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NeuroRobotics Research

In the NeuroRobotics research cluster in the Roger E. Susi Interdisciplinary Research Building at Case Western Reserve University, biologists and scientists answer fundamental questions about neurons, nervous systems, brains, neural networks, soft mechanics, fluid dynamics and behaviors. The cluster’s engineers and sociologists are driven by solving problems in artificial intelligence, automation, future infrastructure, and education. Researchers examine how these technologies affect people and communities, how they interface with public, civil society, and governmental institutions, and how emerging robotics shape, and are shaped by, law, regulation, and policy.

Student Opportunities

The NeuroRobotics cluster hosts students and researchers at all levels, from high school and undergraduate volunteers up through postdoctoral and visiting researchers. Motivated individuals interested in advancing the work of the cluster are encouraged to get involved and can sit on on lab meetings in areas of their interest. Across different lab groups, the cluster engages an average of 200 individuals throughout the year, including over the summer.

Research Areas in NeuroRobotics

Robotics, specifically applied biorobotics

  • Robots that model biology and adaptive behaviors
  • Simulations that enable novel modeling of locomotion, manipulation and intelligence in natural environments
  • New automatable machines for environmental cleanup, environmental testing, and infrastructure installation
  • Intuitive interfaces for controlling robots by mapping hand motions to robot motions
  • Robotic applications of soft material

Biology, neurophysiology, computational neuroscience, and neuroethology of adaptive behavior

  • How do simple animals thrive in complex ecologies? 
  • How do their brains and nervous systems adapt and remember how to use their soft and hard physiology to grasp, manipulate, locomote, and navigate?
  • Animals studied include insects (especially moths and flies), sea invertebrates, crabs, turtles, running quadrupeds like rats and dogs 

Applied mathematics

  • Mathematical modeling of central pattern generators and dynamical systems architectures, such as stable heteroclinic channels, and how central circuits incorporate sensory feedback for robust motor control

Sociology

  • Societal Impacts, Public Interfaces, and Law & Policy
  • Research on NeuroRobotics raises questions about how new robotic capabilities affect people’s daily lives, including quality‑of‑life improvements and potential disparities in access and outcomes
  • How does robotics research interface with public, civil society, and with government institutions? And how do emerging technologies shape—and are shaped by—law, regulation, and policy?

Materials and Polymer Science

Faculty and Researchers in the NeuroRobotics Cluster

To learn more about NeuroRobotics, contact cluster faculty lead Kathryn Daltorio or meet the team of researchers below.

Engineers

  • Dr. Cao headshot smiling slightly in dark blue blazer and open-necked light blue button-down shirt

    Changyong (Chase) Cao, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: changyong.cao@case.edu

  • Kathryn Daltorio

    Kathryn Daltorio

    Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: kathryn.daltorio@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.6189

  • Gourav Datta

    Gourav Datta

    Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: gourav.datta@case.edu

  • Robert Gao

    Robert Gao, PhD, MS, BS

    Chair, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Cady Staley Professor of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: robert.gao@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.6045

  • Chengyu Li headshot

    Chengyu Li

    Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: chengyu.li5@case.edu

  • Zach Patterson Headshot

    Zachary Patterson

    Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: zpatt@case.edu

  • Roger Quinn

    Roger Quinn, PhD

    Distinguished University Professor and Arthur P. Armington Professor of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Director, Biologically Inspired Robotics, Case School of Engineering

    Email: roger.quinn@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.3222

  • Sam Root headshot

    Samuel Root

    Assistant Professor, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: ser132@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.6654

  • Portrait of Hyoung Suk Suh

    Hyoung Suk Suh, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: hssuh@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.5762

  • Headshot of Brian Taylor

    Brian Taylor, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Secondary Appointment, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

    Email: bkt2@case.edu

    Phone: 216-368-5787

  • Edward headshot

    Edward Wang

    Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: pxw206@case.edu

  • Gary Wnek

    Gary Wnek

    Department Chair, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Joseph F. Toot Jr. Professor of Engineering, Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case School of Engineering

    Email: gary.wnek@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.3116

  • Xiong Yu headshot

    Xiong (Bill) Yu, PhD

    Department Chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Opal J. and Richard A. Vanderhoof Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Professor, Department of Computer and Data Sciences, Case School of Engineering
    Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Case School of Engineering
    Faculty Affiliate, The Great Lakes Energy Institute
    Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Smart, Secure, and Connected Systems
    Director, Laboratory on Multiscale Multiphysics Geoengineering Processes, Case School of Engineering
    Director, Intelligent Infrastructure and Smart Systems Laboratory, Case School of Engineering

    Email: xiong.yu@case.edu

    Phone: 216.368.6247

Scientists