
Keenan Albee
I like working on interesting problems at the intersection of hardware and algorithms, particularly in the space domain. My work focuses on robotic motion planning and optimal control for complex dynamical systems applied to space robotics.
Projects
Publications
Journal Articles |
Zhang, Haohan; Albee, Keenan; Agrawal, Sunil K A Spring-Loaded Compliant Neck Brace with Adjustable Supports Journal Article Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2018, ISSN: 0094114X. @article{Zhang2018, title = {A Spring-Loaded Compliant Neck Brace with Adjustable Supports}, author = {Haohan Zhang and Keenan Albee and Sunil K Agrawal}, url = {www.elsevier.com/locate/mechmachtheory}, doi = {10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2017.12.025}, issn = {0094114X}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-01-01}, journal = {Mechanism and Machine Theory}, abstract = {Patients with head drop need external support to keep the head up and move it around. Their neck muscles are not strong enough to bring the head back to the neutral configuration from a flexed position. They often use static neck braces to keep the head in the upright configuration. These braces do not allow movement of the head-neck and cause further atrophy to the muscles. In this paper, we present a spring-loaded dynamic neck brace to support the head in a desired equilibrium configuration. The brace is fitted with torsional springs that can provide restoring forces to the head as it is displaced from the equilibrium configuration. The equilibrium configuration is adjustable by preloading the springs. In this paper, we present a mathematical model and validate through experiments with a prototype. The dynamic brace was found to provide sufficient support to the neck in a configuration while also allowing the users to move their head.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } Patients with head drop need external support to keep the head up and move it around. Their neck muscles are not strong enough to bring the head back to the neutral configuration from a flexed position. They often use static neck braces to keep the head in the upright configuration. These braces do not allow movement of the head-neck and cause further atrophy to the muscles. In this paper, we present a spring-loaded dynamic neck brace to support the head in a desired equilibrium configuration. The brace is fitted with torsional springs that can provide restoring forces to the head as it is displaced from the equilibrium configuration. The equilibrium configuration is adjustable by preloading the springs. In this paper, we present a mathematical model and validate through experiments with a prototype. The dynamic brace was found to provide sufficient support to the neck in a configuration while also allowing the users to move their head. |
Conferences |
Albee, Keenan; Hernandez, Alejandro Cabrales; Jia-richards, Oliver; Teran, Antonio Real-time Motion Planning in Unknown Environments for Legged Robotic Planetary Exploration (In Press) Conference Forthcoming IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Forthcoming, ISBN: 9781728127347. @conference{Albee2020, title = {Real-time Motion Planning in Unknown Environments for Legged Robotic Planetary Exploration (In Press)}, author = {Keenan Albee and Alejandro Cabrales Hernandez and Oliver Jia-richards and Antonio Teran}, url = {http://albee.scripts.mit.edu/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Albee-et-al._2020_Real-time-Motion-Planning-in-Unknown-Environments-for-Legged-Robotic-Planetary-Exploration.pdf}, isbn = {9781728127347}, year = {2020}, date = {2020-01-01}, booktitle = {IEEE Aerospace Conference}, address = {Big Sky}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {forthcoming}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Albee, Keenan; Ekal, Monica; Ventura, Rodrigo; Linares, Richard ESA ASTRA, 2019. @conference{Albee2019b, title = {Combining Parameter Identification and Trajectory Optimization: Real-time Planning for Information Gain}, author = {Keenan Albee and Monica Ekal and Rodrigo Ventura and Richard Linares}, url = {https://arxiv.org/pdf/1906.02758.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, booktitle = {ESA ASTRA}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Albee, Keenan; Werner, Nathan; Teran, Antonio; Chen, Howei; Andreyeva, Kristina; Sarvary, Tamas Motion Planning for Climbing Mobility with Implementation on a Wall-Climbing Robot Conference IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2019, ISBN: 9781538668542. @conference{Albee2019c, title = {Motion Planning for Climbing Mobility with Implementation on a Wall-Climbing Robot}, author = {Keenan Albee and Nathan Werner and Antonio Teran and Howei Chen and Kristina Andreyeva and Tamas Sarvary}, url = {http://albee.scripts.mit.edu/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/wally_aeroconf19.pdf}, isbn = {9781538668542}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, booktitle = {IEEE Aerospace Conference}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Sanchez, William D; Albee, Keenan; Davidson, Rosemary; Bart, Ryan De Freitas; Hernandez, Alejandro Cabrales; Hoffman, Jeffrey A Preliminary Architecture Optimization for In-Space Assembled Telescopes Conference International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Washington, D.C., 2019. @conference{Sanchez2019, title = {A Preliminary Architecture Optimization for In-Space Assembled Telescopes}, author = {William D Sanchez and Keenan Albee and Rosemary Davidson and Ryan De Freitas Bart and Alejandro Cabrales Hernandez and Jeffrey Hoffman}, url = {https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/124636}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, booktitle = {International Astronautical Congress (IAC)}, address = {Washington, D.C.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Teran, Antonio; Hettrick, Hailee; Albee, Keenan; Hernandez, Alejandro Cabrales; Linares, Richard End-to-End Framework for Close Proximity In-Space Robotic Missions Conference International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Washington, D.C., 2019, ISSN: 00741795. @conference{Espinoza2019, title = {End-to-End Framework for Close Proximity In-Space Robotic Missions}, author = {Antonio Teran and Hailee Hettrick and Keenan Albee and Alejandro Cabrales Hernandez and Richard Linares}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard_Linares/publication/338980378_End-to-End_Framework_for_Close_Proximity_In-Space_Robotic_Missions/links/5e35cbc292851c7f7f147a30/End-to-End-Framework-for-Close-Proximity-In-Space-Robotic-Missions.pdf}, issn = {00741795}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, booktitle = {International Astronautical Congress (IAC)}, address = {Washington, D.C.}, abstract = {Robotic satellite operations will be an integral component of future space missions, such as on-orbit servicing, in-space robotic assembly, and orbital debris mitigation. A key requirement shared among such space missions is the capability to carry out robust and autonomous close proximity operations between the involved agents. Therefore, in order to launch a successful in-space robotic campaign, it is imperative to design a thorough and holistic description of the operations pipeline that allows for the coordination and integration of the distinct mission phases. Independent of the types of agents involved-ranging from cooperative and known spacecraft to unknown and uncooperative tumbling objects-proximity operations consist of four general stages: Angles-only Rendezvous (Phase 1); Stand-off Inspection (Phase 2); Trajectory Rendezvous and Docking (Phase 3); and Joint Maneuvering (Phase 4). This paper presents an end-to-end framework that encompasses and describes the objectives, requirements, interfaces, and flows of information between the warranted modules to successfully carry out such space missions; the modules include estimation, guidance, and control tasks. To showcase the distinct challenges and approaches, use case examples are presented, including detumbling an unknown, uncooperative target object, and servicing an inactive spacecraft using a manipulator arm.}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } Robotic satellite operations will be an integral component of future space missions, such as on-orbit servicing, in-space robotic assembly, and orbital debris mitigation. A key requirement shared among such space missions is the capability to carry out robust and autonomous close proximity operations between the involved agents. Therefore, in order to launch a successful in-space robotic campaign, it is imperative to design a thorough and holistic description of the operations pipeline that allows for the coordination and integration of the distinct mission phases. Independent of the types of agents involved-ranging from cooperative and known spacecraft to unknown and uncooperative tumbling objects-proximity operations consist of four general stages: Angles-only Rendezvous (Phase 1); Stand-off Inspection (Phase 2); Trajectory Rendezvous and Docking (Phase 3); and Joint Maneuvering (Phase 4). This paper presents an end-to-end framework that encompasses and describes the objectives, requirements, interfaces, and flows of information between the warranted modules to successfully carry out such space missions; the modules include estimation, guidance, and control tasks. To showcase the distinct challenges and approaches, use case examples are presented, including detumbling an unknown, uncooperative target object, and servicing an inactive spacecraft using a manipulator arm. |
Hall, Hunter; Donitz, Benjamin; Kim, Leon; Srivastava, DIvya; Albee, Keenan; Eisner, Seth; Pierce, Dakota; Villapudua, Yvonne; Stoica, Adrian Project Zephyrus: Developing a Rapidly Reusable High-Altitude Flight Test Platform Conference IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2018, ISSN: 1095323X. @conference{Hall2018, title = {Project Zephyrus: Developing a Rapidly Reusable High-Altitude Flight Test Platform}, author = {Hunter Hall and Benjamin Donitz and Leon Kim and DIvya Srivastava and Keenan Albee and Seth Eisner and Dakota Pierce and Yvonne Villapudua and Adrian Stoica}, doi = {10.1109/AERO.2018.8396809}, issn = {1095323X}, year = {2018}, date = {2018-01-01}, booktitle = {IEEE Aerospace Conference}, journal = {IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings}, pages = {1--17}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {conference} } |
Masters Theses |
Albee, Keenan Toward Optimal Motion Planning for Dynamic Robots: Applications On-Orbit Masters Thesis 2019. @mastersthesis{Albee2019, title = {Toward Optimal Motion Planning for Dynamic Robots: Applications On-Orbit}, author = {Keenan Albee}, url = {https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/122405}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {mastersthesis} } |
Workshops |
Albee, Keenan; Coltin, Brian Kinodynamic-RRT for Robotic Free-Flyers: Generating Feasible Trajectories for On-Orbit Mobile Manipulation Workshop Forthcoming ICRA Workshop: Toward Online Optimal Control of Dynamic Robots, Forthcoming. @workshop{Albeeb, title = {Kinodynamic-RRT for Robotic Free-Flyers: Generating Feasible Trajectories for On-Orbit Mobile Manipulation}, author = {Keenan Albee and Brian Coltin}, url = {http://albee.scripts.mit.edu/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/albee_coltin_kino_rrt.pdf}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-01-01}, booktitle = {ICRA Workshop: Toward Online Optimal Control of Dynamic Robots}, keywords = {}, pubstate = {forthcoming}, tppubtype = {workshop} } |