People

Kira Barton

Prof. Kira Barton

 

Prof. Kira Barton ([email protected]) received her B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2001. Barton continued her education in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in 2006 and 2010, respectively. She held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Illinois from Fall 2010 until Fall 2011, at which point she joined the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Her primary research focus is on precision coordination and motion control for emerging applications, with a specialization in iterative learning control. Barton’s work intersects controls and manufacturing and combines innovative manufacturing processes with enhanced engineering capabilities. The potential impact of this research ranges from building high-resolution DNA sensors for biological applications to the integration of advanced sensing and control for rehabilitation robotics.


Postdoctoral Scholars

 Ningshan Wang([email protected])

MS, Ph.D., Mech. Eng., Syracuse University
BE, Thermal & Power Eng., Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Research Interests: Dolphin swimming dynamics, unmanned aerial vehicle, flight control system, nonlinear control & estimation, pose estimation, geometric mechanics, inertial navigation, fluid mechanics, turbulence


Ph.D. Students

Tyler Toner ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., Auburn University

Research Interests: Data-driven robot skill learning; learning-based control for manipulators, heterogeneous robot teaming; smart manufacturing

Research Title: Learning Robot Skills from Data for Rapid Adaptation to Dynamic and Uncertain Industrial Environments

Abigail Rafter ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., Carnegie Mellon University

Research Interests: Controls, Smart Manufacturing, Digital Twins, Mechatronics

Research Title: Human Digital Twins for Human-Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing

Joseph Wilson ([email protected])

MS, Robotics, University of Michigan
BS, Computer Engineering, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Research Interests: Learning, Localization and Mapping

Ali Bahrami ([email protected])

MS, Mech. Eng., University of Tehran

Research Interests: E-Jet Printing, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Modeling and Simulation, Additive Manufacturing, Control Theory, Multiphase Flows, Scientific Machine Learning

Angelo Hawa ([email protected])

Research Interests: E-jet printing, modeling and simulation, additive manufacturing, system identification, and digital twins

Research Title: Data-based models of material properties, process parameters, and droplet characteristics using electrohydrodynamic jet printing

Kaifan Yue ([email protected])

MS, Robotics, University of Michigan
BS, Mech. Eng., University of California San Diego

Research Interests: Additive manufacturing, E-Jet Printing, Printed electronics, Manufacturing automation

Research Title: Manufacturing Autonomy: Process Model Development towards the Directed Evolution of Submicron Printed Lines Using Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing

Keith Ng ([email protected])

MS, Mech. Eng., Georgia Institute of Technology
BS, Systems Eng., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Research Interests: Industrial robotics, robotic manufacturing and machining, controls, sensing, mechatronic and embedded systems

Patrick Linford ([email protected])

MS, Mech. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BS, Mech Eng., The United States Military Academy at West Point

Research Interests: Battery state and control, multi-robot task planning, planning under uncertainty

Research Title: Controls for Shape-changing Solid State Batteries

Aleksandra Dudek ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., University of California, Los Angeles

Research Interests: Learning-based Control, Game Theory, Exoskeletons

Jacob Fine ([email protected])

BE, Mech. Eng., Vanderbilt University

Research Interests: Control Co-Design, Optimal Control, Energy-Harvesting Kites

Devon Kelly ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
MS, Mech Eng., University of Michigan

Research Interests: Haptics, Controls, Human Robotic Interaction
Research Title: Human and Robotic Collaboration through Haptic Interactions

Tong Chen ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., University of Wisconsin-Madison
MS, Mech Eng., University of Michigan

Research Interests: Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, collaborative homogeneous/heterogeneous agents, learning based controls

Iago Alves Pereira ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., Federal University of Uberlandia

Research Interests: Mechatronics, Controls, Smart Manufacturing, Digital Twins, Rotating Equipment,  Prognostic and Health Management

Christopher Watson ([email protected])

MS, Applied Artificial Intelligence, University of San Diego

Research Interests: Construction Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, Visual Servoing, Controls

Tshepo

Tshepo Yane ([email protected])

BSE & MSE, Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania

Research Interests: Gait Analysis, Wearable Sensors, Human Robot Interaction, Physiology

Austin

Austin Collins ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Research Interests: Collaborative Control, Multi-agent systems, Bio-inspired robotics

Isaac Aldape Torres ([email protected])

MS, Mech. Eng., California State University, Los Angeles
BS, Mech. Eng., California State University, Los Angeles

Research Interests: Manufacturing, Design, Optimization,Digital Twins, Machine Design, and Biomechanics


Masters 

Kathryn Wakevainen ([email protected])
Xiujin Liu ([email protected])

Trushant Adeshara ([email protected])

B.Tech, CSE, Gujarat Technological University

Research Interests: Smart Additive Manufacturing, Soft Robotics, Deep Learning, Hardware Acceleration, Quantum Computing and Multi-Robot System

Tianyi Zhang ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., Purdue University

Research Interests: Digital Twins, Controls, Smart Manufacturing
Research Title: Digital Twins for State Estimation and System-Level Planning of a Smart Manufacturing System

Pannaga Sudarshan ([email protected])

BE, Electronics and Communication Eng., JSS Science and Technology University

Research Interests : Computer Vision, Robot Perception, Pose Estimation, Robot Manipulation, Control Systems, Smart Manufacturing

Hanna Chapin ([email protected])

BS, Computer Engineering, University of Michigan

Research Interests: Industrial inspection technology and mobile manipulation platforms


Visiting Scholars

Michael Gnadlinger ([email protected])

BS, Mech. Eng., Technical University of Munich, Germany

Research Interests : Digital Twins, Smart Manufacturing, Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS)


Research Title: Development of a Modular Digital Twin for Managing Code Deployment and Scheduling of Manufacturing Machinery

Darius Junginger ([email protected])

BS, Chem. Eng., Technical University of Munich, Germany

Research Interests : Semantic Web Technologies, Semantic Digital Twins, Smart Manufacturing

Gijs

Gijs Van Meerbeeck ([email protected])

Bs, Mech. Eng., Eindhoven University of technology, The Netherlands

Research Interests : Learning-based controls, mechatronics, additive manufacturing, adaptive controls


Research Title: Implementation and Analysis of an Adaptive Iterative Learning Control Strategy on an Electrohydrodynamic Printer.

Undergraduate Students

Nolan Theeke-Gallego ([email protected])


Alumni

Postdoctoral Researchers:

Nazanin Farjam, 2024, Assist. Prof. at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Joaquin Gabaldon, 2022, Wheel.me
Laxmi Prasad Poudel, 2022, General Electric
Ding Zhang, 2022, Pony.ai
Noopur Jamnikar, 2022, General Electric
Leo Tse, 2022 Abiomed
Yassine Qamsane, 2021, Siemens
Felipe Lopez, Schlumberger Limited Industrial Internet Center (SLIIC)
Patrick Sammons, Analyst
Mamadou Diagne, Assist. Prof. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

PhD Students:

Bo Fu, 2024, Amazon Robotics
Loubna Baroudi, 2023, New York Mets
Max Toothman, 2023, Applied Dynamics International
Max Wu, 2023, Draper Laboratory
Mingjie Bi, 2023, Hitachi Ltd.
Nazanin Farjam, 2023
Dory Yang, 2023
Yaqing Xu, 2022, General Motors
Zahra Afkhami, 2022, Lucid Motors
Joaquin Gabaldon, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Michigan
Ding Zhang, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Michigan
Isaac Spiegel, 2021, Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer at Terran Orbital
Efe Balta, 2021, Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zürich
Ilya Kovalenko, 2020, Assistant Professor at the Pennsylvania State University
Deema Totah, 2020, Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa
Changbai Tan, 2020, General Motors
Michael Quann, 2019
Christopher Pannier, 2019, Assistant Professor at University of Michigan Dearborn
Miguel Saez, 2018, General Motors
Leo Tse, 2017, Postdoctoral researcher at University of Michigan
Berk Altin, 2016, Postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Cruz
Ingyu Lim, 2016, Ford Motor Company

Visiting Scholars:

Matthijs van de Vosse, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Nederlands
Birte Caesar, Institute of Automation Technology, Helmut-Schmidt-University, Hamburg, Germany
Tom Van de Laar, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Nederlands
Enric Xargay
Robin Riethmueller, University of Stuttgart Institute for Nonlinear Mechanics, Germany
Max Raff, University of Stuttgart Institute for Nonlinear Mechanics, Germany
Leontine Aarnoudse, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Roel Vromans, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Remy Pelzer, Technical University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Yuan-yuan Liu, Shanghai University, China
Xiaomei Hu, 2015, Shanghai University, China
Mauro Mazzolini, 2014, Synesis
Diego Manzocchi, 2014, Synesis

Master’s Students:

Aarish Shah
Marcus Badgett
Leo Bringer
Kavan Shah
Hongrui Liu
Michael Hall
Siddharth Bhurat
Tong Chen
Rohit Damodar
Jonathan Sim
Jiayun Ni
Wan Kei Eric Kam
Michelle Ji
Shreya Phirke
Xenia Demenchuk
Farhan Javed
Paola Rioja, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Sam Worsham
Ruijie Geng
Xiang Gao
Allison White
Harrison Chen, Jugaad Labs
Mu-Ti Chung
Eric Huang
Mingjie Bi, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Loubna Baroudi, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Nolan Payne
Doruk Aksoy, pursuing Ph.D. at University of Michigan
Mattison Rose
Katelyn Angeliu
Rongyu Liang, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Akshay Garg, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Kshitij Jain, pursuing M.S at University of Michigan
Lauren Ransohoff, Northrop Grumman
Chiranjeevi Vegi, M.S, University of Michigan
Devyani Kalvit, 2017 M.S. University of Michigan
Matthew Porter, 2016, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Yunli Shao, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Minnesota
Tong Li, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Dan Zhao, 2015, pursuing PhD at University of Michigan
Sayooj Pillai, 2014, Cummins, Inc. 
Siva Aduri, 2014, MS University of Michigan
Bokai Chen, 2014, M.S University of Michigan
Yi-Kai Wang, 2013, M.S. University of Michigan
Chengeng Qu, 2013, Finance Masters Program
William Grenis, 2013, UM Masters Program
Danvir Sethi, 2013, Mathworks
Astha Kukreja, 2013, Cummins, Inc.
Bert Jiang, 2012, Mathworks
Jaekyu Hyun, 2012, Hyundai

Undergraduate Students:

Ritika Sibal
Benjamin Getz 
Steven Lengieza
Gary Zheng
Sharon Sun (UROP)
Vanessa Sheldon (UROP)
Ethan McMillan
Adam Lassman
Nick Tavis
Annika Stoldt Meghna Menon
Anne Gu (UROP, ME490)
Dan Xu(ME490)
Ryan Tepper(ME390)
Tom Brown(ME390)
David Robinson (UROP)
Alex Nettekoven (International UROP)
Tanay Nerurkar (ME490)Eliana Almario (SROP)
Ben Getz (UROP-MSTEM)
Michael Dobrowolski (UROP)
Ravesh Sukhnandan (SURE)
Michael Mahon (UROP)
Audrey Ramey (NNIN REU)
Syfith Jeet Singh
Nattasit (North) Dancholvichit
Andrew O’Hara (UROP)
Chien-An (Anne) Yu (UROP)