Bob McGhee

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Bob McGhee is a pioneering researcher in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology, best known for his foundational work developing the Phoenix AUV at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). His research sits at the intersection of marine robotics, autonomous systems, and intelligent control architectures, with a particular focus on shallow-water sensing, navigation, and mission execution. McGhee's most significant contribution is the Phoenix AUV project, a student-centered research testbed designed to advance underwater robotics capabilities for real-world applications such as minefield mapping. His work demonstrated the power of simulation-based design, validating complex behaviors through virtual environments before deploying systems in open water — a methodology that has influenced how AUV development pipelines are structured. His implementation of the rational behavior model robot architecture, spanning execution, tactical, and strategic control levels, provided a rigorous framework for autonomous decision-making in challenging underwater environments. With a combined citation count reflecting steady influence within the specialized marine robotics community, McGhee's work has served as both a technical resource and an educational platform, training the next generation of roboticists through hands-on, research-driven experimentation. His legacy lies in bridging theoretical autonomy frameworks with practical underwater systems engineering.