Tracy Heath Pastore

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Tracy Heath Pastore is a pioneering researcher in autonomous mobile robotics, with a primary focus on security and defense applications. Her work centers on developing robotic systems for outdoor security, counter-tunnel exploration, and autonomous navigation in challenging environments. Pastore’s most notable contribution is the Mobile Detection Assessment and Response System-Exterior (MDARS-E), a comprehensive robotic security solution for outdoor storage facilities, featuring multiple supervised autonomous platforms equipped with intruder detection and barrier assessment capabilities. This foundational work, published in 1999, has garnered 32 citations and established her as an early innovator in security robotics. She has also advanced the field of subterranean robotics through her research on covert tunnel exploration, mapping, and localization using unmanned ground vehicles—critical work addressing vulnerabilities that enable illegal border crossings and potential terrorist activity. Pastore’s research directly addresses real-world security challenges, from protecting critical infrastructure to countering cross-border threats. Her contributions have helped shape modern approaches to autonomous security systems and demonstrate the practical impact of robotics in national defense applications.