Robert Michelson

Biography

Robert C. Michelson (born 1951) is a prominent American engineer and academic renowned for his groundbreaking development of the entomopter, an innovative aerial robot that mimics the flapping wings of insects. He also played a pivotal role in founding the International Aerial Robotics Competition, fostering advancements in aerial robotics. Michelson earned his degrees in electrical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

His career commenced at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, where he specialized in radar-based ocean surveillance systems. He later joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as a research faculty member, leading over 30 significant research initiatives at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Michelson has made substantial contributions to academic literature, holding three U.S. patents and publishing more than 100 papers, book chapters, and reports.

In addition to his research, he developed avionics courses and taught at the School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech until his retirement from the University System of Georgia in 2004. His accolades include the 1998 Pioneer Award from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the 2001 Pirelli Award for promoting scientific knowledge.

In the 1990s, Michelson founded a tax-exempt organization aimed at applying advanced technology to archaeology, leading several expeditions in eastern Anatolia. He currently oversees Millennial Vision, LLC, an engineering consulting firm, and has focused on the design of biologically inspired micro air vehicles. Michelson also holds certifications in diverse areas, including amateur radio, SCUBA diving, experimental aircraft design, and general contracting.