Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Andy Borum is a leading researcher at the intersection of robotics, mechanics, and deformable object manipulation. His work focuses on the fundamental challenge of planning and controlling the motion of elastic rods—objects that bend, twist, and buckle—using robotic grippers. Borum’s major contributions include developing novel motion planning strategies that treat the configuration space of an elastic rod as a smooth, finite-dimensional manifold, enabling precise manipulation by multiple robotic arms. His 2020 paper on dual-arm manipulation of elastic rods, with 42 citations, is a cornerstone in the field, demonstrating how to navigate the complex equilibrium shapes of these deformable objects. He has also advanced the manipulation of planar elastic rods with multiple grippers (15 citations) and conducted comparative analyses of motion planning for closed kinematic chains (15 citations). Notably, Borum’s 2021 work on automated stability testing of helical elastic rods introduces a robotic system for repetitive, high-degree-of-freedom testing, bridging theory and experiment. His research is essential for applications in manufacturing, surgical robotics, and soft robotics, where precise control of flexible materials is critical.