Thomas M. McKenna

Newcastle University, Office of Naval Research

Papers

Total Citations

316

H-Index

About

Thomas M. McKenna is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of neuroethology, robotics, and neural network theory. His seminal work, "Biological neural networks in invertebrate neuroethology and robotics" (1994, 306 citations), stands as a landmark contribution, demonstrating how insights from invertebrate neural control systems can directly inspire robotic locomotion and orientation. McKenna championed interdisciplinary exchange, bridging biology and engineering to model neural circuits that govern movement and implementing these principles in physical robots. His research emphasizes that understanding simple, efficient biological networks—like those in insects—offers powerful blueprints for adaptive, statically stable robotic platforms, as seen in his later work on the "Stastaball" ball robot (2023). Beyond his highly cited monograph, McKenna organized influential workshops, including the 1993 "Locomotion Control in Legged Invertebrates," which catalyzed collaboration between neurobiologists and roboticists. His contributions have shaped the field of bio-inspired robotics, demonstrating how invertebrate neuroethology can solve complex control problems, from dynamic balancing to omnidirectional mobility. McKenna’s work remains essential reading for students and researchers seeking to understand how nature’s neural solutions can drive next-generation autonomous systems.