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About

Andrew Kennett is an engineer and researcher whose work spans advanced materials, precision mechanical systems, and aerospace deceleration technologies. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering contributions to the application of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) in robotic hardware. His most influential paper, "Castable Bulk Metallic Glass Strain Wave Gears" (2016, 85 citations), demonstrated that BMGs could serve as cost-effective flexsplines in strain wave gears — ultra-precision gearboxes critical to high-performance robotics — offering a compelling path toward making sophisticated robotic systems more affordable and accessible. Kennett has also made meaningful contributions to aerospace engineering, particularly in the development and testing of inflatable aerodynamic decelerators for planetary entry systems. His work on NASA's Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project explored novel ground and flight testing methods, including rocket sled propulsion, to push beyond the limitations of conventional wind tunnel testing in support of future Mars missions. More recently, his research has extended into cryobotics, investigating how robotic systems and rotating machinery perform under extreme cryogenic conditions — a frontier of growing importance for space exploration. Across these diverse domains, Kennett exemplifies the kind of cross-disciplinary engineering that drives both terrestrial robotics and deep-space technology forward.