Stefan Schiffer

Stefan Schiffer is a postdoctoral research associate at RWTH Aachen University in the Department of Society, Technology, and Human Factors at the Human Technology Center (HumTec), and also serves as research coordinator at the Mobile Autonomous Systems and Cognitive Robotics Institute (MASCOR) at FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences. He previously held a postdoctoral position at the Knowledge-based Systems Group (KBSG) at RWTH Aachen University.

• Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University, 2014
• Diploma (Dipl.-Inform., M.Sc. equivalent) in Computer Science, RWTH Aachen University, 2005
• Specialization: Artificial Intelligence, minor in Medicine

Stefan Schiffer's research focuses on cognitive robotics, domestic service robotics, and human-machine interaction, with a strong emphasis on embodied artificial intelligence and AI in computer games. His work integrates knowledge representation, automated planning, and fuzzy logic to enable robust and adaptive robot behaviors in real-world environments. He has made significant contributions to natural language processing in robotics and gesture recognition for human-robot collaboration.

His recent publications (2023) span diverse applications of AI, including anomaly detection in manufacturing, demand forecasting, AI-based skill development, and human-robot collaboration in composite production. These works reflect a trend toward practical, industry-integrated AI systems that support human workers and optimize industrial processes.

• Best Paper Award Nominee, BIOIMAGING 2018
• Best Poster Award, LingUnite 2013
• Best Student Paper Award, ICAART 2012
• Best Student Paper Award, RoboCup 2008 Symposium
• World Champion, RoboCup 2007 and 2006
• Winner, RoboCup German Open 2008 and 2007
• 2nd Place, RoboCup 2008
• 3rd Place, Sun Software Price 2001

Stefan Schiffer has supervised numerous student theses in areas such as knowledge-based activity representation, AI for arcade games, object recognition, plan recognition, and multi-modal tracking. He has been actively involved in academic service, serving on the program committees of major AI conferences including AAAI, IJCAI, ECAI, and ICAART. He has taught a wide range of courses in artificial intelligence, robotics, and knowledge representation, and has coordinated master's programs in Software Systems Engineering and Computational Social Systems. He leads research efforts in the Angry Birds AI Competition as Team Akbaba and has been instrumental in the RoboCup@Home league as both team leader and league chair.

He is affiliated with several research initiatives, including MASCOR at FH Aachen, and has contributed to projects involving autonomous mining vehicles, AI in textile and metal industries, and smart factory setups based on RoboCup Logistics League. His work bridges academic research and industrial application, emphasizing human-centered AI and robotics.