Pengcheng Cao
University of California San Diego, Idaho National Laboratory
Papers
4
Total Citations
13
H-Index
2
About
Pengcheng Cao is a robotics researcher whose work bridges open-source education, bio-inspired design, and high-stakes autonomous systems. His most influential contribution, **BeagleRover** (7 citations), is an open-source, 3D-printable robotic platform that democratizes hands-on engineering education, enabling students and researchers to build and program a complete rover at minimal cost. In the realm of aerial robotics, Cao tackles critical challenges: he developed **mission-oriented trajectory optimization** for multirotor UAVs in cluttered, GPS-denied environments—directly advancing search-and-rescue capabilities. His bio-inspired **QuadGlider** design introduces a hybrid UAV with compliant wings, aiming to overcome the limited flight endurance of conventional multirotors. Most recently, Cao is leading the **Autonomous Pit Exploration System** project, a multi-robot system designed for the autonomous inspection of nuclear waste storage tank pits—a dangerous, real-world application requiring robust coordination and perception. With each paper building toward practical, deployable solutions, Cao’s work demonstrates a clear trajectory from accessible educational tools to life-saving and industrial inspection robots, marking him as a rising figure in field robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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