ORGANIZATION

The RTI organizational chart, highlighting our highly-qualified staff for the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) project, is shown below.

KEY PERSONNEL

Senior Robotics Scientist: Dr. James S. Albus

Dr. James S. Albus earned a B.S. in Physics from Wheaton College (Illinois) in 1957, an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State University in 1958, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland (College Park) in 1972.

Dr. Albus founded and led the Intelligent Systems Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology for 20 years, then served as a Senior NIST Fellow 10 years. Retiring in 2008 after 51 years, as a member of the government’s Senior Executive Service, he was appointed a Senior Fellow at the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Studies at the George Mason University.

Over a long and varied career Dr. Albus is responsible for several major scientific contributions. During the 1960’s he designed electro-optical systems for more than 15 NASA spacecraft. During the 1970’s, he developed a model of the cerebellum that after 30 years is still a leading theoretical model used by cerebellar neurophysiologists today. Based on that model, he invented the CMAC neural net and co-invented the Real-time Control System (RCS). RCS is a reference model architecture for intelligent systems that has been used over the past 25 years for a number of systems including the NBS Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF), the NASA telerobotic servicer, a DARPA Multiple Autonomous Undersea Vehicle project, a nuclear Submarine Operational Automation System, a Post Office General Mail facility, a Bureau of Mines automated mining system, an Enhanced Machine Controller for General Motors Power Train, commercial open architecture machine tool controllers, and numerous advanced robotic projects, including the Army Research Lab Demo III Experimental Unmanned Ground vehicle. The latest version of the RCS architecture (4D/RCS) has been selected by the Army for the Autonomous Navigation Systems to be used on all Future Combat System ground vehicles, both manned and unmanned. He is also the inventor of the NIST RoboCrane. He is currently working with the Krasnow Institute and various government agencies on a concept for a National Program for Understanding the Mind (“Decade of the Mind”).

Dr. Albus has received numerous awards for his work in control theory including three NIST Applied Research Awards, the Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medals, the Industrial Research IR-100 award, the Presidential Rank Meritorious Executive, the Japanese Industrial Robot Association R&D Award, and the Joseph F. Engelberger Award for robotics technology. In 1998, he was named a “Hero of Manufacturing” by Fortune magazine.

Dr. Albus is the author of more than 200 scientific papers, journal articles, book chapters, and official government studies on intelligent systems and robotics. He has lectured extensively throughout the world and authored, co-authored, or edited six books:

• Intelligent Vehicle Systems: A 4D/RCS Approach – Nova Science Publishers, 2007
• Engineering of Mind: An Introduction to the Science of Intelligent Systems – Wiley, 2001
• Intelligent Systems: Architecture, Design, and Control - Wiley, 2002
• The RCS Handbook: Tools for Real-Time Control Systems Software Development – Wiley, 2001
• Brains, Behavior, and Robotics – Byte/McGraw-Hill, 1981
• Peoples’ Capitalism: The Economics of the Robot Revolution – New World Books, 1976

He is a member of the editorial board of the Wiley Series on Intelligent Systems serves on the editorial boards of six journals related to intelligent systems and robotics.

Associate Director of Engineering: Dr. Bilal M. Ayyub

Dr. Bilal M. Ayyub earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Kuwait in 1980, an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1981, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1983.

In addition to serving as an Associate Director of Engineering for Robotic Technology Inc., Dr. Ayyub is a Professor and Director of the Center for Technology and Systems Management at the University of Maryland (College Park). Dr. Ayyub has an extensive background in the analysis and development of intelligent systems, as well as uncertainty modeling and analysis, risk-based analysis and design, simulation, and marine structural reliability. He is engaged in research work involving uncertainty modeling and analysis, and mathematical modeling using the theories of probability, statistics, and fuzzy sets. He has completed several research projects that were funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and several engineering companies.

Dr. Ayyub has served the engineering community in various capacities through societies that include ASNE (life member), ASCE (fellow), ASME (fellow), SNAME (fellow), IEEE (senior member), and NAFIPS. He is a member of the ASME Research Committee of Risk Technology, and the ASME Committee on Human Factors. Recently, he chaired the ASCE Committee on the Reliability of Offshore Structures. He also was the General Chairman of the first, second and third International Symposia on Uncertainty Modeling and Analysis that were held in 1990, 1993, and 1995. Currently, he is the chairman of the design philosophy panel of the SNAME Ship Structures Committee.

He is the author and co-author of about 350 publications in journals and conference proceedings, and reports. His publications include four textbooks, as well as numerous edited books and book chapters. Dr. Ayyub is the only triple recipient of the ASNE "Jimmie" Hamilton Award for the best papers in the Naval Engineers Journal in 1985, 1992 and 2000. Also, he received the ASCE "Outstanding Research Oriented Paper" in the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management for 1987, the NAFIPS K.S. Fu Award for Professional Service in 1995, the ASCE Edmund Friedman Award in 1989, and the ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize in 1997. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized him for his contributions to the success of the 1995 Corps of Engineers Structural Engineering Conference, Fort Worth District, San Antonio, Texas, 1995. He recently received a Certificate of Appreciation, Research Task Force on Risk-Based Inspection Guidelines, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1998, and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Risk-based Technology Research Committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for contribution to several ASME research projects on risk-based inspection of industrial facilities, risk-informed design of mechanical systems, and applications of risk-based technology to U. S. Coast Guard marine systems, 1998. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) with the State of Maryland.

President: Dr. Robert Finkelstein

Dr. Robert Finkelstein earned a B.A. in Physics from Temple University in 1964, an M.S. in Physics from the University of Massachusetts in 1966, an M.S. in Operations Research from the George Washington University (GWU) in 1974, an Ap.Sci. (Applied Scientist degree) in Operations Research from GWU in 1977, a Doctorate in the primary field of Systems Theory and Cybernetics and the supporting field of the Management of Science, Technology, and Innovation from GWU in 1995, as well as an LL.B. in American law and Procedure from LaSalle Extension University in 1971, Diplomas from the U.S. Army Missile School in 1967 and the U.S. Army Ordnance School in 1966, Certificates from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Combat Obscuration Modeling in 1978 and the University of California, Los Angeles, in Battlefield Robotics in 1983, and post-graduate courses in Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during 1968-1970.

As Founder and President of Robotic Technology Inc. (RTI) from 1985 to the Present, Dr. Finkelstein is responsible for the development of autonomous intelligent robots and intelligent systems, technical analyses, technology assessments, operations research, business development, and other professional services, for government, industry, and academia - nationally and internationally - in military and civil advanced technology systems, especially robotics, unmanned vehicles, and intelligent systems.

Dr. Finkelstein also serves as Collegiate Professor at the University of Maryland University College in the Graduate School of Management and Technology, from 1999 to the Present, teaching graduate courses in: foundations of management and technology; strategic management of technology and innovation; systems and operations research; the manager in a technological society; principles of technology management; risk management; contract pricing and negotiation; and project management. Since 2008 he also serves as Director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory in the Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Previously, as a Systems Scientist with the MITRE Corporation, he was responsible for studies involving C3I, weapons systems analysis, robotics, and artificial intelligence. As a Member of the Technical Staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology he served as a physicist and operational analyst for the Apollo Manned Spaceflight Program, receiving the MIT Certificate of Commendation. As an Anti-Satellite Systems Officer with the U.S. Missile Intelligence Agency during the Vietnam War he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Dr. Finkelstein has authored more than a 200 technical reports and studies. He contributed articles to publications such as National Defense, Sea Power, and the Armed Forces Journal. Wrote a quarterly column and served on the Editorial Board for the journal Unmanned Systems, and served on the Editorial Board of the journal Mathematical Machines and Systems. His books include Unmanned Vehicle Systems: Military and Civil Robots for the 21st Century & Beyond, Pasha Publications in 1994, and Defense Year-Book 1992 (“Combat Robotics: From the Kaiser to the New World Order”), Brassey’s Publications.

He is a member of numerous Professional Societies, including: Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society), Omega Rho (Operations Research Honor Society), Beta Gamma Sigma (Business Honor Society), Institute For Operations Research and the Management Sciences, Washington Institute For Operations Research and Management Science, Military Operations Research Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physical Society, American Anthropological Association, American Association for Artificial Intelligence, American Society for Cybernetics, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International, Intelligent Transportation Society of America, National Defense Industrial Association, World Future Society, Washington Academy of Science, and Association for Intelligence Officers.

Senior Software Architect: Dennis T. Palazzo

Dennis T. Palazzo earned a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the City University of New York in 1973 and an M.S. in Physics from the State University of New York at Albany in 1975, followed by graduate studies in Computer Science at the State University of New York at Albany in 1976, graduate studies in Multivariate Statistics at the George Washington University in 1979. He also received on-going Microsoft training in C#, ASP.NET, web site design, Visual Basic, Microsoft Windows technologies, web site development, and other software-related topics.

Mr. Palazzo has designed and developed custom software solutions in the form of desktop and Internet applications, using the latest Microsoft technologies. He has expertise in: graphical presentation and visualization of complex data; software for estimation of project management metrics; statistical analysis and forecasting of time series data; Digital Dashboards and executive decision support systems; enterprise business intelligence (BI) systems; Web-enabled data presentation, trend analysis, and early warning systems; languages including Visual C++, C#, C++/CLI, Visual Basic, ASP.NET, (X)HTML, XML, and JavaScript; platforms including Visual Studio, .NET platform, native unmanaged platform, and COM/OLE; database technologies including MS Access, SQL Server Express, DAO, and ADO; MS Office integration including Native APIs (VBA) and VSTO for PowerPoint, MS Project, Excel; and legacy technologies including Pascal, Assembler, FORTRAN, dBase II/III, Clipper, Lotus 123, DOS, SPSS, mini-computers, and mainframes.

Senior Computer Scientist: Dr. Nikolay Tikhonov

Dr. Nikolay Tikhonov earned a B.S. and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Penza Polytechnic Institute (presently known as Penza State Technical University in Penza, Russia) in 1972, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from Moscow State Technical University MAMI (Moscow, Russia) in 1976.

He received additional training and experience with computer languages, including Visual C#.NET, C/C++, Visual C++ with MFC ,Visual Basic, MATLAB, Visual Studio.Net 2005, Visual Studio.Net 2003, Visual Studio 6, Java, COMMON LISP, Visual LISP and AUTOLISP, Pascal, Fortran, Web Page Design and Development using ASP.NET, ADO.NET, HTML, XML, UML, JavaScript, CSS. Experience in Development of Client/Server Applications and database SQL with ADO.NET, and ODBC; operating systems including MS-DOS/Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista, and UNIX/LINUX; database applications including Oracle, MS SQL, MySQL, Visual FoxPro, and Access; CAD software including AutoCAD and ProEngineer; analysis and other applications including MATLAB, Mathematica, Mathcad, Microsoft Office and Lotus.

For additional training he received a Certificate of Award from the U.S. National Academies, National Research Council, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB in 1999; a Certificate of Award from the U.S. National Academies, National Research Council, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Human Effectiveness Directorate in 2003.

Dr. Tikhonov received awards from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in 2002-2003, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2004-2005, and the U.S. Army Research Office in 2005-2007. He has extensive expertise in sensor processing, sensor networks, machine perception, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Tikhonov’s varied research includes: Artificial Intelligence, Networking/Internet Technology, Web Communications, Interfaces to SQL Databases, Object-Oriented Programming, Control Theory, Knowledge of Algorithms and Data Structures, Image Processing, Image Analysis and Recognition, Virtual Reality, Signal Processing, Multi-Sensory Feedback and Control, Robotics Dynamics and Kinematics, Object-oriented Design, Geometric Modeling and Motion Simulation, 2D/3D Computer Graphics, Parametric Design, Optimization, Neural Networks, Heuristic Search, Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing, Material Processing and Planning, Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus, Geometry of Curves and Surfaces in 3D, Fractal Geometry, Matrix Transformation Methods, Expert Systems, Relational Data Base, Developing Constraints Systems.
For more than 20 years Dr. Tikhonov served as a Professor, Researcher, and Associate Dean in Computer Science and Engineering at the Novgorod State University (Russia). He has published over 90 research papers.