Gordon Greene Hastings

Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

311

H-Index

About

Gordon Greene Hastings is a pioneering figure in the field of robotics, best known for his foundational work on the dynamics and control of flexible robotic manipulators. His research addresses the critical challenge of designing lightweight, high-speed robots whose structural flexibility introduces complex vibrations. Hastings’s major contribution is the development and experimental validation of a linear dynamic model that accurately captures both the rigid-body motions and flexural vibrations of such manipulators. His seminal 1987 paper, “A linear dynamic model for flexible robotic manipulators,” has garnered 151 citations, while its companion verification study from 1986, which compared his state-space model against a four-foot-long direct-drive arm, has been cited 131 times. These works established a rigorous framework for controlling flexible links, enabling faster and more agile robotic systems. Hastings also explored design strategies for high-speed, lightweight robots and conducted hands-on control experiments, demonstrating the practical application of his theories. His research remains essential reading for engineers and researchers working on advanced robotics, particularly in applications requiring precision and speed with minimal structural mass.