DLAR Lab members Tom Xiao and Connor Sumner recently attended the SOURCE Spring Showcase, where they presented their innovative research. The event provided an excellent platform for showcasing student-driven projects and fostering collaboration within the academic community.

We are also excited to announce the 2025 Spring Showcase! Please save the dates for the upcoming Orange Talks & Award Reception and the Poster Session & Interactive Displays:

• Orange Talks & Award Reception:
  Thursday, March 27, 2025 – 4:00-6:00 pm
  Bird Library, Peter Graham Scholarly Commons (Room 114)

Stay tuned for more details, and we look forward to seeing you there!

All four of our graduate students from the DLAR Lab—Jing Cheng, Yasser Alqaham, Jiayu Ding, and Rohit Jakkula—presented their innovative research at the 2025 Research Day, showcasing the cutting-edge work being done in robotics.

We are proud to announce that Jing Cheng earned Second Place (tied) for her presentation on “Harnessing Natural Oscillations for High-Speed, Efficient Asymmetrical Locomotion in Quadrupedal Robots,” advised by Dr. Zhenyu Gan. Jing’s research focuses on improving the efficiency of quadrupedal locomotion through natural oscillations, contributing to high-speed robotic movement.

Yasser Alqaham received an Honorable Mention for his presentation on “16 Ways to Gallop: Energetics and Body Dynamics of High-Speed Quadrupedal Gaits,” also advised by Dr. Zhenyu Gan. Yasser’s work analyzes the energetic efficiency and body dynamics of various galloping gaits for quadrupedal robots.

Congratulations to all of our graduate students for their outstanding presentations and well-deserved recognition!

The DLAR Lab has submitted a paper titled “16 Ways to Gallop: Energetics and Body Dynamics of High-Speed Quadrupedal Gaits” to IROS 2025. The paper, authored by Yasser G. Alqaham, Jing Cheng, and Zhenyu Gan, systematically analyzes various galloping gaits, focusing on their energetic efficiency and body dynamics. The study investigates different galloping footfall sequences, exploring how the number of flight phases and the phase relationships between the front and rear legs impact energy consumption.

Using the A1 quadrupedal robot, the team employed hybrid dynamics and trajectory optimization to minimize the cost of transport across a range of speeds. The results demonstrate that the number of flight phases significantly influences energy efficiency, with galloping gaits with two flight phases showing the best performance at higher speeds. These findings offer valuable insights for improving the efficiency of quadrupedal robots and advancing high-speed locomotion strategies.

The full paper and more details can be found on our GitHub: https://github.com/DLARlab/16WaystoGallop

The DLAR Lab recently participated in a delightful outing with the Form and Function Focus Group, hosted at Professor Linda C. Ivany’s beautiful horse farm. This event offered a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration, as members from various fields gathered to discuss biomechanics, robotics, and bioinspired systems in a relaxed and engaging setting. The outing not only provided valuable insights but also fostered team building and strengthened connections within the group. We are grateful to Prof. Ivany for her hospitality and for organizing such an enriching experience!

Two teams supervised by the DLAR Lab recently attended the BWSI Autonomous Racecar IAP 2024 in Boston, a part of the prestigious Beaver Works Summer Institute hosted by MIT. The six-week program, offered through Orange Works with support from ASPI and the College of Engineering and Computer Science, provides high school students with the opportunity to work on autonomous systems.

As part of the Autonomous Racecar Grand Prix, 15 New York high school students worked in teams to build, program, and race small remote-controlled vehicles on a challenging course. They gained hands-on experience coding navigation programs in Python and using advanced sensors to detect objects and navigate obstacles. This initiative is part of a broader effort by ASPI to expand autonomous systems education at Syracuse University, providing unique learning experiences for local teens.

The teams’ participation in this event reflects the DLAR Lab’s ongoing commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers and roboticists. We look forward to seeing how these students continue to innovate in the field of autonomous systems!

For more information about the event, visit BWSI Autonomous Racecar IAP 2024.

Connor Sumner recently presented his work on the racecar project at the SOURCE Summer Symposium, an event that showcases outstanding undergraduate research. His presentation highlighted innovative approaches in racecar design and engineering, demonstrating the practical applications of his research. The symposium provided a platform for students to share their scholarly and creative projects with the campus community.

Jing Cheng and Jiayu Ding from the DLAR Lab participated in the 20th Annual Dynamic Walking Conference held from May 27–30, 2024 in Pensacola, Florida. This interdisciplinary event brought together experts in biomechanics, robotics, and locomotion to discuss advancements in legged systems. The conference featured presentations on energetics, stability, control, and dynamic modeling, as well as hands-on demonstrations of cutting-edge robotic platforms .​ Their attendance at this prestigious conference underscores the DLAR Lab’s commitment to staying at the forefront of research in dynamic locomotion and robotics.

The DLAR Lab is excited to showcase the A1 and GO2 robots, two cutting-edge platforms designed for advanced locomotion and agility. The A1, a quadrupedal robot, demonstrates exceptional stability and mobility across varied terrains, while the GO2 robot showcases impressive versatility and adaptability in dynamic environments. Both robots are equipped with state-of-the-art control systems and sensors, enabling them to perform complex tasks with precision. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to push the boundaries of robotic innovation!

Cherry Kim, Lillian A. McGowen, Stefano T. Ingargiola, and Joseph T. Capra recently presented their final capstone project for Electrolux. Their year-long senior design project focused on selecting and evaluating Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for Electrolux’s factory in Kinston, NC. The primary goal was to streamline and automate the transportation of parts within the facility, enhancing manufacturing efficiency.

Throughout the project, the team worked diligently on navigating AGV technology choices, optimizing factory routes, and determining the required number of vehicles based on the factory’s throughput and operational demands. Their final presentation demonstrated their comprehensive approach to the project and the practical solutions they developed to improve Electrolux’s operations.

Dr. Zhenyu Gan recently attended the Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) Principal Investigator (PI) meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The event provided an excellent opportunity for networking and collaboration with fellow researchers, sharing insights on the latest advancements in robotics research. Dr. Gan is excited to bring new knowledge and ideas back to the DLAR Lab to further enhance ongoing projects in legged robotics and adaptive control.

The DLAR Lab is thrilled to participate in the ECS Open House 2024! Join us as we showcase our latest innovation, the GO2 robot dog. Visitors will have the opportunity to witness this cutting-edge robot in action, demonstrating advanced locomotion and adaptability.

But that’s not all! We’ll also be joined by Otto the Orange, who will show off some dance moves alongside our robots! This exciting event blends robotics with school spirit in a fun and interactive way. Come meet our team, explore our projects, and get an up-close look at the future of robotics. Don’t miss the chance to experience the groundbreaking work of the DLAR Lab. We look forward to seeing you there!