Timothy Li

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Timothy Li is a roboticist whose work bridges the gap between safe, long-duration aerial robotics and intuitive human-robot interaction. His research centers on the design and control of autonomous lighter-than-air vehicles, with a particular focus on enabling close-proximity collaboration between humans and robots in indoor environments. Li’s most cited work introduces the Georgia Tech Miniature Autonomous Blimp (GT-MAB), a novel platform that can operate safely for up to two hours while flying near people. This system is capable of detecting and following a human subject by recognizing their face, demonstrating a key step toward robots that can coexist with humans without the risks posed by faster, heavier drones. With 30 citations, this paper has helped establish a foundation for using blimps as gentle, persistent interaction partners. Li’s contributions are notable for rethinking aerial robot design from the ground up—prioritizing safety and endurance over speed—and for opening new possibilities in assistive robotics, social navigation, and human-aware autonomy.