Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Stephen Jacobsen is a leading researcher in the fields of space robotics, autonomous systems, and surgical robotics. His most impactful work addresses the critical challenge of safely capturing uncontrolled, spinning satellites—a problem of immense importance for on-orbit servicing and debris removal. Jacobsen pioneered trajectory planning and guidance algorithms that enable free-flying robots to approach tumbling targets while guaranteeing collision avoidance. His foundational 2002 paper on safe kinematic trajectories (49 citations) and subsequent 2003 works on fly-by approaches (28 and 21 citations) established the theoretical and practical framework for this high-stakes maneuver, blending orbital mechanics with real-time path optimization. Beyond space applications, Jacobsen has advanced medical robotics, notably evaluating 3D ultrasound imaging with stereo displays to improve visualization during robotic surgery. His work consistently bridges rigorous mathematical modeling with real-world system constraints, yielding solutions that are both theoretically sound and practically deployable. With a career spanning autonomous capture of hazardous space objects to enhancing surgical precision, Jacobsen’s contributions are essential reading for anyone working in robotic manipulation under uncertainty.