Donald B. Gennery

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Donald B. Gennery is a pioneering figure in space robotics and computer vision, best known for his foundational work in autonomous planetary exploration. As a key researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), he led early efforts to develop the sensing, computing, and mobility systems that would enable rovers to navigate unknown terrain without human intervention. His most cited paper, "Robotic vehicles for planetary exploration" (2003, 29 citations), outlines the core technologies—such as stereo vision and obstacle avoidance—that later underpinned missions like Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Exploration Rovers. Gennery also made significant contributions to real-time image processing with his design of PIFEX (1985, 4 citations), an advanced programmable pipelined-image processor capable of handling high-speed raster-scanned images. This work was instrumental in enabling onboard visual processing for robotic systems. Though his citation counts reflect a specialized field, his impact is profound: Gennery’s research directly shaped NASA’s approach to autonomous navigation, helping to turn the dream of mobile planetary exploration into reality. His legacy endures in every rover that rolls across the Martian surface.