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About

J. R. Cooper is a robotics and aerospace engineer whose research sits at the intersection of autonomous systems, robotic manipulation, and in-space assembly — a rapidly expanding frontier as NASA and the broader space community push toward longer, more complex missions beyond Earth's orbit. Cooper's most recognized work, "Assemblers: A Modular, Reconfigurable Manipulator for Autonomous in-Space Assembly" (2020, 12 citations), introduced a flexible robotic system designed to tackle the formidable challenges of on-orbit and planetary surface construction. Building on this foundation, Cooper has made sustained contributions to the field of In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), advancing concepts such as Supervised Autonomous Assembly and developing the ARMS software suite at NASA Langley Research Center to support algorithmic research in robotic manipulation. Additional work exploring simulation accuracy in Gazebo/ROS environments, software architectures for precision assembly, and the modeling of deformable objects for lunar outfitting operations demonstrates Cooper's broad technical range. With a growing body of peer-reviewed publications and over 25 cumulative citations, Cooper represents an emerging voice in the development of the autonomous robotic infrastructure that will underpin humanity's long-term presence in space.