Robert Codd-Downey

About

Robert Codd-Downey is a leading researcher in underwater robotics and human-robot interaction, with a focus on developing accessible, wireless teleoperation systems. His most influential work, "From ROS to Unity" (58 citations), pioneered the integration of robot middleware with virtual environments for immersive teleoperation, enabling more intuitive remote control of autonomous systems. Codd-Downey has made groundbreaking contributions to underwater communication, introducing Li-Fi-based wireless teleoperation (18 citations) as a low-cost alternative to fragile cables and acoustic modems. He also advanced diver-robot interaction through hand-signal recognition (12 citations) and diver detection with SCUBANet (12 citations), addressing the unique challenges of RF attenuation and cognitive loading underwater. His open-hardware platform, Milton (12 citations), democratizes underwater autonomous vehicle development by providing an affordable alternative to expensive commercial systems. Codd-Downey’s work on amphibious robots for monitoring underwater sensor networks (9 citations) and dynamic mobile interfaces like RCON (7 citations) further demonstrates his commitment to practical, field-deployable solutions. With over 140 total citations across his publications, Codd-Downey’s research continues to shape the future of underwater robotics, making complex subsea operations more accessible and efficient.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   From ROS to unity: Leveraging robot and virtual environment middleware for immersive teleoperation

   58 citations · 2014
2. 2
   Wireless Teleoperation of an Underwater Robot using Li-Fi

   18 citations · 2018
3. 3
   Human Robot Interaction Using Diver Hand Signals

   12 citations · 2019
4. 4
   Finding divers with SCUBANet

   12 citations · 2019
5. 5
   Milton: An open hardware underwater autonomous vehicle

   12 citations · 2017
6. 6
   Monitoring Underwater Sensors with an Amphibious Robot

   9 citations · 2011
7. 7
   RCON: Dynamic Mobile Interfaces for Command and Control of ROS-enabled Robots

   7 citations · 2015
8. 8
   LightByte: Communicating Wirelessly with an Underwater Robot using Light

   7 citations · 2018
9. 9
   Simulating the C2SM ‘Fast’ Robot

   5 citations · 2010
10. 10
    Building a ROS Node for a NMEA Depth and Temperature Sensor

    5 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links