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About

Robert A. Hewitt is a leading researcher in autonomous robotics, specializing in multi-agent systems, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and planetary exploration. His work focuses on enabling robots to operate reliably in challenging, GPS-denied environments such as the Moon, mines, and industrial confined spaces. Hewitt’s major contributions include pioneering intensity-augmented SLAM using LiDAR and time-of-flight sensors (30 citations) and developing inter-robot range measurement techniques for pose graph optimization (19 citations), which allow teams of rovers to maintain accurate localization without prior maps. He is a key figure in the CADRE lunar technology demonstration mission (20 citations), which will deploy three cooperative rovers on the Moon’s surface—a landmark achievement in multi-agent autonomy for space exploration. Hewitt has also advanced thermal-inertial odometry for flying robots (11 citations) and robust vision-based navigation for MAVs at night (6 citations). His work on feature-based scanning LiDAR-inertial odometry (18 citations) addresses motion distortion in scanning sensors, while his absolute localization system for feature-poor spaces (4 citations) supports autonomous inspection in dark, confined areas. With over 100 total citations and a strong record of mission-driven research, Hewitt is shaping the future of autonomous exploration on Earth and beyond.