Hello, my name is Curt. I'm a controls engineer from the United States working in wearable robotics. I'm currently a post-doc at the University of Michigan, where I help develop controllers for powered lower-limb prostheses and conduct human-subject studies. I'm not shy of math; I previously developed and analyzed my own novel controllers and applied them to the Indego Explorer exoskeleton. That built on my PhD work at Cleveland State University, where I designed, prototyped, and tested a pediatric exoskeleton. Outside of research and work, my personal technical hobby projects involve coding and computer networking.

This website serves as my extended curriculum vitae with a summary of my academic/employment background and achievements below and tabs above linking to dedicated pages cataloging my publications and projects. I also have a slightly condensed version of my curriculum vitae as a PDF.

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Locomotor Control Systems Lab, University of Michigan, May 2022 – Present

  Investigating and applying control methods for powered lower-limb prostheses to improve functional use in studies with amputee participants. Mentored PhD students and contributed to research that resulted in 9 publications and 3 patent applications under supervision of Dr. Robert D. Gregg.

• Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Rotating Machinery Dynamics and Control, Cleveland State University, May 2020 – April 2022

  Explored and experimentally evaluated hybrid zero dynamics and other novel control strategies for the Indego Explorer exoskeleton, formerly developed by Parker Hannifin and now Ekso Bionics. This collaborative research, under supervision of Dr. Jerzy T. Sawicki, led to 6 publications during my post-doc.

• Graduate Assistant, Center for Rotating Machinery Dynamics and Control, Cleveland State University, July 2014 – May 2020

  Designed and experimentally evaluated a powered lower-limb orthosis intended to accommodate growth in children. My pediatric orthosis research under supervision of Dr. Jerzy T. Sawicki led to my PhD dissertation, 7 publications, and 2 patent applications.

• Intern, Aclara RF Systems Inc., June 2012 – Aug 2012

  Managed transferring technical drawings, bill of materials, etc. to new Teamcenter PLM software by updating inaccurate or missing documents and information when applicable.

• Engineering Intern, Fredrick, Fredrick & Heller, May 2011 – Aug 2011, Dec 2011 – Jan 2012

  Designed plumbing, piping, and HVAC ductwork systems by applying load calculations, element sizing, and system layout. The work primarily involved AutoCAD MEP and Autodesk Revit software and was done in collaboration with a team of electrical and mechanical engineers.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, Cleveland State University, 2014 – 2020

  Dissertation topic: Development and evaluation of a pediatric lower-limb exoskeleton for children with walking impairment. Elective coursework primarily on system dynamics, control, and mechatronics.

• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with a minor in physics, Cleveland State University, 2009 – 2014

  Senior capstone project: Development of a human-powered hydraulic bicycle and competed in the Chainless Challenge US national competition.

The items below are only a selected subset. For a more extensive list, visit the Publications webpage.

• E. G. Keller, C. A. Laubscher, and R. D. Gregg, “Effects of a powered knee-ankle prosthesis on intact joint biomechanics across sustained activities of daily life: A case series,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 34, 2026. (PDF, Data)
• R. D. Gregg, S. Cheng, C. A. Laubscher, “Powered prosthesis and activity classifier”, International Patent App. No. PCT/US2025/053837, 2025.
• R. D. Gregg, A. E. Lang, C. A. Laubscher, and S. Cheng, “Limb-assistive device and system with user-wearable interface”, U.S. Patent App. No. 63/839,889, 2025.
• A. E. Lang, C. A. Laubscher, S. Cheng, and R. D. Gregg, “Vibrotactile haptic and gesture feedback in a smartwatch for controlling a multi-activity powered knee-ankle prosthesis,” in Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), Copenhagen, Denmark, 2025. (PDF)
• S. Cheng, C. A. Laubscher, T. K. Best, and R. D. Gregg, “Ambilateral activity recognition and continuous adaptation with a powered knee ankle prosthesis,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 41, 2025. (Preprint, Video)
• J. T. Sawicki, C. A. Laubscher, R. J. Farris, and S. J.-S. Etheridge, “Actuating device for powered orthosis,” U.S. Patent No. 11,207,234, 2021.
• C. A. Laubscher, A. C. Goo, R. J. Farris, and J. T. Sawicki, “Optimal phase-based gait guidance control on a lower-limb exoskeleton,” Elsevier Control Engineering Practice, vol. 139, 2023.
• A. C. Goo, C. A. Laubscher, and J. T. Sawicki, “Hybrid zero dynamics control of an underactuated lower-limb exoskeleton for gait guidance,” ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, vol. 144, no. 6, 2022.
• C. A. Laubscher, A. C. Goo, R. J. Farris, and J. T. Sawicki, “Hybrid impedance-sliding mode switching control of the Indego Explorer lower-limb exoskeleton in able-bodied walking,” Springer Journal of Intelligent and Robotic Systems, vol. 104, no. 76, 2022.
• C. A. Laubscher, R. J. Farris, A. J. van den Bogert, and J. T. Sawicki, “An anthropometrically parameterized assistive lower limb exoskeleton,” ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, vol. 143, no. 10, 2021.

Funding Involvement

• Contributed to a student's Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (DoD NDSEG) fellowship application for their research at the University of Michigan (2025).
• Contributed to a student's successful National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) application which provided support for their research at the University of Michigan (2022).
• Received the Graduate Student Research Award (GSRA) from Cleveland State University which provided partial support for my PhD research (2019).

Mentorship Experience

• Mentored several PhD students at the University of Michigan in control development, theoretical analysis, hardware integration, debugging, experimental design, participant interaction, data analysis, manuscript preparation, and fellowship proposals. This hands-on involvement contributed to my co-authorship on 9 publications and 3 patent applications.
• Mentored several undergraduate and master's students at the University of Michigan through Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering (SURE), Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Directed Study MS research credits, or volunteers. I provided mentorship in control development, theoretical analysis, hardware integration, debugging, research practice, and data analysis.
• Mentored 2 students from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Cleveland State University in performing simulations and experiments with the pediatric exoskeleton, resulting in 1 publication (2017).

Recognition and Awards

• Placed 3rd in Research Day poster competition at Washkewicz College of Engineering, Cleveland State University (2018).
• Student member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society (2012 – Present), CSU NSF/STEM Program (2010 – 2013), and Scholars Program (2009 – 2013).
• Received multiple certificates for placement on the Dean’s List and President’s List as an undergraduate student at Cleveland State University (2009 – 2014).
• Placed 1st in Technical Drafting SkillsUSA regional competition (2009) and 1st in Related Technical Math SkillsUSA state competition (2008).