I’m Caleb Escobedo, a PhD Candidate in Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, working at the intersection of learning-based control and physical human-robot interaction. I develop systems that allow robots to sense, interpret, and respond to physical contact through rich, multi-modal feedback—enabling safe and intelligent behavior in real-world tasks.
My work includes the design and fabrication of custom 3D-printed robot skins, as well as research into a broad set of tactile and proximity sensing modalities—such as acoustic auras, depth sensing, structured light, and self- and mutual-capacitance. I'm continually exploring and developing new sensing technologies to support safer, more capable robot behavior. I combine these sensors with advanced control strategies for robot arms, using both model-based and learned policies to enable safe physical human-robot interaction.
I'm currently pursuing tenure-track faculty positions focused on robot learning, tactile intelligence, sensor development, and human-robot collaboration.