Carl Van Geem

Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Carl Van Geem is a leading figure in path planning and optimization for complex, nonholonomic systems, with a particular emphasis on industrial and robotic applications. His work masterfully bridges theoretical algorithms with real-world logistical challenges. Van Geem’s most impactful contribution is his pioneering solution to a monumental logistics problem: the transportation of the massive Airbus A380 components across Europe. His 2005 paper on trailer-truck trajectory optimization (37 citations) stands as a landmark achievement, demonstrating how advanced path planning can solve unprecedented engineering constraints. He further advanced the field with foundational work on reactive obstacle avoidance and path planning for nonholonomic systems (19 citations), addressing the critical challenge of maneuvering vehicles that cannot move in any direction. To enable these solutions, Van Geem also developed the KCD collision detector, a specialized tool for verifying robot paths within complex, industrial-scale CAD models. Through this combination of theoretical depth and high-impact, real-world problem-solving, Van Geem has established himself as a key innovator in making path planning practical for the largest scales of manufacturing and transport.