Andreas Birk

Prof. Andreas Birk is a Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at Constructor University Bremen gGmbH, leading the Robotics Research Group. His work bridges basic research in artificial intelligence and applied robotics, with a focus on underwater systems, disaster response, and autonomous navigation. He holds a PhD from Universität des Saarlandes and has held visiting professorships at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and other institutions.

Education:

• Dr. rer. nat. (1995) – Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken
• MSc (Diplom) – Computer Science (1993)
• BSc (Vordiplom) – Computer Science (1991)

Research Interests: Birk’s dual focus spans theoretical intelligence modeling and engineering applications like underwater robotics, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and human-robot interaction. His projects include underwater cultural heritage mapping, autonomous container unloading, and deep-sea exploration.

Key Projects:

• CADDY: Cognitive Autonomous Diving Buddy (EU-funded HRI research)
• MORPH: Multimodal Underwater Surveys with UUVs
• FloodEvac: Robotic assessment of flood risks in infrastructure

Awards: Recognized for innovation in robotics competitions (e.g., RoboCup, ICRA), and leadership in IEEE TC Safety, Security, and Rescue Robotics. Received the Ernst-Lange-Prize and Faulhaber Award.

Teaching & Outreach: Pioneered online robotics education during the pandemic, emphasizing hands-on labs. Co-founded Constructor’s Robotics program and mentors through Entrepreneurship and Innovation initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Leads the Robotics Research Group, collaborating with teams on underwater vision, simulation-in-the-loop validation, and multi-robot systems.