Marilyn N. Abrams

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Marilyn N. Abrams is a pioneering researcher in intelligent control systems for autonomous unmanned vehicles, with a career-spanning focus on real-world navigation and obstacle avoidance. Her most cited work, "Intelligent Control for Unmanned Vehicles" (2000, 8 citations), documents the development of the NIST robot vehicle—a modified HMMWV equipped with advanced sensors and computer-controlled actuators. This groundbreaking system demonstrated autonomous off-road driving at speeds up to 35 km/h, detecting obstacles as far as 50 meters away using a 30°x6° sensor array. Abrams' contributions lie in bridging theoretical control algorithms with practical, ruggedized platforms, proving that autonomous vehicles could navigate complex, unstructured environments. Her work at NIST laid foundational principles for later autonomous ground vehicle systems, influencing both military and civilian applications. While her citation count reflects the niche, applied nature of her research, the direct impact of her field trials—where the vehicle successfully traversed NIST's back fields while avoiding large obstacles—showcases her commitment to verifiable, real-world performance. Abrams remains a respected figure in intelligent vehicle control, known for rigorous testing and integration of perception and actuation systems.