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About

R. W. Will is a pioneering researcher in space robotics and autonomous assembly systems, whose career has been closely aligned with NASA's ambitions for constructing large-scale infrastructure in orbit. Working primarily at NASA Langley Research Center, Will dedicated his research to developing telerobotic systems capable of assembling the massive truss structures required for next-generation space missions, including polar platforms, precision reflectors, and large antennas — structures too expansive to be launched fully assembled or reliably built by astronauts alone. His most influential contribution, "A Telerobotic System for Automated Assembly of Large Space Structures" (1989), has garnered 24 citations and laid critical groundwork for autonomous in-space construction. Subsequent publications, including verification and baseline tests of these telerobotic systems throughout the early 1990s, demonstrated real-world feasibility of robotic truss assembly, collectively accumulating dozens of citations that reflect their lasting relevance to the field. His earlier conceptual work on goal-oriented telerobotic design (1986) helped define the architectural framework — including system executives and user interfaces — that would guide later implementations. Across his body of work, Will helped transform space assembly from a purely human endeavor into one increasingly guided by intelligent, autonomous robotic systems.