William Crowther

About

Dr. William Crowther is a leading researcher in field robotics, specializing in mixed reality, aerial inspection, and autonomous vehicle control. His work bridges the gap between human operators and robotic systems in hazardous environments, with a focus on offshore energy infrastructure and high-density airspace management. Crowther’s most cited paper (2019, 8 citations) introduces a mixed reality framework for robotic inspection of remote environments, allowing humans and robots to coexist in a virtual-physical space to reduce operator risk. He has also made significant contributions to the safe operation of aerial inspection vehicles in high-voltage DC environments (2019, 6 citations), addressing electrostatic field impacts critical for offshore wind farm maintenance. His recent work on decentralized deconfliction of aerial robots (2024, 3 citations) tackles the challenge of future high-intensity air traffic without centralized control. Crowther’s earlier research includes dynamic capture of free-moving objects (2011, 3 citations) using stiffness control to minimize jerk, and the design of the innovative “Weed” six-wheel robot (2013, 2 citations) for the UK MOD Grand Challenge. His diverse portfolio demonstrates a career dedicated to advancing autonomous systems for real-world, high-stakes applications.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   A Mixed Reality Approach to Robotic Inspection of Remote Environments

   8 citations · 2019
2. 2
   Operation of aerial inspections vehicles in HVDC environments Part A: Evaluation and mitigation of high electrostatic field impact

   6 citations · 2019
3. 3
   Decentralized deconfliction of aerial robots in high intensity traffic structures

   3 citations · 2024
4. 4
   Dynamic capture of free-moving objects

   3 citations · 2011
5. 5
   Design, control, and performance of the ‘weed’ 6 wheel robot in the UK MOD grand challenge

   2 citations · 2013

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links