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About

P.J. McKerrow is a pioneering roboticist whose foundational work in sensing and data fusion has shaped modern mobile robotics. His landmark textbook, *Introduction to Robotics* (1991), with over 1,725 citations, remains a definitive resource that has educated generations of engineers and researchers. McKerrow’s primary research focuses on ultrasonic sensing, sensor fusion, and biologically inspired navigation. He made major contributions by developing binaural ultrasonic sensors capable of measuring both range and bearing to multiple targets—a critical advance for robot mapping and obstacle avoidance. His systems approach to data fusion established a four-level software architecture that remains influential for integrating multi-sensor data. Notably, McKerrow explored novel applications, including using continuous tone frequency modulation (CTFM) ultrasound and neural networks to classify plant species, enabling robots to recognize vegetation for navigation in natural environments. He also pioneered the use of lattice gas models to simulate ultrasonic wave scattering, helping researchers visualize otherwise invisible acoustic phenomena. With a career spanning foundational theory to applied sensing, McKerrow’s work has been cited over 1,800 times, underscoring his lasting impact on robotics education and autonomous systems research.