Phillip Mullins

Papers

Total Citations

240

H-Index

About

Phillip Mullins is a pioneering roboticist whose work bridges the gap between human intuition and deep-sea exploration. His primary research areas center on haptic feedback, telepresence, and humanoid robotics for extreme environments. Mullins is best known as the lead creator of *Ocean One*, a bimanual humanoid robot designed to function as a “robotic avatar” for oceanic discovery. This groundbreaking system allows human operators to feel the seabed through force-sensitive arms and hands, effectively granting them a physical presence at depths unreachable by divers. The seminal paper detailing *Ocean One* has amassed over 240 citations, underscoring its influence on both marine archaeology and underwater robotics. Mullins’ major contribution lies in fusing high-fidelity haptics with autonomous navigation, enabling the robot to perform delicate tasks—such as recovering fragile artifacts from shipwrecks—while the pilot remains safely on deck. His work has been featured in *Science Robotics* and demonstrated in high-profile expeditions, including the exploration of the Lune wreck in the Mediterranean. For students and researchers, Mullins exemplifies how robotic avatars can extend human capability into the last uncharted frontier on Earth.