IRG develops robotic systems for planetary exploration and conducts applied research in a wide range of domains including mobile robotics, planetary mapmaking, ground data systems, 2D/3D computer vision, and robot software architecture. Fong is also Project Manager of the NASA Human Exploration Telerobotics project, which tests advanced telerobotic systems on the International Space Station.

Since 2007, Dr. Fong has led several Google-NASA information technology projects, which has included research and development of geospatial software tools, planetary data systems, and gigapixel panoramic imaging. From 2008 to 2011, Dr. Fong was the NASA Ames project manager for the NASA “Human-Robotic Systems” and “Lunar Mapping and Modeling” projects. In 2005, Dr. Fong was Principal Investigator of the “Peer-to-Peer Human-Robot Interaction for Assembly and Maintenance” project and a scientist for the “Team-Centered Virtual Interactive Presence for Adaptive Autonomy” project.