Andrew Symington

Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (United States), University of California, Los Angeles

Papers

Total Citations

185

H-Index

About

Andrew Symington is a leading researcher in robotics and autonomous systems, with key contributions spanning virtual reality tracking, aerial robotics, and space-based free-flyer platforms. His most influential work, "HTC Vive: Analysis and Accuracy Improvement" (2018, 148 citations), provides a rigorous assessment of the HTC Vive as a cost-effective ground truth pose tracking system. Through controlled experiments, Symington demonstrated millimeter-level precision and accuracy, establishing the Vive as a viable tool for robotics and motion capture research—a finding that has become foundational for low-cost tracking solutions. Earlier, Symington contributed to the SUAAVE project (2010, 31 citations), integrating aerial robots with wireless networking for autonomous search and rescue operations. More recently, his work on the Astrobee Robot Software (2018, 6 citations) has been instrumental in developing a modern software system for NASA’s Astrobee free-flyer, which operates autonomously aboard the International Space Station. This system enables markerless navigation, autonomous docking, and modular payloads, reducing crew workload and advancing in-space robotics. Symington’s research consistently bridges practical engineering and cutting-edge autonomy, making him a notable figure in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial robotics.