Joseph Carsten graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2005 with a M.S. in Robotics. While there, he developed a three-dimensional path planning algorithm as well as an obstacle detection scheme based on LIDAR. Since then he has been a member of the JPL technical staff. At JPL, he has been involved in field test campaigns, and worked on stereo vision, obstacle detection, and path planning software. He has also done flight software development, as well as mission operations work for the Mars Exploration Rover and Phoenix Lander projects.
M.S. in Robotics (2005) from Carnegie Mellon University
Thesis: The Field D* Algorithm for Efficient Path Replanning in Three Dimensions
Research Advisor: Tony Stentz
B.S. in Engineering, Electrical Specialty (2002) from Colorado School of Mines (with Highest Honors)
Minor: Computer Science
Senior Design Project: Design and implementation of a small mobile robot for a K-12 outreach program.
Software Engineer
Member of the MER operations mobility/IDD downlink analysis team. In training for rover planner duties (10/06 to present).
Member of the Phoenix Lander mission operations team. Performed downlink analysis, tactical sequence development, and strategic testing activities (4/08 to 10/08).
Produced a stereo vision and obstacle detection package for the Navys SPAWAR program (1/06 to 4/08).
Developed software to collect and verify sensor data from the MSL terminal descent sensor test bed. Assisted in the creation of operational procedures and field testing(1/06 to 12/06).
Integrated the D* path planning algorithm into the MER flight software (7/05 to 6/07).
Path Planning, Obstacle Detection, Mobile Robots, Robotic Intelligence
