Marc Boyron

Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Papers

Total Citations

139

H-Index

About

Marc Boyron is a leading figure in bio-inspired robotics, with a focus on aerial and terrestrial locomotion and insect-inspired navigation. His work bridges the gap between biology and engineering, creating novel robotic systems that mimic the adaptability and efficiency of insects. Boyron’s most notable contribution is the **X-Morf** (2017, 60 citations), a crash-separable quadrotor that actively changes its X-geometry in flight via a scissor joint, enabling unprecedented resilience and maneuverability. This design represents a paradigm shift in drone robustness. In parallel, Boyron has pioneered bio-inspired sensing for autonomous navigation. He developed a **local positioning system using flickering infrared LEDs** (2017, 39 citations) that estimates relative position with insect-like precision, and a **novel optical compass sensor** (2017, 21 citations) that uses skylight polarization—inspired by ant and bee navigation—to provide reliable orientation in magnetically disturbed outdoor environments. His work on a **bio-inspired celestial compass** (2017, 19 citations) further demonstrates how ultraviolet skylight can guide autonomous robots without GPS. Boyron’s research is highly cited and influential, offering practical, nature-inspired solutions for robust, autonomous robotics.