Gerd Hirzinger
Encyclopedia
Gerd Hirzinger received his Dipl.-Ing. degree and the doctor
’s degree from the Technical University of Munich
, in 1969 and 1974 respectively. In 1969 he joined DLR (the German Aerospace Center
) where he first worked on fast digital control
systems. 1976 he became head of the automation
and robotics
laboratory of DLR, where he and his co-workers soon got several awards for innovative technology transfer
from robotics research to applications. In 1991 he received a joint professor
ship from the Technical University of Munich, and in 2003 an honorary professorship at the Harbin Institute of Technology
in China
.
He has been since 1992 director at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
at the DLR German Aerospace Center
which is one of the largest and most acknowledged institutes in the field worldwide, including not only robot development for space and terrestrial applications, but also aircraft control and optimization, vehicle technology (X-by-wire components and systems) and medical technology (artificial hearts and surgical robots). He has published more than 600 papers in robotics, mainly on robot sensing, sensory feedback, mechatronics, man-machine interfaces, telerobotics
and space robotics. He was prime investigator of the space robot technology experiment ROTEX, the first remotely controlled robot in space, which flew onboard shuttle COLUMBIA in April 93. For many years he has been chairman of the German council on robot control and administrative committee member of the IEEE Society on Robotics and Automation. He is now member of the IEEE fellow award committee.
He received numerous national and international awards, e.g. in 1994 the Joseph F. Engelberger Award for achievements in robotic science and in 1995 the Leibniz-Award, the highest scientific award in Germany and the JARA (Japan Robot Association
) Award. In 1996 he received the Karl Heinz Beckurts Award, Germany’s most important award for outstanding promotion of the partnership between science and industry, and in 1997 the IEEE-Fellow Award. In 2004 he got the order of merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and became member of the “wall of fame” of the Heinz Nixdorf
Computer Museum. In 2005 he received the IEEE Pioneer Award of the Robotics and Automation Society and the “honorary citizenship” of Budapest Tech, and in 2007 the IEEE Field Award “Robotics and Automation”. In 2008 he received the Nichols medal, one of the two highest awards of the International Federation of Automatic Control
(IFAC) in the field of control.
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
’s degree from the Technical University of Munich
Technical University of Munich
The Technische Universität München is a research university with campuses in Munich, Garching, and Weihenstephan...
, in 1969 and 1974 respectively. In 1969 he joined DLR (the German Aerospace Center
German Aerospace Center
The German Aerospace Center is the national centre for aerospace, energy and transportation research of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has multiple locations throughout Germany. Its headquarters are located in Cologne. It is engaged in a wide range of research and development projects in...
) where he first worked on fast digital control
Digital control
Digital control is a branch of control theory that uses digital computers to act as system controllers.Depending on the requirements, a digital control system can take the form of a microcontroller to an ASIC to a standard desktop computer....
systems. 1976 he became head of the automation
Automation
Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...
and robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
laboratory of DLR, where he and his co-workers soon got several awards for innovative technology transfer
Technology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
from robotics research to applications. In 1991 he received a joint professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
ship from the Technical University of Munich, and in 2003 an honorary professorship at the Harbin Institute of Technology
Harbin Institute of Technology
The Harbin Institute of Technology , or HIT, is colloquially known as Hagongda . It is a research university in the city of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China....
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
He has been since 1992 director at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics
at the DLR German Aerospace Center
German Aerospace Center
The German Aerospace Center is the national centre for aerospace, energy and transportation research of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has multiple locations throughout Germany. Its headquarters are located in Cologne. It is engaged in a wide range of research and development projects in...
which is one of the largest and most acknowledged institutes in the field worldwide, including not only robot development for space and terrestrial applications, but also aircraft control and optimization, vehicle technology (X-by-wire components and systems) and medical technology (artificial hearts and surgical robots). He has published more than 600 papers in robotics, mainly on robot sensing, sensory feedback, mechatronics, man-machine interfaces, telerobotics
Telerobotics
Telerobotics is the area of robotics concerned with the control of robots from a distance, chiefly using wireless connections , "tethered" connections, or the Internet...
and space robotics. He was prime investigator of the space robot technology experiment ROTEX, the first remotely controlled robot in space, which flew onboard shuttle COLUMBIA in April 93. For many years he has been chairman of the German council on robot control and administrative committee member of the IEEE Society on Robotics and Automation. He is now member of the IEEE fellow award committee.
He received numerous national and international awards, e.g. in 1994 the Joseph F. Engelberger Award for achievements in robotic science and in 1995 the Leibniz-Award, the highest scientific award in Germany and the JARA (Japan Robot Association
Japan Robot Association
The Japan Robot Association is a trade association made up of companies in Japan that develop and manufacture robot technology. It was formed in 1971 as the Industrial Robot Conversazione. The association was reorganized and renamed as the Japan Industrial Robot Association in 1972, and was...
) Award. In 1996 he received the Karl Heinz Beckurts Award, Germany’s most important award for outstanding promotion of the partnership between science and industry, and in 1997 the IEEE-Fellow Award. In 2004 he got the order of merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and became member of the “wall of fame” of the Heinz Nixdorf
Heinz Nixdorf
Heinz Nixdorf was a German computing pioneer and businessman.Nixdorf was born in Paderborn.In 1942, Nixdorf was drafted by the German forces and could only finish his education in 1946, after the end of World War II....
Computer Museum. In 2005 he received the IEEE Pioneer Award of the Robotics and Automation Society and the “honorary citizenship” of Budapest Tech, and in 2007 the IEEE Field Award “Robotics and Automation”. In 2008 he received the Nichols medal, one of the two highest awards of the International Federation of Automatic Control
International Federation of Automatic Control
The International Federation of Automatic Control , founded in September 1957, is a multinational federation of , each one representing the engineering and scientific societies concerned with automatic control in its own country.The aim of the Federation is to promote the science and technology of...
(IFAC) in the field of control.