Laura E. Barnes

The University of Texas at Arlington, University of South Florida

Papers

Total Citations

179

H-Index

About

Laura E. Barnes is a leading researcher in multi-agent systems and human-robot interaction, with a focus on swarm robotics and socially intelligent autonomous systems. Her pioneering work on swarm formation control, detailed in her highly cited 2009 paper (131 citations), introduced novel strategies using artificial potential fields generated from elliptical surfaces and limiting functions to organize unmanned vehicles into precise geometric formations. This foundational contribution has influenced the design of coordinated robotic swarms for applications in surveillance, exploration, and disaster response. Barnes also made significant early contributions to the field of urban search and rescue (USAR) robotics, as evidenced by her 2005 study (48 citations), which analyzed operator data from an Inuktun robot during a confined space training exercise. Her findings highlighted the critical need for social intelligence in rescue robots, demonstrating how effective human-robot collaboration depends on intuitive communication and situational awareness. With over 179 combined citations from these key works, Barnes’s research bridges theoretical control systems and practical human-centered design, shaping how robots operate in dynamic, real-world environments. Her work continues to inspire advances in autonomous teamwork and resilient robotic systems.