S. N. Kramer

About

S. N. Kramer is a pioneering researcher in robotics and mechanism design, whose work has advanced the fields of variable geometry truss manipulators, spatial mechanism synthesis, and mobile robot navigation. His most influential contribution, the 1990 paper on the forward and inverse kinematic solution of the Tetrahedron-Tetrahedron (TT) truss robot, has garnered 31 citations and established a foundational framework for using TT trusses as variable geometry truss manipulators (VGTMs). By exploiting the exceptional stability and load-carrying capabilities of these structures, Kramer demonstrated how variable-length links could enable precise robotic manipulation, making this work highly relevant for aerospace and adaptive structures. In 1986, he introduced a computer-aided design technique for the optimum synthesis of RRSS path-generating spatial mechanisms with prescribed input timing, a contribution that emphasized the economic and energy-efficient advantages of single-actuator devices over complex multi-degree-of-freedom robots. Additionally, his 1991 algorithm for real-time obstacle avoidance and path planning for mobile robots combined optimization and heuristics to navigate unknown environments without prior knowledge. Though modest in citation counts, Kramer’s research reflects a career dedicated to practical, computationally efficient solutions in robotics and mechanical design.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Forward and Inverse Kinematic Solution of the Variable Geometry Truss Robot Based on an N-Celled Tetrahedron-Tetrahedron Truss

   31 citations · 1990
2. 2
   A Computer-Aided-Design Technique for the Optimum Synthesis of RRSS Path Generating Spatial Mechanisms With Prescribed Input Timing

   3 citations · 1986
3. 3
   An Algorithm for Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance and Path Planning for Mobile Robots

   2 citations · 1991

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links