Grant Kennedy

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, Imperial College London

Papers

Total Citations

134

H-Index

About

Grant Kennedy is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work focuses on developing novel propulsion and mobility strategies for aerial-aquatic robots. His primary research areas include bio-inspired robotics, multi-modal locomotion, and high-power propulsion systems for extreme environment navigation. Kennedy’s most significant contribution is the concept of "consecutive aquatic jump-gliding with water-reactive fuel," detailed in his highly cited 2019 paper (119 citations). This work introduced a groundbreaking approach that enables robotic vehicles to autonomously transition between water and air by using water-reactive chemical fuels for rapid, repeated takeoffs and gliding—a capability previously unattainable in robotics. His earlier 2017 study on "High-Power Propulsion Strategies for Aquatic Take-off in Robotics" (15 citations) laid the foundational principles for this innovation. Kennedy’s research has profound implications for environmental monitoring, search-and-rescue, and exploration of unpredictable aquatic and coastal terrains. His work stands out for merging chemical propulsion with robotic autonomy, offering a practical pathway to sustained aerial-aquatic mobility.