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Hello, I am Frank Regal
Roboticist and Mechanical Engineer currently researching enhanced human-robot interactions for mobile robotics in hazardous environments.
  • > The University of Texas at Austin
  • > Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group (NRG)
  • > Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (In-Progress)
My Story
Currently I am a Graduate Research Assistant at The University of Texas at Austin, in the Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group (NRG), with Dr. Mitch Pryor. Here I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Robotics. I completed my Master of Science (2019) and Bachelor of Science (2019) in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University.

The objective of my current research is to develop advanced systems for human-robot interactions. The goal is to advance the way we humans interact with robots to enable us to do more with less. I envision a world where one human can perform physical work across all seven continents from the comfort of their living room. Hence, a single operator can ultimately teleport across the world within seconds and be the mobile robotic platform they would like and control robotic arms just as if they jumped on a plane and flew.

In addition to research, I enjoy engineering various parts with my 3D printers, following both the american supercross and motocross series, and spending time outdoors traveling, hiking, biking, and camping. I grew up in a very small town, Richmondale, PA, just outside of Scranton (yes like the office) where I spent most of my childhood working with my dad at the family plumbing business, Regal Plumbing & Heating. After graduating high school I began my migration south and moved to Philadelphia, PA for five years where I obtained my B.S. and M.S. I moved to Houston, TX after graduation for a full-time engineering roll in the petro-chemcial industry. After two years in industry I decided to head back to school to solve more challening problems and gain a better understanding of robotics and how they can be used to help us in the future. Scroll down for more information about my career so far.
Career Timeline

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Robotics R&D Internship

June 2022 - August 2022 [~3 Months]

At Argonne National Laboratory I worked in the Advanced Manufacturing Division (AMD) Robotics and Remote Systems Group where I researched various ways to appy augmented teleautonomy techniques to improve telerobotic operation of mobile robotic manipulators used to perform hazardous lab work and material handling tasks within the nuclear industry.

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Started Ph.D. Program

August 2021

I started my first year in the Fall of 2021 at The University of Texas at Austin as a Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student in the Robotics Portfolio.

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Graduate Research Assistant

June 2021

In June 2021 I joined the Nuclear and Applied Robotics Group (NRG) under Dr. Mitch Pryor. My work since joining has focused on the development of improved human-robot interactions with augmented and mixed reality devices. Check out my portfolio page for our most recent publication of our work AugRE, a human-robot teaming augmented reality application.

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Full-Time Engineer

Auguest 2019 - June 2021 [~2 Years]

I spent two years at Dow Chemical. The first year I spent my time designing and procuring fixed and rotating mechanical plant equipment (vessels, tanks, pumps, etc.) as a full time Mechanical Design Engineer. I transitioned to a new roll as an Innovation Engineer for the 5 Dow Houston Hub sites where I was focused on piloting and deploying new Industry 4.0 technologies (robotics, AR/VR, 3d printing, etc.) throughout the Hub.

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Completed B.S. & M.S.

June 2019 [~5 Years]

I graduated Summa Cum Laude in the summer of 2019 from Drexel University with both my M.S. and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics.

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Undergrad Research Assistant

Sept. 2018 - June 2019 [~9 Months]

During my URA appointment in the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Group (TAMG) under Dr. Antonios Kontsos, I was tasked with building, modifying, and flying custom drones to perform structural health monitoring research and advanced urban area drone detection research for unidentified aircrafts.

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Robotics Engineer Co-op

April 2018 - Sept. 2018 [~6 Months]

I spent the summer of 2018 in Houston, TX working for Dow Chemical in their Digital Operations Center (DOC) as a Robotics Engineer co-op. Here I worked with the group to develop mobile magnetic robots that can perform non-destructive testing on plant equipment. I also spent time reverse engineering broken plant equipment (valve handles, spray nozzles, etc.) and 3D printing these either expensive or irreplaceable parts.

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Manufacturing Engineer Co-op

April 2017 - Sept. 2017 [~6 Months]

During my first co-op with Dow Chemical I worked as a manufacturing engineer working on improvement projects for the manufacturing line of materials used in the semi-conductor industry for the CMP process.

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Started M.S. Program

December 2016

In the winter of 2016, I applied for the accelerated B.S./M.S. Mechanical Engineering program at Drexel University and was accepted just before the end of my winter quarter.

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Water Quality Enginer Co-op

April 2016 - Sept. 2016 [~6 Months]

My first co-op was with Aqua America water utlity company. Here I worked with a water quality engineering team where I worked to ensure all water well and pump station equipment was operating safely and the water being delieved to residences was within certain local, state, and government specifications.

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Started B.S. Program

Sept. 2014

In September 2014 I started my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

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Apprentice Plumber

June 2011 - Sept. 2015 [~4 Years]

I started working at a young age in my family's plumbing business my father started over 30 years ago. During my time working with the company's employees, I got my hands dirty, learned the skills of the trade, and realized I wanted to create solutions that can one day solve problems I experienced in the field.