In lab with robot
Available for Opportunities

Nathan Wallace

Robotics Researcher developing autonomous systems that bridge the gap between research and real-world deployment—from satellites in orbit to robots in the field.

Developing autonomous robotics for extreme environments

I'm a Robotics Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Robotics, University of Sydney, where I lead teams working across some of the most exciting frontiers in autonomous systems—from satellites performing in-orbit servicing to ground robots tackling bushfires and monitoring agricultural environments.

My journey from PhD student to leading multidisciplinary teams of researchers and technical staff has taught me that the best robotics work happens at the intersection of rigorous research and practical deployment. I've taken systems from simulation through to real-world operation in remote mine sites, on operational farms, and even in Earth orbit.

I'm particularly drawn to challenges where autonomy can make a meaningful difference, whether that's helping farmers monitor pasture health, enabling satellites to operate more efficiently, or giving firefighters better situational awareness. If you're working on problems where intelligent systems can create real impact, I'd love to talk.

Team Leadership

Managed 20+ research and technical staff

50+ Field Trials

Real-world deployments across Australia

$650k+ Grants

Secured new and continuing funding

20+ Publications

T-FR, ICRA, JFR, RA-L, and more

Education

2016 – 2020

Doctor of Philosophy — Robotics

Australian Centre for Robotics, University of Sydney

Thesis: Energy Aware Planning and Control of Off-road Wheeled Mobile Robots

2010 – 2015

Bachelor of Advanced Engineering / Bachelor of Advanced Science

University of Sydney — Honours Class 1

Mechatronic Engineering (Space) · Physics (Advanced) · Computer Science

Honours Thesis: A new approach to tomographic reconstruction in atom probe tomography


Skills & Expertise

A blend of technical depth and leadership experience built across diverse robotics projects. Ordered by years of experience.

Projects

Highlights from my research across space, agriculture, mining, and emergency response.

Space Scarlet-β

Scarlet-β: Satellite Mission Autonomy

Developed mission-level autonomy for a self- and Earth-inspection payload on the Buccaneer Main Mission cubesat, enabling intelligent scheduling of imaging operations.

Mission PlanningMCTSSmartSatDSTG
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Space ISAM

In-Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing (ISAM)

Leading R&D of the mission autonomy subsystem for a SmartSat-funded project automating satellite rendezvous and servicing operations.

RendezvousTrajectory PlanningSmartSat
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Emergency RFS

Autonomous Network-Centric Firefighting

Lead researcher on a project integrating autonomous ground robots, drones, and wearables to enhance situational awareness for bushfire response.

Multi-RobotFuel Load EstimationRFS
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Agriculture Dipper

Resource-Aware Agricultural Autonomy

Developed a hierarchical planning framework enabling long-term autonomous operation of field robots in the presence of people and livestock.

Path PlanningDynamic Agents
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Agriculture Adaptive Sampling

Multivariate Active Learning and Adaptive Sampling

Developed algorithms for simultaneously modelling multiple quantities of interest, leveraging relationships to maximise information gain. Published in RA-L, actively used in industry projects.

Gaussian ProcessesActive LearningRA-L
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Mining Dipper

Autonomous Blast Hole Inspection

Led development of a precision GNC system for the Rio Tinto Centre for Mining Automation's (RTCMA's) 'DIPPeR' (Downhole Inspection, Probing, and Perception Robot), achieving centimetre-accurate positioning for autonomous blast hole inspection.

Precision ControlRio Tinto
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Selected Publications

Recent work in leading robotics venues.

Let's Connect

I'm always interested in discussing robotics research, potential collaborations, or new opportunities where autonomous systems can make a real impact.

Looking for my CV?

Download my full resume for a comprehensive overview of my experience, publications, and qualifications.

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