Agile Robotics Lab at UA

Welcome to the home page of the Agile Robotics Lab at University of Alabama (ARL@UA) located in the South Engineering Research Center (SERC) Building. The lab conducts applied research in the fields of bio-inspired robotics, soft robotics, tensegrity robotics, inertial sensing and optimal estimation.

Recent Publications

C. Woods and V. Vikas "Balancing inverted pendulum carts on inclines using accelerometers", ASME Letters in Dynamics Systems and Controls, 2021.[Link, Youtube Video]

M. Maynard and V. Vikas "Angular velocity estimation using non-coplanar accelerometer array", IEEE Sensors Journal, 2021. [arxiv, Link]

A. Chang, C. Freeman, A. N, Mahendran, V. Vikas and P. Vela, "Shape-centric Modeling for Soft Robot Inchworm Locomotion", 2021 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2021) [Link].

T. Rhodes, C. Gotberg and V. Vikas, "Compact Shape Morphing Tensegrity Robots Capable of Locomotion",  Frontiers in AI and Robotics, Nov 2019. [Link]

[Youtube Video 1 - Fabricating Tensegrity Mechanisms]

[Youtube Video 2 - Tensegrity Robot Locomotion ] 

T. Rhodes, M. Tanouye and V. Vikas, "Nonlinear behavior of planar compliant tensegrity mechanism with variable free-lengths",  IFToMM Asian Mechanism and Machine Science, Dec 2018

T. Rhodes and V. Vikas, "Planar Shape Changing Compliant Tensegrity Mechanisms with Multi-Stable Equilibria",  IROS 2018  Workshop on Shape Changing Robotic Structures and Interfaces, Oct 2018 [POSTER].

M. Tanouye and V. Vikas, “Static and stability analysis of a planar tensegrity mechanism”, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference, Aug 2018 [Link].

News

Nov, 2021. Agile Robotics Lab (ARL) participates in The Sixth Annual Space Days at UA highlighting tensegrity mechanisms for space applications! [Link]​

Oct, 2021. Agile Robotics Lab (ARL) participates in the Faculty Research Showcase, UA with the Emerging Scholar Program (ESP) highlighting lab's soft and tensegrity robots! [Link]​

Sept, 2021. Congratulations to Cole for getting "Balancing inverted pendulum cart on inclines using accelerometers" paper accepted for ASME Letters in Dynamic Systems and Controls! [Link, Youtube Video]

Aug, 2021. Dr. Vikas' talk on 'Mobility and Morphing of Soft Robots' at the SEC-sess (Special Early Career session), Mechanisms & Robotics Conference, ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conferences

Aug, 2021. Congratulations to Michael Maynard for getting "Angular velocity estimation using non-coplanar accelerometer array" accepted for IEEE Sensors Journal [arxiv, Link]!

July, 2021. Congratulations to Caitlin Freeman and Arun Niddish on their collaborative research "Shape-centric Modeling for Soft Robot Inchworm Locomotion" accepted at IROS 2021 [Link]!

July, 2021. Congratulations to Caitlin Freeman (1st) and Cole Woods (3rd) for winning the Competition at the IEEE Seasonal School on “Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies based on Soft Robotics” (SofTech-Rehab)

July, 2021. Dr. Vikas talks about 'Soft Transformers' at the SCI Cafe, McWane Science Center, Birmingham!

​April, 2021. Congratulations to Emma Scott for being awarded the "Randall Outstanding Undergraduate Research  (ROUR) Award" and Charles L. Seebeck Award for Outstanding Senior in Randall Research Scholars Program (RRSP)!