Iris Schaefer

About

Iris Schaefer is a pioneering roboticist whose work has fundamentally advanced the design of lightweight, torque-controlled robots and dexterous manipulation systems. Her key research areas include mechatronics, sensor integration, and space robotics, with a focus on creating ultra-lightweight arms and multifingered hands that combine mechanical elegance with high-performance sensing. Schaefer's most impactful contribution is her role in developing the second generation of DLR's lightweight robots, detailed in her highly cited 2002 paper (302 citations), which introduced fully sensorized joints with complete state feedback—a design that has become a benchmark in the field. She also demonstrated the practical application of these systems in real-time visual tracking, such as her robotic ball catcher (102 citations), showcasing the integration of off-the-shelf vision with robotic control. Her work on multifingered hands (78 citations) has been instrumental in advancing dexterous manipulation for both terrestrial and space applications. With over 500 total citations, Schaefer's research has shaped modern robotics, enabling safer human-robot collaboration and autonomous operations in challenging environments like space.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   On a new generation of torque controlled light-weight robots

   302 citations · 2002
2. 2
   Off-the-shelf vision for a robotic ball catcher

   102 citations · 2002
3. 3
   A mechatronics approach to the design of light-weight arms and multifingered hands

   78 citations · 2002
4. 4
   DLR's ROBOTICS LAB - RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN SPACE ROBOTICS

   12 citations · 1999
5. 5
   A new Generation of Light-weight Robot Arms and Multifingerd Hands

   2 citations · 2007

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links