Dr. Ross Hatton
Associate Professor, Robotics & Mechanical Engineering, Oregon State University
SpiderHarp, PI
Ross L. Hatton is an Associate Professor of Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University, where he directs the Laboratory for Robotics and Applied Mechanics. He received PhD and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, following an SB in the same from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanics of locomotion and sensory perception, making advances in mathematical theory accessible to an engineering audience, and on finding abstractions that facilitate human control of unconventional locomotors. Hatton's group also works with local industry to transfer modern developments in robotics from the lab to the factory or commercial production. Dr. Hatton is the recipient of a 2017 NSF CAREER award to further his work in the dynamics of locomotion.
Dr. Chet Udell
Assistant Professor, Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University
SpiderHarp, Instrument design, performer
Chet Udell is an assistant professor of Biological and Ecological Engineering at Oregon State University and Director of the Openly Published Environmental Sensing (OPEnS) Lab - a USDA and NSF funded program that investigates development of new sensor instrumentation and Internet of Things solutions for environmental sensing.
He completed his PhD in Music Composition with cognate in Electrical Engineering in 2012 from the University of Florida. He is inventor on a U.S. patent and international patents for novel wireless sensing hardware and data architecture and CEO of a technology startup company. In his off-time, he enjoys composing experimental electronic music, inventing new digital control surfaces and musical instruments, being a father, hiking, combing the beaches of Oregon for agates, and singing karaoke. His musical instruments, performances, and works have won international recognition including: Margaret Guthman Musical Instrument Competition best performance, University of Florida Technology Innovator Award, Prix Destellos nominee, ASCAP/SEAMUS Student Composition Competition first-prize, and Walt Disney’s Dreamers and Doers Award.
Andrew Otto
PhD Candidate, Robotics & Mechanical Engineering, Oregon State University
SpiderHarp Engineer, Spidar Programmer
Andrew Otto is a PhD candidate in Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University where he works in the Laboratory for Robotics and Applied Mechanics under Dr. Ross Hatton. He received his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State following a BS degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University. His current research brings together aspects from mechanical vibrations, computer graphics, and biology to better understand how orb weaving spiders augment their sensing abilities using their webs.