Joshua Citron

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About

Joshua Citron is a robotics researcher focused on advancing manipulation in complex, cluttered environments. His key research areas include tactile sensing, robot action primitives, and autonomous retrieval in dense clutter. Citron’s major contribution is the development of tactile-informed action primitives—specifically “burrowing” and “excavating”—that enable robots to fluidize obstructed scenes and mitigate jamming when retrieving objects from lateral access spaces. This work, published in 2024, addresses a critical challenge in robotic manipulation: the inability to move objects when they become jammed against walls or adjacent items. By integrating tactile feedback to guide these primitives, Citron’s approach allows robots to dynamically unjam obstacles and complete retrieval tasks that were previously infeasible. Though early in his career, his paper has already garnered 3 citations, signaling growing interest from the manipulation and field robotics communities. Citron’s research holds promise for applications in warehouse automation, disaster response, and assistive robotics, where reliable object retrieval in tight, unpredictable spaces is essential. His innovative use of tactile data to inform action selection marks a notable step toward more adaptive and resilient robotic systems.