Eric R. Wagner

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Eric R. Wagner is a pioneering figure in the field of autonomous robotics, with a primary focus on sensor systems for robotic navigation. His most influential work, "An Optical Rangefinder for Autonomous Robot Cart Navigation" (1987), introduced a simple, low-cost infrared rangefinder designed for factory environments. By using a 2mW 0.84 µm LED source—rather than a laser—amplitude-modulated at 5MHz, Wagner developed a collimated transmit beam that enabled reliable distance measurement for autonomous cart navigation. This innovation, cited 37 times, demonstrated how affordable optical sensors could replace expensive laser-based systems, making autonomous navigation more accessible for industrial applications. A follow-up paper in 1990 (14 citations) further refined the design. Wagner’s contributions lie at the intersection of optical engineering and robotics, providing foundational solutions for obstacle detection and path planning. His work remains a key reference for researchers developing cost-effective sensor systems for mobile robots, highlighting his role in advancing practical, real-world autonomous navigation technologies.