Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Robotik und Mechatronik Zentrum: New horizons thanks to smart systems

The technological base of the Robot­ics and Mechatronics Centre (RMC), located in Oberpfaffenhofen and Berlin, is mechatronics – the highest possible integration of mechanics, optics, elec­­tronics and computer science to create “intelligent mechanisms”. One of the key goals is the development of multi-sensor robonauts moving auton­­omously or by remote control from a ground sta­­tion. With its two arms and four-fingered hands, DLR’s servicing robot JUSTIN, for example, is capable of executing com­­plex grabbing and moving sequences. Further applications of lightweight robots devel­­oped at the institute can be found in the medical field as well as in support of industrial production proces­ses. In the field of space exploration, it is about highly autonomous rovers for the exploration of moons and planets.

The Center is also intensively developing mechatronic systems and inno­­vative control concepts in vehicle and aircraft engineering. In close relation with the work on intelligent and cogni­tive robotic control, the development of flying robots as well as the fusion between robotics and electric mobility (ROBOMOBIL) are being advanced.