Richard P. Smurlo

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Naval Sea Systems Command

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Richard P. Smurlo is a robotics and autonomous systems researcher whose work has centered on mobile robot navigation, security robotics, and modular control architectures for real-world deployments. He is best known for his pivotal contributions to the Mobile Detection Assessment and Response System (MDARS), a joint Army-Navy program developing autonomous robotic platforms for security and inventory management at Department of Defense facilities. His 1995 paper on real-world warehouse navigation — his most cited work with 29 citations — tackled the formidable challenge of adapting structured navigational paradigms to complex, unpredictable industrial environments, demonstrating simultaneous autonomous control of multiple robots. Smurlo's work on the MDARS interior platform and system overview further established the program's technical foundations, showcasing scalable multi-robot coordination from a single host console. Earlier contributions include a flexible modular robotic control architecture (1991) and intelligent sensor fusion techniques for intruder detection (1993), reflecting a consistent focus on practical, deployable robotic intelligence. His research represents an important bridge between laboratory robotics and operational field systems, offering lasting insights for researchers working on autonomous navigation and multi-robot security applications.