Papers
17
Total Citations
415
H-Index
9
About
Denis Gillet is a researcher whose work sits at a distinctive crossroads of robotics, autonomous systems, and astrophysical instrumentation. He is perhaps best known for his contributions to the development of robotic fiber positioner systems for next-generation massive spectroscopic surveys, most notably the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), whose instrument design paper has accumulated an impressive 234 citations. His research addresses the complex engineering challenges of deploying thousands of precisely coordinated robotic fiber positioners across focal planes, tackling critical problems such as collision avoidance, supervisory coordination, and decentralized navigation functions. These contributions have directly enabled groundbreaking cosmological surveys studying dark energy, baryon acoustic oscillations, and the large-scale structure of the universe. Gillet has also extended his collision avoidance methodologies to broader robotics applications, including autonomous vehicle coordination at intersections and multi-robot systems with limited sensing fields. His coinage and championing of "astrobotics" — a dedicated discipline merging swarm robotics with observational astronomy — signals a forward-looking vision for the field. Additionally, his work on remote laboratories for science education demonstrates a commitment to broadening technological access for students and educators alike.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1The DESI Experiment Part II: Instrument Design234 citations · 2016
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- 3A robotic Focal Plane System (FPS) for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V23 citations · 2020
- 4An 8-mm diameter fibre robot positioner for massive spectroscopy surveys19 citations · 2015
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- 10Astrobotics: Swarm Robotics for Astrophysical Studies8 citations · 2021