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Dr. Zhenyu Gan served as a faculty leader for Orange Works, Syracuse University’s innovative STEM education program that introduces local high school students to autonomous systems and artificial intelligence. Hosted by the University’s Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (ASPI), the program brought together talented students to build and program scale-model autonomous race cars.

Throughout the four-week initiative, students worked hands-on with advanced technology, learning to navigate complex challenges in robotics and AI. The program utilized workshop modules from MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute/Lincoln Laboratory, a renowned hub for autonomous systems innovation and STEM education.

As part of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering faculty team, Dr. Gan guided students through the technical aspects of autonomous vehicle design and programming. The students’ dedication culminated in a journey to MIT’s campus in early August, where they competed in the Beaver Works challenge against 10 other teams, including international participants from Greece and Japan.

The program exemplifies Syracuse University’s commitment to advancing STEM education and fostering innovation in the Central New York community. Through hands-on learning experiences, Orange Works prepares the next generation of engineers and technologists to shape the future of autonomous systems.

PhD student Yasser Alqaham attended the 2025 American Control Conference (ACC) in Denver, Colorado, from July 8-10, 2025, where he presented the paper “Refining Motion for Peak Performance: Identifying Optimal Gait Parameters for Energy-Efficient Quadrupedal Bounding.” The work, co-authored with Jing Cheng and Dr. Zhenyu Gan, was presented in the Control of Robotic Systems and Mechatronics session on Thursday, July 10, 2025. This research focuses on optimizing gait parameters to improve energy efficiency in quadrupedal robots, contributing to advances in the dynamics and control of legged locomotion systems.

Date: July 8-10, 2025
Location: Denver, Colorado

Dr. Zhenyu Gan attended the 2025 Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) Annual Meeting on June 27 at the Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY. This major regional event brought together faculty, industry partners, and researchers to discuss advances and collaboration opportunities in AI, robotics, 5G/6G wireless, secure edge computing, and quantum technology for national defense applications.

As part of the ECS delegation, Dr. Gan contributed to the Wireless 5G/6G & Robotics focus area and shared recent work from the Dynamic Locomotion and Robotics Lab. SU faculty presented research posters, demonstrated projects, and participated in networking sessions to foster new collaborations. The event also featured one-page summaries highlighting each participant’s expertise and research strengths.

Thank you to the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the NORDTECH organizers for making this opportunity possible. We look forward to continuing partnerships and innovation in defense-related technology.

Dr. Zhenyu Gan was invited to present his latest research, “Energy-Optimal Asymmetrical Gait Selection for Quadrupedal Robots,” at the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), held in Boston, Massachusetts. ICRA is the world’s premier conference in robotics and automation, bringing together thousands of researchers and industry leaders from across the globe to share advances in robotics theory, technology, and applications.

In addition to giving his talk, Dr. Gan served as Session Chair for the “Planning and Control for Legged Robots 1” session, guiding discussions on cutting-edge topics in legged locomotion, agile robot control, and dynamic planning. The session featured leading research on planning algorithms, control strategies, and hardware innovations enabling next-generation legged robots to operate efficiently and robustly in challenging environments.

ICRA 2025 provided an outstanding forum for exchanging ideas, building collaborations, and advancing the field of robotics. Dr. Gan’s contributions helped spotlight Syracuse University’s leadership in legged robotics research.

We are thrilled to announce that Jing Cheng, PhD student in the Dynamic Locomotion and Robotics Lab, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award at Syracuse University. This prestigious honor recognizes teaching assistants who demonstrate exceptional commitment, effectiveness, and impact in supporting student learning.

Jing’s dedication to teaching and mentorship has made a truly distinguished contribution to the academic experience in our department. The Outstanding TA Award is reserved for those in good academic standing who go above and beyond in their instructional roles.

Jing will be recognized at the award ceremony on Thursday, April 24, 4:00-6:30 pm in Schine 304ABC. This event will also honor recipients of the Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award.

On behalf of the entire SU community, congratulations to Jing for this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your invaluable service to students and faculty!

We are excited to welcome prospective students and families to the Dynamic Locomotion and Robotics Lab as part of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Open House at Syracuse University! Join us on Saturday, April 12, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in 017 Link Hall. Our lab will be open for walk-in visitors, with demonstrations and opportunities to meet current graduate researchers Jing Cheng and Jiayu Ding.

The ECS Open House is a unique event for high school students and families to explore the breadth of engineering and computer science at Syracuse. Multiple labs across Link Hall and Bowne Hall will be participating—look for balloons outside the lab doors to find open spaces.

All ECS Open House participants are also invited to join us for lunch at 11:30 a.m. in Miron Victory Court (orange wristband required; pick one up in the Link Hall Lobby Saturday morning).

Download the full event program here:
Open House Program (PDF)

We look forward to meeting you and sharing our passion for robotics and dynamic locomotion.
Go Orange!

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!