Papers
9
Total Citations
125
H-Index
7
About
Jacob Katz is a researcher at the intersection of space robotics, autonomous systems, and STEM education, with a body of work that has meaningfully advanced both the technical capabilities and public engagement of space-based robotics. His most recognized contribution is the Zero Robotics program, developed in collaboration with MIT's Space Systems Laboratory and Aurora Flight Sciences, which brought high school students into direct contact with real spacecraft programming aboard the International Space Station. This initiative, explored across multiple papers and accumulating nearly 60 citations, transformed the ISS into an educational platform and inspired a new generation of engineers. Beyond education, Katz has made substantive technical contributions in space robotics, including the development of the ASTRO path-planning algorithm for real-time obstacle-aware trajectory optimization, and pioneering work on human-machine interaction for teleoperated space robots. His research on autonomous on-orbit assembly — addressing the estimation and control of flexible space structures — tackles one of the most complex challenges in future space infrastructure. With over 125 total citations across his publications, Katz's work bridges rigorous engineering research and transformative educational outreach in the space domain.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4ZERO-Robotics: A student competition aboard the International Space Station12 citations · 2010
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- 6On-Orbit Assembly of Flexible Space Structures with SWARM9 citations · 2010
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- 8The Zero Robotics SPHERES challenge 20103 citations · 2011
- 9The Zero Robotics SPHERES challenge 20102 citations · 2011