Daniel Mellinger

About

Daniel Mellinger is a pioneering roboticist whose work has fundamentally shaped the field of agile aerial robotics, particularly the control and coordination of quadrotors. His research centers on trajectory generation, aggressive maneuver control, and multi-robot systems, with a focus on enabling quadrotors to perform precise, dynamic tasks that were once thought impossible. Mellinger's most influential contribution is his seminal 2012 paper on trajectory generation and control for precise aggressive maneuvers, which has garnered over 866 citations and established the mathematical framework for designing dynamically feasible trajectories that allow quadrotors to flip, dive, and navigate cluttered environments at high speeds. He further advanced the field by demonstrating cooperative grasping and transport using multiple quadrotors (457 citations), where teams of drones collaboratively lift and move objects, and by developing swarms of agile micro quadrotors (418 citations) that operate autonomously with onboard sensing. His work on aerial grasping and manipulation (378 citations) introduced lightweight grippers for perching and payload transport, while his studies on aerodynamics and proximity effects (187 citations) revealed critical insights into how rotorcraft interact in close formation. Mellinger's research has been instrumental in transitioning quadrotors from laboratory curiosities to practical tools for search-and-rescue, inspection, and logistics, making him a foundational figure in modern aerial robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Trajectory generation and control for precise aggressive maneuvers with quadrotors

   866 citations · 2012
2. 2
   Cooperative Grasping and Transport Using Multiple Quadrotors

   457 citations · 2012
3. 3
   Towards a swarm of agile micro quadrotors

   418 citations · 2013
4. 4
   Design, modeling, estimation and control for aerial grasping and manipulation

   378 citations · 2011
5. 5
   Influence of Aerodynamics and Proximity Effects in Quadrotor Flight

   187 citations · 2013
6. 6
   Trajectory Generation and Control for Precise Aggressive Maneuvers with Quadrotors

   115 citations · 2013
7. 7
   Towards A Swarm of Agile Micro Quadrotors

   87 citations · 2012
8. 8
   Control of locomotion with shape-changing wheels

   20 citations · 2009
9. 9
   QuadCloud: A Rapid Response Force with Quadrotor Teams

   19 citations · 2015
10. 10
    Control and planning for vehicles with uncertainty in dynamics

    16 citations · 2010

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links