Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Mark A. Willis is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of neuroscience, animal behavior, and robotics, with a specialized focus on chemosensory navigation and olfactory plume tracking. His work has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how animals — particularly moths — locate distant, unseen resources by following chemical plumes through turbulent air and water environments. Willis has made landmark contributions by translating biological plume-tracking strategies into functional robotic systems, developing moth-inspired algorithms such as the Counter-turner and Modified counter-turner that enable autonomous robots to navigate complex odor landscapes in three dimensions. Across more than a decade of influential publications, Willis and his collaborators constructed sophisticated robotic platforms — including wind tunnel-mounted gantry systems — to rigorously test and validate biologically derived navigation strategies. His research has practical implications for detecting hazardous material spills and locating toxic substances safely. With over 190 cumulative citations, his body of work, including widely read reviews such as "Chemical Plume Tracking Behavior in Animals and Mobile Robots" (2008) and "Sensorimotor Control of Navigation in Arthropod and Artificial Systems" (2004), has become essential reading for researchers in biorobotics, neuroethology, and chemical sensing. Willis exemplifies the productive synergy between biological insight and engineering innovation.