Dr Ryan Smith

I am a roboticist specializing in control theory and path planning for autonomous underwater vehicles. My research is a nexus of applied mathematics, ocean science and engineering. The motivation for my work is to develop enabling technologies that efficiently and effectively measure, monitor and assess the condition of aquatic ecosystems.

I received my PhD in December 2008 from the University of Hawaii (UH). My studies provided me with a unique blend of theoretical and experimental research opportunities through a cross-disciplinary Ph.D. in Mathematics and Ocean Engineering. My theoretical research was aided by leading experts in the fields of Optimal Control and Differential Geometry in the Mathematics Department. Experimental study was conducted in the Autonomous Systems Laboratory at UH, providing the opportunity to conduct research on state-of-the-art platforms under the guidance of international experts in autonomous robotics. This experience facilitated interaction with world leaders in marine science research, and steered my research path into robotic assisted ocean study.

From November 2008 to January 2011, I was a post-doctoral research associate in the Robotic Embedded Systems Laboratory at the University of Southern California (USC). Here, I led a research team in the study of path planning for underwater vehicles driven by outputs from large-scale regional ocean models. While at USC, I provided major contributions to the development, installation and operation of a large-scale, embedded sensor network for the observation, monitoring and assessment of coastal ocean ecosystems in southern California. This research provided the opportunity to work with all facets of the operation of a fleet of heterogeneous aquatic vehicles; including deployment, communications, control implementation, recovery, data collection and data management. This experience required working intimately with experts in Physical Oceanography and Marine Biology from USC, ocean modelling experts from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, and world-renowned experts in the field of ocean science from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Over the years, I have conducted research with multiple types of marine robots, from autonomous gliders to large-scale survey platforms, and I am internationally-recognized for my technology-fusion techniques in path planning and control of these vehicles for applications in large-scale ocean monitoring.

In addition to research, I believe in reaching out to students and the community to teach them about the exciting world of robotics. My philosophy is to motivate students to explore the world around them through applications and hands- on experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Mentorship has been an ongoing part of my research, participating in every capacity in outreach education for nearly 10 years. At UH, I developed and co-directed two separate educational programs; Robo-Nemo for children under the age of 7, and STOMP@HI – Aquabotica for students aged 7 – 18. At the USC, I developed and directed the STOMP@USC outreach program for students aged 8 – 14. Since 2008, I have interacted with more than 6700 students through the educational robotics programs that I have developed. I am currently in the process of developing a community educational outreach program at QUT.