Charles W. Wampler

About

Charles W. Wampler is a pioneering figure in robotics and kinematics, whose work bridges the gap between abstract mathematics and practical mechanical design. His primary research areas include numerical algebraic geometry, robot kinematic calibration, and human-safe robotics. Wampler’s most transformative contribution is his co-authorship of *Numerically Solving Polynomial Systems with Bertini* (356 citations), a seminal book that established the open-source Bertini software as the gold standard for solving polynomial equations in kinematics and beyond. He also developed the Calibration Index and Taxonomy for robot kinematic calibration (280 citations), unifying diverse calibration methods under a single theoretical framework, and introduced an implicit loop method that enabled calibration of both serial and closed-chain mechanisms (171 citations). His work on the Head Injury Criterion (73 citations) has been instrumental in designing robots that safely interact with humans. With over 1,100 total citations, Wampler’s research has profoundly influenced how engineers analyze mechanisms, design safer robots, and solve complex polynomial systems, making him a foundational thinker in modern robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Numerically Solving Polynomial Systems with Bertini

   356 citations · 2013
2. 2
   The Calibration Index and Taxonomy for Robot Kinematic Calibration Methods

   280 citations · 1996
3. 3
   An implicit loop method for kinematic calibration and its application to closed-chain mechanisms

   171 citations · 1995
4. 4
   Head injury criterion

   73 citations · 2009
5. 5
   Formulation of Equations of Motion for Systems Subject to Constraints

   71 citations · 1985
6. 6
   Advances in Polynomial Continuation for Solving Problems in Kinematics

   69 citations · 2004
7. 7
   Finding all real points of a complex curve

   47 citations · 2007
8. 8
   Displacement Analysis of Spherical Mechanisms Having Three or Fewer Loops

   43 citations · 2002
9. 9
   Multiple-priority impedance control

   40 citations · 2011
10. 10
    Displacement Analysis of Spherical Mechanisms Having Three or Fewer Loops

    31 citations · 2004

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links