August 29 Seminar: David Saldaña

August 29, 2025

Flight, Force, and Form: Rethinking Aerial Robotics through Physical Coupling

David Saldaña, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Lehigh University

3:00 pm, UNM Centennial Engineering Center, Room 1026
Online Guests: Contact Prof. Santhanam <bsanthan@unm.edu> for a Zoom link

Abstract: This talk introduces cooperative aerial robots that exploit physical coupling —via rigid links, cables, and deformables— to enable new capabilities in flight (mobility), force (interaction), and form (morphing). I highlight our recent research advances on cooperative transportation, object manipulation, and shape adaptation, driven by dynamics, control, and learning.

Bio: David Saldaña is an Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Engineering and director of the Swarms Lab at Lehigh University. His research focuses on multi-robot systems, swarm robotics, and aerial manipulation, with applications in environmental monitoring, disaster response, and construction. Saldaña’s work aims to develop resilient, adaptive robotic systems capable of operating in dynamic and unpredictable environments. He worked as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the GRASP Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his PhD in Computer Science, artificial intelligence and robotics, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil in 2017, and holds both M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in systems engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. His research has been recognized with support from the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research, including the NSF CAREER award.