Dr. Zeynep Temel

Biography

Zeynep Temel is an Associate Professor at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University, where she leads the Zoom Lab. Her research focuses on bio-inspired solutions to increase the mechanical intelligence of robots and their components. The current landscape of robotics is dominated by rigid machines that function on factory floors and in warehouses, leading to a pressing demand for adaptable, mobile, and flexible robots capable of navigating and manipulating in complex environments. Temel addresses this challenge through two main approaches: developing learning control algorithms that enable robots to sense and adapt to their surroundings and embedding intelligence within mechanical structures. Her vision is to create robots that conform to their environment, allowing for interaction with objects in a more seamless manner, thereby alleviating the need for high-speed, high-accuracy, and high-precision traditional controllers. She is also dedicated to teaching and engaging the community to foster a greater interest in science and engineering, particularly in bio-inspiration and unconventional robotics methodologies.

Research Interests

Experience