Slawomir Sander

Slawomir Sander (formerly known as Slawomir Grzonka) is a researcher at the Department of Computer Science at Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, working in the Autonomous Intelligent Systems Group led by Professor Wolfram Burgard. His research focuses on robotics, particularly in the areas of aerial robotics, navigation systems, and agricultural applications.

Dr. Sander's primary research interests include Quadrotors, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), Navigation, Machine Learning, Human Motion Tracking, and Agricultural Robotics. His work bridges theoretical robotics with practical applications, especially in precision farming where robotic systems can reduce herbicide usage through targeted weed detection and removal. His research demonstrates a strong progression from fundamental navigation algorithms to applied agricultural robotics.

An analysis of his publication history shows a clear evolution from indoor navigation and SLAM techniques (2007-2012) toward agricultural robotics applications (2013-2016). His earlier work focused on quadrotor navigation, place recognition, and state estimation, while his more recent publications center on precision farming applications, particularly weed detection in sugar beet fields and integration of UAV-UGV systems for crop management.

His notable scientific achievements include:

• Wolfgang-Gentner-Award (Wolfgang-Gentner-Nachwuchsförderpreis) for his PhD thesis
• Best Conference Paper Award for "Towards Palm-Size Autonomous Helicopters"
• Finalist for Best Student Paper Award and Best Paper Award in Cognitive Robotics for "Mapping Indoor Environments Based on Human Activity"
• Best Conference Paper Award for "Towards a Fully Autonomous Indoor Helicopter"

Dr. Sander has been actively involved in several major robotics projects including the BoniRob platform development, RemoteFarming.1, and the Flourish project. His work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations with agricultural scientists and engineers. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, his involvement in multiple substantial projects suggests successful grant acquisition for robotics research.

He has been a key contributor to the Autonomous Intelligent Systems group's work on agricultural robotics, particularly in developing the BoniRob platform and its various applications (BoniRob-Apps) for field robotics. His work connects fundamental robotics research with practical agricultural applications, demonstrating the real-world impact of robotics technology in addressing challenges in modern farming.