Hilco van Moerkerk
Papers
1
Total Citations
34
H-Index
1
About
Hilco van Moerkerk is a leading figure in the field of underwater robotics and autonomous systems, with a primary focus on the exploration of flooded subterranean environments. His most notable contribution is the design and development of the UX-1 robotic system, a groundbreaking autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) engineered for the challenging task of submerged mine mapping. This work, detailed in his highly cited 2018 paper (34 citations), was a cornerstone of the EU H2020-funded UNEXMIN project, an international innovation action that van Moerkerk helped drive. By creating a robot capable of navigating the hazardous, confined, and often unmapped spaces of flooded mines, his research directly addresses the critical need for safe, non-invasive mineral exploration. This technology replaces dangerous human dives and opens new frontiers for resource assessment. Van Moerkerk’s impact is evident in the foundational nature of his system design, which has become a reference point for subsequent work in extreme-environment robotics and has significantly advanced the practical application of autonomous systems for geological surveying.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1UX 1 system design - A robotic system for underwater mining exploration34 citations · 2018