Pierre Larochelle
Department Head and Professor
Mechanical Engineering (ME)Education
B.S., University of California-San DiegoM.S., University of California-Irvine
Ph.D. University of California-Irvine
Brief Bio
Dr. Pierre Larochelle, P.E. serves as Department Head and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. His research focuses on kinematics for the design of complex robotic mechanical systems and enabling creativity and innovation in design. He is the director of the RObotics and Computational Kinematics INnovation (ROCKIN) Laboratory, has over 100 publications, holds three US patents, and serves as a consultant on robotics, automation, machine design, creativity & innovation, and computer-aided design. He currently serves as the Chair of the ASME Committee for Engineering Education (2024-27). He serves as an ABET accreditation review team chair and program evaluator. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a Senior Member of IEEE, and a member of Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, ASEE, and the Order of the Engineer.
Research Expertise
Dr. Pierre Larochelle, P.E. is an expert in spatial, spherical, and planar kinematics. He employs that expertise for the design of complex robotic mechanical systems. At South Dakota Mines, he is the director of the RObotics and Computational Kinematics INnovation (ROCKIN) Laboratory. The ROCKIN Lab seeks to develop cutting-edge transformative technologies. The ROCKIN Lab is dedicated to the development of novel complex robotic mechanical systems that generate spatial motion and force transmission. The Lab seeks to advance the design methodologies for these challenging mechanical systems as well as techniques for their utilization in industrial, manufacturing, and consumer applications. He has over 100 publications, holds three US patents, and serves as a consultant on robotics, automation, machine design, creativity & innovation, and computer-aided design.
Teaching
Courses taught by Dr. Larochelle are in the broad areas of kinematics, dynamic systems, robotics, and controls. Examples include spatial kinematics, mechanism & machine design, robotics, vibrations, and robot control.