Daniel J. Rixen

Prof. Daniel J. Rixen is a full Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Mechanics at Technische Universität München (TUM). With over 25 years of expertise, his research focuses on structural dynamics, robotics, and mechatronics, integrating theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Liège (1997) and has held academic leadership roles at TU Delft and TUM.

Education:

• Engineering Degree (Electro-Mechanics), University of Liège (Belgium)
• MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design, Cranfield University (UK)
• PhD in Engineering, University of Liège (Belgium)

Research Interests:

His work spans robotics path planning, nonlinear structural dynamics, model reduction, and parallel computing applications in aerospace, automotive, and medical instrumentation. Collaborations with industry partners drive innovations in wind energy, mechatronics, and microsystems.

Key Contributions:

His 2017 IEEE Robotics paper advanced real-time path planning for bipedal robots, while his textbook Mechanical Vibrations (3rd ed., 2015) remains a foundational resource. Hyper-reduction techniques for nonlinear dynamics and impulse-based substructuring methods highlight his computational mechanics expertise.

Awards:

• Best Lecturer Award (TU Delft, 2009 & 2010)

Advising & Collaborations:

Leads TUM’s Applied Mechanics group, with industry ties in aeronautics and medical devices. No specific student names or grant details provided in the text.

Labs/Teams:

Research integrates academic-industry partnerships, focusing on robotics control and multiphysical system modeling through TUM’s Engineering and Design School infrastructure.