Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

D. A. Howell is a leading figure in time-domain astronomy, whose work has been instrumental in building the infrastructure for modern, rapid-response astrophysics. His primary research focus is on the robotic telescope networks that enable the study of transient phenomena, from supernovae to exoplanets. Howell’s major contribution is his leadership in the development and operation of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT), a revolutionary facility described in his highly cited 2014 paper (13 citations). This network comprises nine 1-meter and two 2-meter robotic telescopes, dynamically scheduled across five global sites, providing unprecedented, continuous sky coverage. His 2011 paper (5 citations) laid the groundwork for this pan-network scheduling approach, a key innovation that allows for seamless, rapid follow-up of fleeting cosmic events. By architecting a fully robotic, homogeneously instrumented system, Howell has enabled a new era of time-domain science, providing the global community with a powerful, always-ready tool to capture the dynamic universe.