Modular Robotics Professors and Supervisors in Germany

Yoram ReichView profile

Professor

Leipzig UniversityGermany

Prof. Yoram Reich is a Full Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering within The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering at Tel Aviv University, where he has been affiliated since 1993. He holds the Chair of Engineering Design and Systems Engineering and serves as head of the Systems Engineering Research Initiative (TAU-SERI) and the MSc in Systems Engineering program. His academic journey includes a BSc (Summa Cum Laude) and MSc (Cum Laude) in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv University, followed by a PhD in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1991) as a Rothschild and Fulbright Fellow. His research spans interdisciplinary domains with core interests in Systems Engineering , Engineering Design , Innovation Methodologies , and Sustainable Biomimicry . He pioneered frameworks like the Interdisciplinary Engineering Knowledge Genome (IEKG) and Infused Design, focusing on cross-disciplinary innovation. His work integrates biological principles with technological solutions through biomimetic design strategies. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2014-2019) reveals strong emphasis on: (1) Advanced systems engineering frameworks for enterprise collaboration and verification, (2) Mechanical design innovations in robotics and parallel mechanisms, and (3) Theoretical foundations of design science. Recurring themes include model-based systems engineering, singularity analysis in kinematics, and sustainable design paradigms. Scientific Awards & Honors: Fellow of Design Research Society (2014) & Design Society (2023) Honorary Fellow, Israeli Society of Systems Engineering (2021) Reviewers' Favorite Awards at ICED'11, ICED'13 Outstanding Paper Award at ICED'09 Rothschild & Fulbright Fellowships (1986) Academic Leadership: He founded the Israel Institute for Empowering Innovation (2012) and TAU's Systems Engineering Research Initiative (2018). Current responsibilities include: Heads MSc in Systems Engineering program Leads Final Project in Mechanical Engineering program Editor-in-Chief of Research in Engineering Design Senate Member at Tel Aviv University He directs research in enterprise process integration, biomimetic sustainability, and design theory development through the TAU-SERI laboratory, collaborating with international partners across engineering disciplines.

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Olaf HellwichView profile

Professor

Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin)Germany

Olaf Hellwich is a Professor for Computer Vision and Remote Sensing at the Technical University of Berlin, leading research in visual perception systems and remote sensing technologies. His office is located in MAR 6.047 with secretariat support in MAR 6-5, and he can be contacted via olaf.hellwich@tu-berlin.de or +49 30 314-22796. His academic background includes: Dipl.-Ing. in Surveying from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (1986) M.Sc.E. in Surveying Engineering from the University of New Brunswick, Canada (1992) Dr.-Ing. in Engineering from the Technical University of Munich (1997) with dissertation "Line extraction from SAR data using a Markoff random field model" Prof. Hellwich's research spans computer vision fundamentals, remote sensing applications, and AI-integrated perception systems, with emphasis on object recognition, scene description, and human-robot interaction. His work bridges theoretical photogrammetry with modern machine learning approaches, particularly in SAR data analysis and visual search optimization. He currently leads multiple projects under the Science of Intelligence cluster of excellence: TP 01: Object-level scene descriptions and attention in visual search (since 09/2019) TP 03: Mouse Lock Box (since 08/2019) TP 08: Knowledge-augmented face perception (since 03/2020) TP 29: Hierarchical modularized vision system for perception-action loops (since 08/2020) TP 31b: Social responsiveness in human-robot interaction (since 09/2021) While specific student supervision details aren't provided, his active research leadership indicates ongoing mentorship of doctoral candidates. His projects demonstrate sustained funding through Berlin's Excellence Strategy initiatives, focusing on interdisciplinary AI research with practical applications in robotics and perception systems.

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Dennis KrupkeView profile

Researcher

University of HamburgGermany

Dennis Krupke is a Researcher at the Department of Informatics, University of Hamburg, affiliated with the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) group and the Technical Aspects of Multimodal Systems (TAMS). His work bridges robotics, virtual reality, and human-computer interaction, focusing on natural interfaces for human-robot cooperation. Education: Diploma in Informatics (2014), University of Hamburg Research Interests: Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Bio-inspired Robotics and Sensor Systems Modular Robotics and Low-cost Prototyping Mixed Reality for Immersive Scenarios Scientific Awards: Finalist, IROS KROS Best Paper Award on Cognitive Robotics (2018) Highly Commended Paper, Industrial Robot Innovation Award (2017) CLAWAR Association Best Technical Paper Award (2015) Best Innovative Robot Award, CLAWAR (2014) Publications & Projects: Co-developed a printable modular robot with Florens Wasserfall Contributed to ROS-Unity integration for VR-based robotics Explored locomotion techniques for modular robots using reinforcement learning

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Achim WagnerView profile

Researcher

University of MannheimGermany

Achim Wagner is a researcher at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) in the Innovative Factory Systems department. His work focuses on integrating advanced technologies into industrial manufacturing through computer vision, robotics, and digitalization. Projects: RAASCEMAN (resilient supply chains), DIMOFAC (digital modular factories) Research Interests: His research spans artificial intelligence , robotics , and human-robot interaction , with applications in manufacturing quality control and automation frameworks. Recent publications highlight his expertise in multi-camera vision systems and gesture recognition technologies. Contact: Email: Achim.Wagner@dfki.de | Phone: +49 631 20575 5237

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Ivo BoblanView profile

Professor

Beuth University of Applied Sciences BerlinGermany

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ivo Boblan holds a professorship at the Berlin University of Technology within the Department of Electrical Engineering . He leads the Compliant Robotics Lab (CoRoLab) and teaches modules in Cognitive Robotics , Pneumatic Robotics , Soft Robotics , and Bionics . His research focuses on biologically inspired robotics, human-robot interaction, and compliant actuator systems. Key research themes include: Development of bionic robotic systems like ZAR5 and BROMMI-TAK Integration of pneumatic muscles and fluidic actuators Biologically motivated control systems for compliant robotics Applications in rehabilitation devices and exoskeletons Human-robot interface design with variable stiffness Exploration of anthropomorphism and ethics in robotics His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across robotics, bionics, and human factors, with significant third-party funding exceeding €8.9 million. He actively contributes to international conferences and standardization efforts in bionic robotics.

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Sebastian EsserView profile

Professor

Technical University of MunichGermany

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sebastian Esser serves as Group Lead for Information Management at the Chair of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering at Technical University of Munich. His research focuses on advancing Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodologies, particularly in infrastructure and railway applications. He contributes significantly to international standardization efforts including IFC-Road and IFC-Rail projects, and leads research initiatives such as RIMcomb and BauPuls360. Dr. Esser's research spans several critical areas in digital construction: Graph-based version control systems for BIM collaboration Digital twin development for infrastructure management Semantic modeling of built environments BIM-based regulation checking for railway infrastructure Interdisciplinary model coordination techniques Knowledge representation in civil engineering His work bridges theoretical computer science with practical civil engineering applications, focusing on improving data interoperability and workflow efficiency in construction projects. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on graph-based approaches to BIM challenges. His research has evolved from foundational work on BIM programming interfaces to sophisticated implementations involving knowledge graphs, semantic reasoning, and digital twin architectures. Key trends include increasing integration of semantic web technologies with BIM standards, development of specialized query interfaces like GraphQL for construction data, and application of formal methods to infrastructure modeling problems. Dr. Esser actively supervises numerous bachelor's and master's theses annually, with recent topics covering graph-based entity alignment, BIM-GIS integration for flood assessment, incremental model updates, and digital twin implementations. His teaching portfolio includes courses such as Bau- und Umweltinformatik, BIM.fundamentals, BIM.infra, and Semantic Modeling of the Built World, demonstrating his commitment to educating the next generation of digital construction professionals. He is involved in multiple research initiatives including DFG FOR 5672 (The information backbone of robotized construction), SPP 2187 (Adaptive modularized constructions), and AM2PM (Additive to Predictive Manufacturing). His laboratory work spans the BIM-Lab and related computational infrastructure supporting his research in digital construction technologies.

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Florian NoichlView profile

Researcher

Technical University of MunichGermany

Florian Noichl is a Group Lead in Spatial Computing at the Chair of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering at the Technical University of Munich . His work focuses on methods for creating digital twins of industrial environments, particularly car manufacturing plants, and includes collaborative projects with Siemens . He was a Visiting Researcher at the Department of Geomatics Engineering at the University of Calgary, Canada (May–August 2023). Research interests include Spatial computing Digital twinning Point cloud processing Artificial intelligence in construction Scan planning optimization GeoAI for retrofitting Recent publications emphasize automation in point cloud segmentation, material passport creation for steel structures, semantic facade analysis, and energy efficiency estimation using vision-language models. His work often integrates BIM with laser scanning and AI . Teaching includes Bau- und Umweltinformatik 1 (WS22/23, WS23/24) and Softwarelab . He supervises theses on topics like UAV mission planning Point cloud enrichment Image-based localization CAD model matching BIM design reviews Review activities cover journals such as Automation in Construction , IEEE Sensors Journal , and Remote Sensing . He is listed on OrcID : 0000-0001-6553-9806 Google Scholar ResearchGate Labs associated with include the BIM-Lab and Robotic Fabrication Lab . His work intersects digital construction with industrial AI applications.

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Alvo AablooView profile

Professor

Hertie School of GovernanceGermany

Alvo Aabloo is a Full Professor at the University of Tartu's Institute of Technology, where he leads the Intelligent Materials and Systems Laboratory (IMS Lab). His affiliations include a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University (1995–1996) and ongoing roles at the University of Tartu since 2005. The IMS Lab, accessible via www.ims.ut.ee , specializes in electroactive polymers, biomimetic robotics, and sustainable materials. His research integrates Advanced Materials , Nanotechnology , and Soft Robotics , with emphasis on: Biomimetic actuators (e.g., spider-leg exoskeletons, plant-inspired fluid transport) Ionic polymer-metal composites for precision manipulation Acoustic metamaterials for noise control Green sensors using bacterial cellulose and bio-derived ionic liquids Recent publications (2022–2025) reveal trends in: Robotics education tools (ROS2 web labs, 3D-printable robots) Programmable metamaterials for environmental applications Textile-based encoding and wearable compliance modulation He pioneers sustainable tech, such as all-printed micro-supercapacitors and biodegradable artificial muscles, while collaborating globally on projects spanning Italy, China, and Sweden.

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Thorsten BergerView profile

Professor

Max Planck Institute for Security and PrivacyGermany

Thorsten Berger is a Professor and Head of the Chair of Software Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. His office is located at MC 4.101 on the RUB campus, with contact details including phone (+49 (0) 234 32 25975) and email (thorsten.berger@rub.de). He's an active researcher with extensive service in the software engineering community, serving on program committees for major conferences including ICSE, FSE, ASE, and SPLC. Professor Berger's research primarily focuses on software engineering with specialization in variability management, software product lines, and robotics software engineering. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in behavior trees for robotic systems, configuration management, and domain-specific language engineering. His interdisciplinary approach connects software engineering with control theory and machine learning applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward robotics software engineering, with increasing focus on behavior trees, test-case specification, and runtime verification for robotic systems. His work also shows growing interest in machine learning integration with traditional software engineering practices, particularly in model integration and asset management for ML-enabled systems. The research demonstrates consistent evolution from foundational work in variability management toward more applied domains. His scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards: Multiple Most Influential Paper Awards (SLE 2024, VaMoS 2023, VaMoS 2020) Wallenberg Academy Fellowship VR Starting Grant from Swedish Research Council (2016) Best Paper Awards at Modularity (2015) and CSMR (2013) Distinguished Reviewer Awards from ASE, ICSE, and SPLC conferences ERC Starting Grant finalist (2019, 2020) Professor Berger has secured substantial research funding as Principal Investigator for multiple projects including Novel Techniques for Data-Driven Root-Cause Analysis and Variability Management (Volkswagen Infotainment), Properties and Verification Techniques for Behavior Trees (Phoenix Contact Foundation), and PrivacyE2E framework for AI-enabled systems (Federal Ministry of Education and Research). His Wallenberg Academy Fellowship and VR Starting Grant demonstrate his capacity to attract competitive early-career funding. He leads the Virtual Platform project funded by the Swedish Research Council and participates in EU-funded initiatives like CO4ROBOTS. As Head of the Chair of Software Engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, he leads a research group focused on advanced software engineering techniques with particular emphasis on variability-intensive systems. His team actively participates in international research collaborations including the Wallenberg Autonomous Systems Program (WASP) and has organized significant events like the Dagstuhl seminar 19191 on 'Software Evolution in Time and Space: Unifying Version and Variability Management.'

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Colin ReiffView profile

Researcher

University of StuttgartGermany

Colin Reiff serves as a Research Assistant at the Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing Units at the University of Stuttgart, focusing on advanced manufacturing systems and process optimization. His work bridges theoretical research with industrial applications in automotive, aerospace, and general production contexts. His research interests center on process control and optimization in multi-stage production systems and Additive Manufacturing (Powder Bed Fusion Processes) . Reiff has developed innovative approaches for zero-defect manufacturing, particularly through smart centering methods for rotation-symmetric parts and automated vision data systems using collaborative robots. His work demonstrates how dimensional deviations can be compensated during production rather than detected at final inspection. Analysis of his publication record from 2018-2024 reveals consistent focus on manufacturing innovation, with increasing emphasis on data-driven approaches, software-defined manufacturing, and sustainable production. His research spans both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations, with several solutions transitioning to industrial applications. Reiff actively supervises student theses and practical experiments, including the "Simulation of a feed axis closed loop control with MATLAB/Simulink" laboratory course. His work has been supported through EU-funded projects like ForZDM under Horizon2020 and the High-Performance Center "Mass Personalization" in Stuttgart. His research group operates within the University of Stuttgart's manufacturing ecosystem, contributing to initiatives like the "Stuttgarter Maschinenfabrik" - a fully digitalized production environment for customer-individualized products. This environment leverages digital twins and new technological infrastructure to enable application development freedom and machine park flexibility.

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Christian LehmannView profile

Professor

Berlin University of Applied SciencesGermany

Professor Christian Lehmann is a faculty member at HTW Berlin in Department 2: Engineering Sciences - Technology and Life, where he serves as Professor and Laboratory Manager for the Robotics Laboratory. He teaches across multiple programs including Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's), Computer Science in Engineering (Master's), and Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's). His research focuses on industrial robotics, production automation, and manufacturing technology, with particular emphasis on human-robot collaboration, compliant robotics, and practical implementations in manufacturing environments. Professor Lehmann leads the Robotics Laboratory at Wilhelminenhof Campus, which houses advanced robotic systems including KUKA and Fanuc robots, drone systems, and sophisticated testing equipment for human-robot interaction. Analysis of his publication record shows consistent contributions to industrial robotics, particularly in fault-tolerant programming, compliant robot applications, and manufacturing integration. His work bridges theoretical robotics with practical industrial implementation, with numerous publications appearing in IEEE journals and conference proceedings from 2013-2019. Active supervision of student research projects and theses Management of the Robotics Laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment Multiple ongoing research collaborations with industry partners Development of practical robotics solutions for manufacturing challenges Professor Lehmann's teaching portfolio includes Fundamentals of Robotics, Production Automation, Mechatronics, and Manufacturing Technology courses across multiple engineering programs. His laboratory-based approach provides students with hands-on experience in industrial robotics systems and practical problem-solving in manufacturing environments.

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