Papers
62
Total Citations
979
H-Index
16
About
Norbert Elkmann is a prominent robotics researcher whose work spans two transformative domains: service robotics for hazardous environments and human-robot collaboration safety. Based at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF), Elkmann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of autonomous robotic systems and making human-robot cooperation safer in industrial settings. His early contributions focused on service robotics for difficult-to-access environments, including pioneering facade-cleaning robots such as the SIRIUSc system deployed on high-rise buildings in Munich, and inspection robots for wind turbine rotor blades — work that collectively garnered over 160 citations. Elkmann subsequently shifted focus toward the critical challenge of human-robot collaboration safety, developing innovative projection- and camera-based sensor systems that dynamically safeguard shared workspaces. These contributions, cited over 200 times across multiple studies, have directly influenced how industry approaches collaborative robotics deployment. His surveys and methodological frameworks on collaborative robotics design — identifying safety as a key barrier to wider industrial adoption — have become essential references for both researchers and practitioners. With a body of work exceeding 500 citations, Elkmann's research has meaningfully shaped modern standards and practices in safe, effective human-robot interaction.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4A projection-based sensor system for safe physical human-robot collaboration54 citations · 2013
- 5SIRIUSc — Facade Cleaning Robot for a High-Rise Building in Munich, Germany53 citations · 2005
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- 10Robot for rotor blade inspection36 citations · 2010