Papers
13
Total Citations
275
H-Index
8
About
Torsten Felsch is a pioneering roboticist whose work has redefined how we maintain the built environment and critical infrastructure. At the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation (IFF), his research centers on service robotics for extreme environments—particularly autonomous systems for vertical surfaces. His most celebrated contribution is the SIRIUS family of climbing robots, designed for tasks like facade cleaning, coating, and inspection of high-rise buildings and ships. The landmark paper "Innovative service robot systems for facade cleaning of difficult-to-access areas" (2003, 77 citations) and its follow-up on the SIRIUSc system (2005, 53 citations) established his reputation in automated vertical maintenance. Felsch’s impact extends to renewable energy, where his "Robot for rotor blade inspection" (2010, 36 citations) addressed the critical need for reliable wind turbine maintenance. He also led the MAINBOT project (2014, 30 citations), developing mobile robots for inspecting extensive industrial plants. More recently, his work on automated disassembly of e-waste (2024) reflects a shift toward sustainable robotics, integrating digital twins and product passports. With over 250 citations across his portfolio, Felsch’s innovations in modular, climbing robotics have made dangerous maintenance tasks safer and more efficient.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2SIRIUSc — Facade Cleaning Robot for a High-Rise Building in Munich, Germany53 citations · 2005
- 3Robot for rotor blade inspection36 citations · 2010
- 4
- 5
- 6Modular climbing robot for service‐sector applications18 citations · 1999
- 7
- 8Robotic system for additive manufacturing of large and complex parts11 citations · 2017
- 9Intelligent control of modular kinematics - the robot platform STRIUS8 citations · 2003
- 10The Sirius Robot Platform for Tool Handling on Large Vertical Surfaces3 citations · 2001