Prof. Vijay Kumar is a world-renowned roboticist known for his acclaimed and seminal work in developing agile, smart, safe and multi-robot systems. He is currently the Nemirovsky Family Dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science. He holds appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Computer and Information Science, and Electrical and Systems Engineering. In 2014, IIT Kanpur conferred upon him the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2014 for academic excellence.
Prof. Vijay Kumar received his B.Tech. in mechanical engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1983 and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1987. He then joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics with a secondary appointment in the Department of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1987, he has held several administrative positions at the university including Director, General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) lab aimed at advancing innovation in robotics and develop new products and services; Deputy Dean for Research in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, 2000-2004; and Chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, 2005-2008. He has also served as the assistant director of Robotics and Cyber Physical Systems at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, 2012-2013. He is a fellow of ASME and IEEE and has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors. He is the founder of Exyn Technologies, an advisor to Treeswift, and serves on the board of WeRobotics and O2Micro.
