
Research Equipment Program: Acquisition of a Modular Robotic
Walkway for Development and Testing of Soft Assistive
Exoskeletons, Role: Co-PI (PI: Richard Voyles), Sponsor: Purdue
University, Amount: $169,845 (01/01/2019 - 12/31/2019).
Mobile Crowd Sensing for Sustainability
Challenges: A Behavioral Approach to Inducing User
Participation, Role: Co-PI (PI: David J. Yu), Sponsor: Purdue
Center for the Environment, Amount: $15,000 (06/01/2018 -
06/30/2019). Distributed Multi-robot Systems for Autonomous
Construction, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue Polytechnic Institute,
Amount: $8,000 (11/01/2018 - 06/30/2019). Developing Crancobots to Support Automated
Construction of Buildings, Role: Co-PI (PI: Jiansong Zhang),
Sponsor: Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Amount: $8,000
(11/01/2018 - 06/30/2019). 17-18 Laboratory and University Core Facility
Research Equipment Program: Acquisition of Multiple Mobile Robot
Platforms, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue University, Amount: $83,500
(01/01/2018 - 12/31/2018). (Link) Drone-based Visual Inspection for Airplane, Role:
PI, Sponsor: Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Amount: $8,000
(04/01/2018 - 06/30/2018). Collaborative Interdisciplinary Machine Learning
Research Infrastructure, Role: Co-PI (PI: Vetria Byrd), Sponsor:
Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Amount: $8,000 (04/01/2018 -
06/30/2018). Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) Summer Faculty
Research Grant, Role: PI, Sponsor: Purdue University, Amount:
$8,000 (06/01/2017 - 07/31/2017). Provost Major Equipment Grant: Bi-Manual Dexterous
Manipulation for Intuitive Autonomy, Role: Co-PI (PI: Richard
Voyles), Sponsor: Purdue University, Amount: $144,732
(07/01/2016 - 06/31/2017). 
Sejong-Purdue Program 2016, Role: Co-PI (PI: Eric
T. Matson), Sponsor: Sejong University, Korea, Amount: $89,998
(05/01/2016 - 12/31/2016). 
KyungPook National-IITP-Purdue Summer Software
Program, Role: Co-PI (PI: Eric T. Matson), Sponsor: Kyungpook
National University, Korea, Amount: $45,426 (05/01/2016 -
12/31/2016).