Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

B.J. Petterson is a pioneering researcher in the field of robotics and motion control, with a primary focus on the oscillation damping and swing-free transportation of suspended objects. His most significant contribution is the development of trajectory planning algorithms that suppress residual pendulum motion in overhead cranes and manipulators, a critical advancement for industrial automation and material handling. His landmark 2003 paper, "Oscillation damped movement of suspended objects," has garnered 47 citations, establishing a foundational approach to programming acceleration profiles to eliminate post-transport oscillation. Petterson further advanced the field with his work on "Lag-Stabilized Force Feedback Damping" (1998, 34 citations), which introduced innovative force servo control techniques for commercial gantry robots. His research also extends to addressing complex coupled vibrations in flexible structures, as demonstrated in his 2002 study on parameter-scheduled trajectory planning. Notably, Petterson developed an adaptive, swing-free trajectory planner employing parameter estimation (1990), which uses nonlinear least square estimators to predict system dynamics. Through these contributions, Petterson has provided essential methodologies that enable safer, more efficient, and precise automated handling of suspended loads in manufacturing and robotics applications.