David A Hooper

About

David A. Hooper is a leading researcher in mobile robotics, with a focus on enhancing the safety, autonomy, and operational effectiveness of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for military and security applications. His work addresses critical challenges in teleoperation, autonomous navigation, and mission reliability. Hooper’s most impactful contribution is his real-world validation of three tipover algorithms for mobile robots (55 citations), a foundational study that directly addresses the dangerous consequences of robot instability for operators and equipment. He has also advanced adaptive beamforming for tele-operated UGVs, improving communication in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) missions, and investigated the scalability of robotic controllers, demonstrating how progressive autonomy can reduce operator cognitive overload during intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks. Notably, his research on counter-tunnel exploration with UGVs tackles the security vulnerability of covert cross-border tunnels used for drug smuggling and potential terrorist activity. Through these contributions, Hooper has helped bridge the gap between theoretical robotics and real-world deployment in high-stakes environments, earning recognition for his practical, safety-driven approach to autonomous systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Real-world validation of three tipover algorithms for mobile robots

   55 citations · 2010
2. 2
   Adaptive Beamforming for Tele-operated Unmanned Ground Vehicles

   4 citations · 2013
3. 3
   Scalability of Robotic Controllers: Effects of Progressive Autonomy on Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Robotic Tasks

   4 citations · 2012
4. 4
   Counter tunnel exploration, mapping, and localization with an unmanned ground vehicle

   3 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links