Jack M. Thompson

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Jack M. Thompson is a robotics engineer and researcher whose career has centered on the design and development of advanced anthropomorphic manipulator systems, with a particular focus on kinematically redundant telerobotics and dexterous automation. His most significant contribution is the Robotics Research K/B-2017 Dexterous Manipulator, a remarkable 17-axis dual-arm system mounted on a three-degree-of-freedom torso-waist assembly, which he introduced as early as 1989 and continued refining into the 2000s. This humanlike robotic configuration was engineered for demanding applications including advanced industrial automation, space servicing operations, and hazardous remote environments such as firefighting and battlefield support. Thompson's 2002 paper detailing the dual-arm system has garnered 20 citations, reflecting sustained interest in its innovative design. His 1989 work on reflexive obstacle avoidance further demonstrated his commitment to real-time, sensor-driven control solutions for massively redundant systems — a technically challenging problem that remains relevant in modern robotics. Across his body of work, Thompson helped establish foundational principles for coordinated, dexterous telerobotic systems that have informed both space exploration and terrestrial automation research for decades.