Philipp Eichmeir is a Researcher at the Research Center Wels within the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences . His work focuses on optimal control , multibody dynamics , and adjoint methods applied to robotics and automotive systems. Expertise in adjoint gradient computation for extremal value optimization Active in automotive/mobility and smart production domains Philipp's research spans computational mathematics , robotics , and mechanical engineering , utilizing advanced numerical methods and simulation modeling for complex dynamic systems. His recent publications focus on multibody dynamics , adjoint optimization , and inequality constraint handling in control systems. Collaborative projects include IOMMS (Innovative Optimization Methods for Multibody Systems) and JR-Centre for Thermal NDE of Composites . Scientific Awards Best Paper Award (2020) Automatisierte Körperschallauswertung (2015)
Roman Franz Froschauer is a Professor of Production Informatics at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences, Research Center Wels. Since 2018, he has served as Director of Studies for the Master's program in Robotic Systems Engineering and leads the Smart Automation & Robotics research group. His career spans academic and industrial roles, including senior software development and project management at AlpinaTec Technical Products GmbH (2010-2016). Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science (2010) from Johannes Kepler University Linz; Master's in Industrial Informatics (2005) from Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences. Research Areas: Software engineering for intelligent automation systems, human-robot interaction (HRI), control systems, and applications of IEC 61499 standards. His work focuses on proactive collaboration, trajectory planning, and user-centered design for assistive robots in office and industrial settings. Scientific Activities: Active in peer-review, conference organization, and technology development. Projects include VRoboCoop (human-robot trust), MARIE (office robotics), and Autility (automated utility vehicles). Key Contributions: Frameworks for modular manufacturing (PlugBot), skill-based engineering, and intralogistics automation (ATLAS).
Michael Steinbatz is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Wels, affiliated with the Research Center Wels. His research focuses on multibody systems, finite element analysis, agricultural machinery design, and fatigue analysis. He has contributed to advancements in simulation techniques for engine components and structural mechanics. Key research areas include modal force approaches in engine simulations, lightweight design methods for agricultural machinery, and optimal control strategies for multibody systems. His work bridges theoretical modeling with practical applications in mechanical engineering and agricultural technology. Steinbatz has presented his research at multiple conferences, including talks on fatigue analysis and virtual prototyping. His publications span topics from fracture plate simulations to elastohydrodynamic contact analysis in engines. Despite his prolific output, no specific awards are listed in the provided materials. He has supervised two academic works and actively engages in industry-relevant projects, such as integrating lightweight computation methods into product development processes.
Alejandro Secades Rodriguez is a Doctoral Student and Project Employee at the Management Center Innsbruck (Mechatronics Department) since 2016, transitioning to the Industrial Engineering Department in 2024. He holds a Master's in Mechatronics & Smart Technologies (2017) and a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering (2014). His expertise includes CFD , Multiphysics Simulation , Multibody Dynamics , and Advanced CAD Design . Education : Doctoral Programme in Engineering Sciences (University of Innsbruck, since 2024) MSc in Mechatronics & Smart Technologies (MCI, 2017) BSc in Aerospace Engineering (Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, 2014) Research Focus : Dynamic interaction of off-road heavy-duty vehicles with terrain Energetic optimization in industrial heat transfer systems Digital Twin integration for automotive and mechanical systems UAV propulsion and aerodynamic efficiency Multiphysics modeling (hydraulics, electrical, mechanical, aerodynamics) Scientific Awards : 2018: First place for best Master's thesis (Mechatronics Platform Austria) Teaching Activities : 2022-2024: Multibody & Multiphysics Simulation (Master's level) 2023: Supervision of Bachelor's thesis on point cloud volume analysis
Benjamin Marussig is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Structural Mechanics, Graz University of Technology. His work focuses on computational mechanics, particularly in isogeometric analysis, boundary element methods, and integration of CAD models with engineering simulations. He develops advanced numerical techniques for handling trimmed geometries, nonlinear solid mechanics, and fluid-structure interactions. His research emphasizes improving computational efficiency and accuracy in simulations involving complex geometries and inclusions. Key research areas include: Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) for structural and electromagnetic problems Boundary element methods for electrostatic and magnetostatic computations Fast algorithms for fictitious domain and immersed boundary methods Integration of design and analysis workflows using CAD-compatible models Recent work highlights advancements in multi-level Bézier extraction, weighted quadrature for cut cells, and automated correction systems for mechanics education. His contributions address challenges in meshing requirements, nonlinear behavior modeling, and efficient matrix assembly techniques for trimmed CAD geometries. Marussig collaborates on applications in geomechanics, tunneling simulations, and elasto-plastic material analysis. He holds teaching responsibilities in mechanics and structural analysis, emphasizing computational methods. His research portal lists over 40 peer-reviewed articles since 2012, demonstrating sustained innovation in computational mechanics and CAD-integrated simulation technologies.
Norbert Lorenz is a Research Scientist at the Transfer Group of the Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM), part of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. He holds a Diploma in Technical Mathematics from Johannes Kepler University Linz (2002) and has extensive experience in industrial research, including roles at IMCC/MathConsult since 2004 and RICAM since 2011. His work focuses on mathematical modelling, numerical solutions of PDEs, and thermal analysis of mechanical systems, particularly in the context of internal combustion engines and tribological systems. Education: 1995–2002: Study of Technical Mathematics at Johannes Kepler University Linz 2002: Diploma in Technical Mathematics Research Interests: Simulation of mechanical systems with a focus on thermal dynamics Numerical methods for partial differential equations Modelling of hydrodynamic and mixed lubricated journal bearings Integration of mathematical models into industrial applications Publications highlight advancements in thermal-elasto-hydrodynamic modelling, gearbox dynamics, and multibody systems. His work bridges academic research and industrial challenges in automotive engineering, particularly through collaborations with AVL and IMCC. Current projects emphasize enhancing simulation accuracy for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) mitigation in mechanical systems. Labs/Teams: Active member of RICAM's Transfer Group, collaborating with industry partners like AVL in Graz on applied computational mechanics and tribology.
Wolfgang Witteveen is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Wels, affiliated with the Research Center Wels and the Center of Excellence for Smart Production. His research focuses on multibody dynamics, structural mechanics, and tribomechadynamics, with a particular emphasis on joint interfaces and contact modeling in mechanical systems. He has contributed extensively to advancements in numerical simulation techniques, including hyper-reduction methods and finite element analysis. His work bridges theoretical mechanics with practical applications in automotive and mobility engineering. Witteveen has been involved in collaborative projects such as DisMoSim, focusing on distributed modeling and simulation of cyber-physical systems. His research outputs include studies on gearbox dynamics, flange tightness monitoring, and nonlinear effects in jointed structures. His methodologies often integrate advanced computational tools to address challenges in mechanical system simulation and optimization. Collaboration highlights include contributions to the VII International Conference on Computational Contact Mechanics. His academic activities include presentations on hyper-reduction techniques and multibody system simulation at international conferences.
Philipp Michael Zallinger is a researcher at the Research Center Wels, part of University of Applied Sciences Wels in Austria. He is affiliated with the Center of Excellence for Automotive/Mobility and the Center of Excellence for Smart Production, with focal areas in Materials, Smart Automation and Robotics, and Thermography and Non-Destructive Testing. His research interests span multiple engineering domains: Human-Robot Collaboration and Interaction Thermography and Non-Destructive Testing techniques Material property estimation and monitoring Data assimilation methods Robotics path planning and trajectory optimization Smart automation systems Carbon Fiber Reinforced materials analysis Zallinger's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on applying mathematical optimization techniques to robotics problems, particularly in human-robot collaboration. His work often involves adjoint gradient computation for system optimization, trajectory planning, and integrating human kinematics into robotic workflow modeling. In materials science, he has developed methods for non-contact, large-area monitoring of components using thermography and data assimilation, even when the direct relationship between temperature and material parameters is unknown. His research shows significant interdisciplinary connections between robotics, thermography, and materials science. His notable achievement is winning the INNOVATIONaward FHOÖ - Fakultät für Technik & Angewandte Naturwissenschaften in 2023 for his work on material property estimation, which enables non-destructive monitoring of components. He has also received media coverage including "Hohe Auszeichnung für Maschinenbau-Absolvent Philipp Zallinger" (February 2023) and "Innovation Awards der FH Wels für junge Forscher" (May 2023). As a co-investigator on significant research projects including VRoboCoop (Trustful Human-Robot Collaboration, 2024-2028) funded by IBW/EFRE & JTF 2021-2027 and the JR-Centre for Thermal NDE of Composites (2018-2022) funded by the Josef-Ressel-Center, Zallinger has secured substantial research funding. His work is conducted within research environments focused on practical applications of engineering principles, particularly in robotics, materials testing, and smart production systems.
Michael Klanner is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Mechanics at TU Wien. His research focuses on rotor dynamics, structural vibrations, and numerical methods for mechanical systems. He has contributed to advanced topics like fractional damping models, transient analysis of beams with nonlinear boundary conditions, and NVH optimization in hybrid battery housing designs. His work bridges theoretical models and experimental validation, particularly in rotor balancing techniques and viscoelastic material behavior. Klanner actively participates in international conferences such as ISMA and USD, presenting cutting-edge findings on rotor-bearing systems and wave-based methods. He leads a 2025–2029 FWF project on transient vibroacoustic problems, aiming to develop wave-based methodologies for complex structural dynamics challenges. His research emphasizes interdisciplinary applications in automotive and mechanical engineering, with a focus on improving dynamic system performance through advanced computational tools. Key research areas include rotor dynamics (e.g., flexible rotors, anisotropic bearings), structural acoustics (hybrid materials, damping properties), and numerical methods (Trefftz approach, polynomial chaos expansion). He collaborates internationally, addressing challenges like uncertainty quantification in parameters and experimental validation of numerical models. Klanner’s contributions span academic publications (34+ articles), conference presentations (33+), and applied engineering solutions in automotive and mechanical systems.
Wolfgang Steiner is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH Wels), affiliated with the Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility. His research focuses on multibody dynamics, finite element methods, optimization, and stability theory in mechanical systems. Primary Affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH Wels), Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility External Position: Lecturer at TU Vienna (since 1997) His work spans theoretical mechanics and applied engineering, particularly in satellite dynamics and industrial robotics. Recent projects include KBMKSZ (2024-2026) and IOMMS (2023-2026), emphasizing advanced computational techniques for multibody systems. Research trends highlight the integration of adjoint methods for gradient optimization, application of multibody dynamics to biomedical problems (e.g., tumor drug dosage), and development of novel simulation frameworks for industrial gear transmissions. His publications demonstrate cross-disciplinary relevance in mechanics, aerospace, and computational modeling. Scientific Recognition : 2020: Best Paper Award He actively supervises research projects and participates in academic activities such as international conferences and committee memberships.
Gian Marco Melito is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Mechanics within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). His research spans Advanced Materials Science and Information, Communication & Computing fields, with a strong focus on biomedical applications, particularly cardiovascular modeling and medical imaging. With over 21 publications and active participation in numerous research projects and conferences, Dr. Melito has established himself as a significant contributor to computational biomechanics and medical engineering. Research Interests Dr. Melito's primary research focuses on computational modeling of cardiovascular systems, with particular expertise in aortic dissection, blood flow dynamics, and electrical conductivity of blood. His work integrates sensitivity analysis, numerical modeling, and medical imaging to develop innovative approaches for understanding and diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. His research portfolio demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental hemodynamics toward clinically applicable tools. His technical expertise spans computational mechanics, biomedical engineering, and data science, with recent work emphasizing 3D medical shape analysis, aortic modeling, and impedance-based diagnostic techniques for aortic pathologies. The fingerprint analysis of his work reveals strong connections to Simulation Modeling (100%), Electrical Conductivity (85%), Model Parameter analysis (85%), and Electrical Impedance engineering (64%). Publication Trends Dr. Melito's publication record shows a clear progression from fundamental cardiovascular modeling toward practical medical applications. His most recent work focuses on dataset development for medical imaging (MedShapeNet, SynthAorta), demonstrating his shift toward creating foundational resources for the medical AI community. The consistent theme across his publications is the application of sensitivity analysis to improve cardiovascular modeling accuracy and clinical relevance. Professional Activities Dr. Melito is actively engaged in the academic community with 14 recorded activities including conference organization (such as UNCECOMP 2025 and ECCOMAS 2024), presentations, and editorial work. His upcoming role as organizer for UNCECOMP 2025 in June 2025 demonstrates his ongoing active status in the field.
Karim Sherif is an Assistant Professor at the Wels University of Applied Sciences, affiliated with the Research Center Wels and the Center of Excellence Automotive/Mobility. His work focuses on multibody dynamics, rigid body mechanics, and numerical simulation techniques. He holds a Dr.techn (PhD in Technical Sciences) and has contributed to projects funded by EFRE Regio 13. Education: Dr.techn (PhD in Technical Sciences) His research interests include topology optimization, robotics, and advanced numerical methods for mechanical systems. Notable projects include 'Flexible Multibody Systems and Reduction Methods' and 'Innovative Consideration of Local Deformations in Multibody Simulation.' His publications explore topics like time-optimal control of dynamic systems and modified numerical integration schemes for rigid body rotations. He has presented at conferences such as the International Conference on Research and Education in Mechatronics.
Lukas Buchner is a Researcher at the Center of Excellence for Smart Production, Smart Automation and Robotics, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH OÖ), Wels Campus. He holds a Dipl. Ing. and BSc engineering degree with active research contributions in industrial robotics. His educational background includes: Bachelor of Science (BSc) Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl. Ing.) in Engineering Buchner specializes in human-robot collaboration systems, focusing on path planning algorithms that integrate human kinematics for safer industrial workflows. His work bridges mobile robotics and edge computing, particularly through multipath networking solutions for seamless robot roaming in production environments. Current research emphasizes trustworthiness in human-robot teams via trajectory optimization and real-time workflow modeling. No scientific awards are documented in the provided information. As Co-Investigator, Buchner contributes to two major projects: VRoboCoop (2024-2028): IBW/EFRE-funded research on trustful human-robot collaboration through kinematics-integrated path planning B&R Smart Factory 2020 (2017-2019): Development of machine communication protocols for smart production systems His grant activities focus on industrial automation applications with European regional development funding. He operates within the VRoboCoop research team at Research Center Wels, collaborating with robotics experts like Roland F. Froschauer and Karin Nachbagauer to advance smart factory technologies through practical human-robot integration solutions.
