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About

Elizabeth A. Jensen is a leading researcher in multi-robot systems, specializing in autonomous exploration, coverage, and patrolling under severe communication constraints. Her work addresses critical challenges in deploying robot teams into unknown or hazardous environments—such as collapsed buildings—where communication is limited or unavailable. Jensen’s most influential contribution is the Rolling Dispersion Algorithm (RDA), a novel approach that enables small robot teams to systematically explore and cover unknown areas even when they cannot communicate. Her 2013 paper on rolling dispersion (17 citations) and her 2018 work on communication-restricted exploration (20 citations) have become foundational references in the field, demonstrating that full coverage is achievable with basic robots and minimal coordination. Jensen has also advanced sustainable multi-robot patrol, introducing algorithms that maintain coverage over long durations while accounting for robot failures and battery constraints. Her research extends to social robotics and gerontological applications, exploring how robotic assistants and health monitoring devices can support aging populations. With over 75 total citations across her most-cited works, Jensen’s algorithms are widely used in search-and-rescue, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection—proving that even simple, communication-limited robots can accomplish complex missions.