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Robert G. Bonitz's Picture
Address:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
M/S 82-105
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109
Phone:
818.354.4628
Fax:
818.393.3254
Email:
Click here
Member of:
3473
Mobility and Manipulation Group
Robert G. Bonitz, PhD
Principal Member of Technical Staff
(Full description>>)

Biography (more>>)
Robert G. Bonitz is currently the Phoenix Lander 2007 Robotic Arm Manager. Previously he developed the control algorithms and software for the Mars Exploration Rover and Mars Polar Lander robotic arms. He has conducted research in control algorithms for multiple-manipulator robotic systems, robust internal force-based impedance controllers, frameworks for general force decomposition, optimal force control algorithms, and calibration methods for multi-arm robotic systems. He has worked for a variety of industrial companies including Raytheon, TRW, Source 2 International, and GTE.

Education (more>>)
Ph.D., EE, University of California, Davis, 1996
MSEE, Santa Clara University, 1989
BSEE, University of Nebraska, 1969

Professional Experience (more>>)
Project Element Manager for the Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm, JPL, 2003-present

Control and software engineer, Mars Exploration Rover Robotic Arm, JPL, 2000-2003

Control and software engineer, Mars Polar Lander Robotic Arm, JPL, 1996-2000

Chief Engineer, Source 2 International and CTIS, Cupertino, CA, 1980-1990

Components Engineering Manager, ESL, Sunnyvale, CA, 1978-1980

Selected Publications (more>>)

E. Baumgartner, R. Bonitz, J. Melko, L. Shiraishi and P. Leger, "The Mars Exploration Rover Instrument Positioning System," Proceedings of the IEEE Aerospace Conference (CDROM), March 2005.

R. Bonitz, J. Slostad, B. Bon, D. Braun, R. Brill, C. Buck, R. Fleischner, A. Haldeman, J. Herman, M. Hetzel, D. Noon, G. Pixler, P. Schenker, T. Ton, C. Tucker, W. Zimmerman, D. Paige, "Mars Volatiles and Climate Surveyor Robotic Arm," Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets, Vol. 106 , No. E8, August 2001, pp. 623-640.

R. Bonitz and T. Hsia, "Internal Force-based Impedance Control for Cooperating Manipulators," IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, Vol. 12, No. 1, Feb. 1996, pp. 78-89.

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