Craig R. Carignan

About

Craig R. Carignan is a pioneering robotics researcher whose work spans haptic systems, rehabilitation robotics, space robotics, and teleoperation. With a career marked by exceptional breadth and practical impact, Carignan has made foundational contributions to how humans interact with robotic systems both on Earth and in orbit. His most influential work focuses on haptic simulation and force feedback control, with his 2000 paper on closed-loop force control for virtual environments accumulating 172 citations, establishing critical principles for improving realism in haptic interfaces. Equally significant is his exploration of telerehabilitation robotics, where his 2006 study (135 citations) helped define the emerging field of internet-based robotic therapy, demonstrating how patients and therapists could collaboratively interact with virtual objects from remote locations. Carignan has also made lasting contributions to space robotics, investigating reaction stabilization of orbital manipulators, dexterous robotic end effectors for space operations, and astronaut training systems. His research on teleoperation under time delay addresses critical challenges for deep-space and hazardous-environment robotics. His arm exoskeleton work further bridges space and medical applications, advancing shoulder rehabilitation technology. Across all domains, Carignan exemplifies the rare researcher whose engineering innovations translate directly into real-world human benefit.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Closed-Loop Force Control for Haptic Simulation of Virtual Environments

   172 citations · 2000
2. 2
   Telerehabilitation robotics: Bright lights, big future?

   135 citations · 2006
3. 3
   The reaction stabilization of on-orbit robots

   87 citations · 2000
4. 4
   Effects of time delay on telerobotic control of neutral buoyancy vehicles

   80 citations · 2003
5. 5
   Cooperative control of virtual objects over the Internet using force-reflecting master arms

   69 citations · 2004
6. 6
   A Configuration-Space Approach to Controlling a Rehabilitation Arm Exoskeleton

   52 citations · 2007
7. 7
   Cooperative control of two arms in the transport of an inertial load in zero gravity

   47 citations · 1988
8. 8
   Development of a four-fingered dexterous robot end effector for Space operations

   38 citations · 2003
9. 9
   Advanced Operator Interface Design for Complex Space Telerobots

   28 citations · 2001
10. 10
    Using robots for astronaut training

    26 citations · 2003

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links