Saunon R. Malekshahi

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Saunon R. Malekshahi is a robotics researcher whose work focuses on the design and control of novel locomotion systems, with a particular emphasis on spherical tensegrity robots. His major contribution lies in developing strategies for these unique, lightweight structures to navigate challenging, steep inclined surfaces—a problem that has historically limited the deployment of spherical robots in real-world environments. His most cited work, "Inclined surface locomotion strategies for spherical tensegrity robots" (2017), introduces a teleoperated robot controlled by a novel scheme that simultaneously actuates multiple cables. Through hardware experiments, Malekshahi demonstrated robust climbing capabilities on steep slopes, proving the viability of tensegrity structures for rough terrain. This foundational paper has garnered 41 citations, establishing him as a key figure in the niche field of tensegrity robotics. His research bridges the gap between soft robotics and traditional rigid-body locomotion, offering new possibilities for planetary exploration, search-and-rescue, and environmental monitoring where conventional wheeled or legged robots struggle.