Borna E. Dabiri

California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Borna E. Dabiri is a pioneering roboticist whose research centers on extreme-terrain mobility and planetary sampling systems. His most influential work introduces the Lemur IIb robot, a groundbreaking platform designed for free climbing in steep, unstructured environments. Dabiri’s key contributions include developing methods to control contact force distribution during motion, ensuring holds remain intact while enabling traversal through overhangs—a critical challenge for extraterrestrial exploration. The foundational 2006 paper on Lemur IIb has garnered 48 citations, underscoring its impact on robotic climbing and field robotics. Dabiri also advanced the adaptation of the ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer for walking and climbing robotic applications, a vital innovation for NASA’s search for past or present life and understanding planetary formation. His work directly addresses the stringent sampling requirements of future space missions, bridging robotics and planetary science. Through these achievements, Dabiri has shaped how robots access and sample hazardous terrains, from steep cliffs to other worlds, making him a key figure in autonomous exploration and bio-inspired robotic design.