A presentation - An Overview of JPL Underwater Robotics 
 

Chris Yahnker is the Chief Technologist for the Autonomous Systems Division and oversees R&D in the areas of Guidance Navigation & Control (GNC), Power Systems, Robotics, Avionics, and Flight Software at JPL. Before this role, he was the Group Supervisor for Extreme Environment Robotics where he was actively involved in the design and development of robotics hardware and systems to access the most inhospitable places on Earth and in solar system; including doing research into underwater technologies for future subsurface exploration of the Ocean Worlds. Prior to joining JPL in 2015, Chris spent almost 20 years working in industry for a variety of large and small companies doing new product development. One of his previous employers was iRobot where he was the Chief Engineer for the Maritime Systems Division overseeing the technical development for the Seaglider and Ranger AUV’s. Chris has a BSME from North Carolina State University and an MSME from Johns Hopkins University. He is a registered Professional Engineering in Maryland and North Carolina, a Sr. Level IEEE Member, and a co-inventor on 50 US Patents.