Dr. Oluwami (Wami) Dosunmu-Ogunbi specializes in dynamics and controls, with research interests in robotic bipedal locomotion and engineering education. She has become a historical figure as the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan. She is committed to paving the way for future generations, demonstrating that while she may be the first, she certainly won't be the last! In her PhD dissertation titled "Ascending New Heights: Enhancing Bipedal Robotic Locomotion through Stair Climbing," she wrote the following dedication to affirm her vision: "For all the little Black girls who were told that they could not climb…let them witness your ascension."
Academic Degrees
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor PhD, Robotics (2024)
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor MS, Robotics (2021)
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor MSE, Mechanical Engineering (2020)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign BS, Mechanical Engineering with honors, Hoeft Technology and Management minor (2017)
Awards & Honors
- Intersectional Advocacy Award (2024)
- Bouchet Honor Society (2024)
- MLK Spirit Award for Mentoring and Inspiration (2024)
- University of Michigan Engineering Innovation Runner-Up in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition ($3000 prize) (2023)
- Willie Hobbs Moore Achievement Award (2022) Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship (Honorable Mention- 2021)
- Rackham Merit Fellowship (2017)
- GEM Fellowship (2017)
- Knights of Saint Patrick (2017)
- Janet Eakman Award for Excellence (2017)
- Paul E. Parker Award (2016)
Publications & Presentations
- Dosunmu-Ogunbi, A. Shrivastava, J. Grizzle. Demonstrating a Robust Walking Algorithm for Underactuated Bipedal Robots in Non-flat, Non-stationary Environments. International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). 2024.
- O. Dosunmu-Ogunbi, A. Shrivastava, G. Gibson, J. Grizzle. Stair Climbing using the Angular Momentum Linear Inverted Pendulum Model and Model Predictive Control. International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). 2023.
- G. Gibson, O. Dosunmu-Ogunbi, Y. Gong, and J. Grizzle. Terrain-Adaptive, ALIP-Based Bipedal Locomotion Controller via Model Predictive Control and Virtual Constraints. International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). 2022.
- O. Dosunmu-Ogunbi, A. Shrivastava, J. Grizzle. Ascending New Heights: Enhancing Bipedal Robotic Locomotion through Stair Climbing. Midwest Robotics Workshop (MWRW). 2024.
- O. Dosunmu-Ogunbi, A. Shrivastava, J. Grizzle. Navigating the sim2real Gap for a Terrain-Aware Stair Climbing Algorithm for Underactuated Bipedal Robots. Yale Bouchet Conference on Diversity and Graduate Education. 2024.
Research Interests
- Bipedal locomotion
- Engineering education
- Optimization
Teaching Interests
- Controls Dynamics