Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Jan Razlaw is a leading figure in mobile manipulation and disaster robotics, whose work has pushed the boundaries of autonomous systems in hazardous environments. As a core member of Team NimbRo, Razlaw’s primary contributions center on developing robust perception and control architectures for centaur-like robots capable of navigating rubble and performing complex manipulation tasks. His most impactful work, the 2016 paper on the Momaro robot (146 citations), details a unique quadrupedal platform with steerable wheels that successfully tackled the DARPA Robotics Challenge, demonstrating a critical advance in locomotion for search and rescue. Razlaw further proved his mettle in international competition, leading the winning entry for the MBZIRC 2017 Challenge 2, where his team’s mobile manipulator autonomously turned a valve stem with a wrench. This achievement, along with subsequent work on autonomous wall-building and firefighting for MBZIRC 2020, showcases his ability to translate foundational research into high-stakes, real-world performance. Through these efforts, Razlaw has established a benchmark for resilient, task-oriented robots that can operate where humans cannot.