Samuel Zapolsky

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Samuel Zapolsky Ph.D. Homepage

Recent Info

I am currently the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Dextrous Robotics, where I lead a team of highly skilled engineers dedicated to revolutionizing the logistics space through cutting-edge robotics solutions. At Dextrous Robotics, we develop high-performance robotic systems that redefine how we tackle logistics challenges. I guide our team in creating robust software and hardware components for strong, precise, and fast-moving robotic systems set to reshape the logistics landscape. Excited to be at the forefront of this dynamic industry, I thrive on leveraging my skills to drive significant advancements in the field of robotics.

Dextrous Robotics

Transforming Logistics with Advanced Robotics

www.dextrousrobotics.com

At Dextrous Robotics, our unwavering commitment to high-performance execution goes hand in hand with our relentless pursuit of innovation. What sets us apart is our mastery of contact-based bimanual manipulation— an advanced concept in robotics— that propels our robots into a league of their own.

We pride ourselves on being among the world’s leading experts in developing and implementing these sophisticated systems. Our robots move heavy objects at remarkable speeds with unparalleled grace.

Ph.D. research

I earned my Ph. D. while studying robotics in Evan Drumwright’s Positronics Lab at GWU.

My dissertation focused on discovering what circumstances make robots fail and then using simulted tools to modify a robot or its control system to prevent those failures from happening in the future, leading to a better and more robust robots.

Research Overview:

Research at-a-glance

Inverse Dynamics with Contact Force Prediction

Adaptive Integration for Controlling Speed vs. Accuracy in Multi-Rigid Body Simulation

High-level Quadruped Control (Joystick)

Running with a simulated quadruped

Publications and Patents (c. Nov 2023)

Google Scholar

Work history:

Dextrous Robotics
CTO & Co-founder
June 2019 - present San Francisco Bay Area

Toyota Research Institute
Research Scientist
April 2017 – June 2019
Los Altos, CA

Positronics Lab
George Washington University
Ph.D. Candidate
September 2012 – February 2017
Washington, DC
Advisor: Evan Drumwright

Dynamic Legged Systems Lab
Italian Institute of Technology: Department of Advanced Robotics
Visiting Researcher
July 2012 – Sep 2012
Genoa, Italy
Mentors: Jonas Buchli & Claudio Semini

Contact Info

Email: samzapo[at]gmail.com
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