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About

Kenn R. Oldham is a leading researcher in microrobotics and MEMS-based actuation, whose work has significantly advanced the frontier of biologically inspired small-scale autonomous systems. Based primarily at the intersection of mechanical engineering, control theory, and microsystems technology, Oldham has built a distinguished body of research centered on thin-film piezoelectric actuators and their application to millimeter- and microscale robotic locomotion. His most influential contributions include pioneering the use of lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) thin-film actuators to drive multi-degree-of-freedom microrobotic legs capable of generating the forces and displacements needed to rival biological locomotion — work that has accumulated over 30 citations and inspired subsequent generations of micro-robotic designs. Oldham has also made substantial advances in dynamic modeling of legged microrobot locomotion, capturing contact dynamics and vibrational interactions in silicon hexapod platforms as small as 5mm × 2mm. Beyond hardware development, his contributions to energy-efficient control strategies — including optimal low-power on-off control and charge recovery methods for piezoelectric actuators — demonstrate a holistic engineering vision essential for untethered autonomous microrobots. With multiple papers exceeding 20 citations and a sustained publication record from 2007 through 2018, Oldham's research has profoundly shaped modern microrobotics, making him an essential reference for students and researchers entering the field.