Patrick Wensing, Wanzek Family Collegiate Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, has received the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) Toshio Fukuda Young Professional Award.
The award recognizes individuals still in the early stages of their careers who have made a major impact on intelligent robots and systems. Wensing was selected “in recognition of contributions to the control of dynamic legged robot locomotion and wearable lower limb robots,” according to the award citation.
Wensing directs the Robotics, Optimization, and Assistive Mobility (ROAM) Laboratory, which focuses on legged robots and assistive devices that amplify or restore mobility. His lab devises new methods that enable quadruped and humanoid robots to better navigate our world. They also develop powered prostheses and wearable robotic devices that can aid natural movement and accurately translate operator intentions into movement.
“The award acknowledges the substantial impact that Pat’s work in legged and wearable robots has already made on the robotics research community worldwide,” said James Schmiedeler, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering at Notre Dame and IROS conference chair. “He is widely viewed as a thought leader in these areas.”
Wensing joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2017. In 2020, he received an NSF CAREER Award, and he has been recognized with multiple teaching, mentoring, and best paper awards.
As a core faculty member of Robotics @ Notre Dame, Wensing works with a collaborative group of over 40 researchers who focus on robotics solutions to critical societal problems.