Mahdi Agheli

Associate Teaching Professor
Robotics Engineering Department
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

About

I am an Associate Teaching Professor in the Robotics Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), with a joint appointment in Mechanical Engineering. I lead the Autonomous Loco-Manipulation Systems (ALMaS) Group.

My research focuses on legged robotics, construction robotics, mobile manipulation, robotic 3D printing, and autonomous robotic systems for construction and manufacturing applications. I am also interested in digital twins and digital manufacturing, especially where physical robotic systems connect with data-driven models and digital workflows. My teaching focuses on robotics, dynamics, and control, with an emphasis on project-based learning and the tight integration of theory, experimentation, and real robotic systems.

Education

  • Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2013
  • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, 2009
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 2006
Prof. Mahdi Agheli
Office
Unity Hall 285

Courses

Selected Publications

  1. 2026
    Jared Morgan and Mahdi Agheli “Trajectory Optimization through Mixed-Integer Optimization of Contact Dynamics for Switching End Effector Locomotion,” IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA). Accepted for presentation.
  2. 2025
    Mahdi Agheli, Gregory C. Lewin, Andre Rosendo, and Vincent A. Aloi “Bridging the Gap: A Project-Based Approach to Robotics Programming for First-Year Robotics Engineering Students,” 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. View paper
  3. 2024
    Ibrahim Al-Tameemi, Duc Doan, Abizer Patanwala, and Mahdi Agheli “Momentum-Based Push Recovery Control of Bipedal Robots Using a New Variable Power Reaching Law for Sliding Mode Control,” Journal of Robotics and Control, vol. 5, no. 5. View paper

View my full publication list on Google Scholar