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About

Terry Kientz is a robotics researcher whose work spans assistive technologies, self-reconfigurable systems, and automated perception. His most influential contribution, "Human robot interaction: application to smart wheelchairs" (69 citations), addresses a critical challenge in assistive robotics by developing a vision-based interface that allows users to command a smart wheelchair through natural interaction—a foundational step toward more accessible mobility aids. Kientz also pioneered the variable topology truss (VTT), a novel class of self-reconfigurable robot introduced in his 2017 paper (47 citations) and further developed in 2021 (28 citations). Unlike traditional variable geometry trusses, VTTs can alter both their shape and connectivity, enabling unprecedented adaptability for structural robotics. His work on automated semantic mapping for retail environments (2016, 16 citations) demonstrates practical applications of robotic perception, using soft-object recognition and dynamic programming to generate labeled inventory maps. Beyond research, Kientz has contributed to STEM education through the SAAST Robotics program (2007), an intensive three-week summer course for high school students. His diverse portfolio—from human-robot interaction to reconfigurable structures—reflects a commitment to making robotics both more capable and more accessible.