Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Des McLernon is a researcher whose work sits at the compelling intersection of mobile robotics, wireless communications, and signal processing. His primary focus has been the development of **mobility diversity** — an innovative paradigm that transforms a robot's controllable movement from a logistical challenge into a strategic communications advantage. Rather than treating wireless fading as an unavoidable obstacle, McLernon's research demonstrates how mobile robots can intelligently reposition themselves to exploit favorable channel conditions, fundamentally reframing how we think about robotic wireless systems. Among his most impactful contributions is his pioneering work on radio energy harvesting for robots, which has garnered 20 citations, alongside foundational mobility diversity algorithms for wireless communication (15 citations). His body of work progressively deepens this framework — from Markovian trajectory planners and path-planning algorithms with memory, to robust trajectory design under fading channels and continuous search-space optimization. Notably, he also applied these principles to multi-robot rescue operations, designing optimal trajectories for angle-of-arrival estimation systems with real humanitarian potential. With a cumulative citation record reflecting steady influence across the robotics and communications communities, McLernon's research offers students and engineers a powerful toolkit for building smarter, more resilient autonomous systems in challenging wireless environments.