Greg Hornby

Brandeis University, Ames Research Center

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About

Greg Hornby is a leading figure in evolutionary robotics and modular robotic systems, with a career dedicated to advancing autonomous machines for space exploration and terrestrial applications. His foundational work, "Evolutionary Techniques in Physical Robotics" (2000), which has garnered 71 citations, pioneered the use of evolutionary algorithms to automatically design and optimize physical robots, demonstrating how artificial evolution can produce novel, high-performing morphologies and controllers without human intervention. This research laid critical groundwork for self-reconfiguring and adaptive systems. Hornby has also made significant contributions to modular robotics for space missions, notably through his study on "Teleoperated Modular Robots for Lunar Operations" (2004), which proposed versatile, reconfigurable robots capable of handling unpredictable tasks such as in situ resource utilization (ISRU) and habitat construction—a key enabler for future lunar bases. His work bridges the gap between evolutionary computation and practical engineering, offering scalable solutions for extreme environments. With a focus on robustness and adaptability, Hornby’s research continues to inspire new generations of roboticists and space technologists, shaping the future of autonomous exploration.