Kevin Orpen
Papers
1
Total Citations
4
H-Index
1
About
Kevin Orpen is a roboticist dedicated to democratizing underwater exploration through open-source autonomy. His primary research focuses on the design, simulation, and control of low-cost, accessible autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Orpen’s most significant contribution is the creation of the LoCO AUV—a Low-Cost, Open Autonomous Underwater Vehicle. This general-purpose, vision-guided robot is uniquely designed for single-person deployment and is rated to depths of 100 meters. By prioritizing an open and expandable architecture, Orpen’s work directly challenges the prohibitive costs of traditional marine robotics, making underwater technology accessible to smaller labs and citizen scientists. His foundational paper on the LoCO AUV, which has garnered early citations, details not only the vehicle’s hardware but also a dedicated simulator in Gazebo, enabling rapid prototyping and algorithm development without expensive field trials. This holistic approach—from physical design to virtual testing—marks Orpen as a key figure in the push for more inclusive and iterative marine robotics research.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1