Michael Rubenstein Selected for Chief of Naval Research Fellowship

Northwestern Engineering’s Michael Rubenstein has been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Chief of Naval Research (CNR) Fellows program.

Launched this year, the program brings academic researchers into the naval science and technology enterprise, giving them the opportunity to apply their expertise to critical US Navy and US Marine Corps challenges. The CNR fellowship also aims to build stronger connections between the US Department of the Navy and the academic community.

Rubenstein is among 12 winners chosen from more than 180 nominations from approximately 70 academic institutions across the United States.

“This was an extremely rigorous, competitive selection process, and we are pleased to partner with some of the best and brightest minds our nation has to offer,” Rachel Riley, chief of naval research, said in a news release.

An expert in robotics design, Rubenstein is an associate professor of computer science and mechanical engineering at the McCormick School of Engineering, where he is a member of the Center for Robotics and Biosystems.

Rubenstein’s research focuses on advancing the control and design of multi-robot systems, enabling them to tackle tasks that are difficult or impractical for traditional single-robot approaches. Compared with individual robots, multi-robot systems can provide greater parallelism, adaptability, and fault tolerance. His work also explores how emerging technologies influence the design of multi-robot algorithms as these systems scale to hundreds, thousands, or even millions of robots.

Rubenstein recently led a team of Northwestern Engineering researchers in the design of a drone that nearly disappears from human vision through a concept called “motion blur.” Called the “Phantom Twist,” the drone spins up to 25 times per second, which is too fast for the human eye to see clearly. While it isn’t completely invisible, it morphs into a ghostly smudge that seamlessly blends into the background. The work eventually could lead to drones that monitor wildlife, survey the environment, and inspect infrastructure with less visual disruption.

The CNR Fellows will spend one year immersed in the naval research ecosystem, reviewing research proposals, providing technical input on proposed and ongoing ONR efforts, and identifying new research opportunities. The fellows will spend approximately four days per month in person at ONR.

A formal welcoming ceremony for the fellows will be held in October at ONR headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.