Patrick Durkin

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Patrick Durkin is a robotics researcher specializing in autonomous systems for extreme coastal environments, with a focus on surfzone and nearshore operations. His work addresses the critical challenge of collecting seamless topography and bathymetry data in the hazardous surfzone—a region that poses significant risks to human surveyors. Durkin's major contribution lies in adapting commercial off-the-shelf amphibious robots, such as the Bayonet-350, for coastal surveying by integrating real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS masts, enabling centimeter-level positioning accuracy across the beachface and nearshore. His research demonstrates how these bottom-crawling platforms can safely and cost-effectively replace traditional manned surveys in dangerous breaking-wave zones. Durkin's most cited work, "Amphibious Uncrewed Ground Vehicle for Coastal Surfzone Survey" (2023, 4 citations), establishes a proof-of-concept for autonomous coastal monitoring. His 2022 study evaluating autonomous system performance at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center's Field Research Facility in Duck, North Carolina, highlights his use of this premier testbed to validate robotic capabilities under real-world wave conditions. Durkin's ongoing efforts are paving the way for safer, more efficient coastal data collection, with potential applications in shoreline management, storm response, and climate change monitoring.