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Adriana Daca
Visiting researcher at NASA JPL - PhD candidate at Concordia University
Dr. Adriana Daca is a Robotics Technologist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where she is involved in the Robotic Mobility group. Her work focuses on developing mobility concepts for future rovers, robotic sampling, and enhancing the capabilities of robotic systems for planetary exploration.3
Educational Background
Dr. Daca recently completed her PhD, defending her thesis titled "Predicting planetary rover mobility in reduced gravity using 1-g experiments" in January 2023.2 This research highlights her expertise in understanding how rovers can navigate different gravitational environments, which is crucial for missions on other planets.
Professional Experience
Before joining NASA JPL, Dr. Daca was a research associate at Caltech, specializing in aerospace control systems. Her expertise includes classical and state-space techniques, stability analysis, and feedback control theory.1 This strong foundation in engineering principles supports her current role in robotics and mobility.
Research Interests
Her research interests encompass a variety of topics related to space robotics, including:
- Planetary rovers
- Robot mobility
- Vehicle-terrain interactions
- Advanced 3D printing techniques
- Robotics excavation.4
Dr. Daca's contributions to the field are significant as they advance the capabilities of robotic systems designed for exploration beyond Earth.
