• Associate Agency Director, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
  • Project Office Director for Space, Strategic Advanced Research Unit, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Member, National Academy of Engineering
  • J. Mike Walker '66 Chair Professor
  • University Distinguished Professor
  • Associate Director, Texas A&M Space Institute
  • Director for Space and Robotics Initiatives, TEES
  • Affiliated Faculty, Aerospace Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering
Google Scholar Profile
Dr. Robert Ambrose

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin — 1991
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis — 1987
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis — 1986

Research Interests

    • Robot manipulation
    • Robot mobility
    • Wearable robotics
    • Electro-mechanical system design

Certifications & Memberships

  • Member, National Academy of Engineering – 2020

Awards & Honors

  • University Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University – 2024
  • Thomas A Edison Patent Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) – 2022
  • Robo-Glove, NASA Commercialized Invention of the Year – 2020
  • Selected for Senior Executive Service (SES), 2016
  • Robonaut 2, NASA Invention of the Year – 2015
  • Robo-Glove: R&D Magazine One of the 100 Most Significant New Products of the Year – 2013
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, The University of Texas – 2013
  • NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, for leading NASA’s Multi-center human robotics team – 2010, 2013
  • Most Valuable Colleague Award, General Motors – 2010
  • NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, for advancing dexterous space robotics – 2005

Selected Publications

  • Ambrose, R.O., et al. “Material remodeling and unconventional gaits facilitate locomotion of a robophysical rover over granular terrain”, Science Robotics (2020), Vol.5, Issue 42.
  • Ambrose, R.O., et al. "An active suspension system for lunar crew mobility", Proceedings of the IEEE Aerospace Conference 2010
  • Ambrose, R.O., et al. “Primate Anatomy, Kinematics and Principles for Humanoid Design”, International Journal of Humanoid robots, Volume 1, Pages 175-198, 2004.
  • Ambrose, R.O., et al. “Simulated Bilateral Teleoperation of Robonaut”, Journal Environments, Volume 8, September 2003.
  • Ambrose, R.O., et al. “Robonaut: A Robot Designed to Work with Humans in Space”, Jou. of Autonomous Robots, Volume 14, pages 179-197, December 2002.
Google Scholar Profile