Colin R. McInnes
Papers
9
Total Citations
197
H-Index
7
About
Colin R. McInnes is a leading figure in autonomous space robotics, whose work has fundamentally shaped how we think about controlling multiple spacecraft and robots in orbit. His research centers on the development of novel, nature-inspired control algorithms—particularly potential field methods—for complex tasks like satellite formation flying, on-orbit assembly, and multi-robot coordination. McInnes’s most impactful contribution is the creation of a safety-constrained path-planning tool for free-flying robots at the International Space Station, a landmark paper with 69 citations that introduced the "ellipse of safety" concept for generating collision-free trajectories. He further advanced the field by pioneering bifurcating potential fields for distributed multi-robot control (47 citations) and autonomous on-orbit assembly using potential functions (30 citations). His innovative use of hyperboloid and superquadric potential functions has provided elegant solutions to long-standing problems in robot motion planning. More recently, McInnes has expanded his work into the economics of space resources, analyzing material sources and customer locations for commercial space utilization. With a career spanning over two decades, his research remains essential reading for anyone working in autonomous space systems, swarm robotics, or in-orbit servicing.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3Autonomous control for on-orbit assembly using potential function methods30 citations · 1997
- 4
- 5Robot motion planning using hyperboloid potential functions12 citations · 2007
- 6
- 7Autonomous structure assembly using potential field functions9 citations · 2006
- 8
- 9Internal agent states: experiments using the swarm leader concept2 citations · 2008