Hartmut Surmann

Professor Hartmut Surmann is a leading academic in robotics at Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, where he heads the Teaching and Research Area for Autonomous Systems and the Robotics Laboratory. With expertise spanning autonomous mobile robots, rescue robotics, machine learning, and 3D computer vision, he has established himself as a key figure in applying robotics to real-world emergency response scenarios.

• Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Department of Computer Science and Communication
• Head of Robotics Laboratory
• Member of German Rescue Robotics Center (DRZ)
• Active participant in EU-funded robotics projects

Prof. Surmann holds a Diplom in Computer Science from the University of Dortmund (1989) and completed his PhD work on fuzzy systems using genetic algorithms and neural networks. His research interests focus on autonomous systems with particular emphasis on rescue robotics, machine learning, sensor data processing, and 3D computer vision. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications, especially in disaster response scenarios where robotic systems can save lives.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on multi-robot collaboration for disaster response, with particular expertise in 3D mapping, sensor fusion, and autonomous navigation systems. His research has evolved from foundational work in neural networks and fuzzy logic to practical implementations of drone and ground robot teams working together in real disaster scenarios. The trend in his work shows increasing sophistication in multi-robot coordination, semantic understanding of environments, and practical deployment of systems in actual emergency situations.

• Best Paper Award at SSRR 2017 for '3D Registration of Aerial and Ground Robots for Disaster Response'
• Key contributor to EU-funded TRADR project (2014-2018)
• Co-founder of German Rescue Robotics Center (DRZ)
• Active participant in multiple EU robotics projects including NIFTI

Prof. Surmann has supervised numerous student projects and theses focused on practical robotics applications. His work has attracted significant research funding through EU projects like TRADR and NIFTI, with practical applications demonstrated in real disaster responses including earthquakes in Mirandola (2012) and Amatrice (2016), as well as industrial fires and flood disasters. His collaborations span academic institutions, emergency services, and industry partners across Europe.

The Robotics Laboratory under his direction maintains a diverse fleet of robotic platforms including ground robots (TurtleBot, VolksBot, Baxter), aerial drones, and specialized rescue robots. The lab actively collaborates with emergency services through the German Rescue Robotics Center, providing a bridge between academic research and practical implementation in real-world rescue operations. Current work focuses on AI integration for robotic systems through the AI-Arena project.