Dr. Marco Hutter’s research aims to create a new generation of robotic systems that are well suited to work in challenging environments. Drawing inspiration from biology and biomechanics, he wants to study and optimize physical principles and clever design concepts to develop efficient, fast, and versatile robots that are well suited for a safe interaction with humans, unknown and dynamic objects, or the terrain. In contrast to mechanically stiff and position controlled machines, his goal is to implement intelligent mechanical structures in the design as well as selected dynamic elements in the actuation to achieve lightweight, compliant, and torque controllable systems. Such paradigm shift is not only fundamental to achieve a new level of mobility but at the same time opens completely new and very interesting research questions in control, planning, and learning.
