Papers
8
Total Citations
46
H-Index
4
About
Martin-Christoph Wanner is a pioneering roboticist whose career has been defined by solving large-scale, real-world industrial challenges through innovative automation. His primary research areas span field robotics, large-manipulator design, and the application of robotics in construction and infrastructure maintenance. Wanner’s most significant contribution is the development of the “SKYWASH” system, a groundbreaking mobile robot for washing aircraft exteriors. This work, detailed in his most-cited paper (16 citations), addressed the fundamental physics of large robots—low structural natural frequencies and limited gain—by creating an 11-axis manipulator mounted on a truck. The system’s commercial breakthrough with Lufthansa in 1994 demonstrated a threefold reduction in aircraft ground time, showcasing his ability to translate complex engineering into tangible operational savings. Beyond aviation, Wanner applied robotics to civil engineering, developing a remote-controlled manipulator for repairing brick sewers and a measurement-based robot for cutting tubular connections in offshore welding. His early work on experimental modal analysis for industrial robot performance testing (1985) further underscores his commitment to rigorous design principles. With a career spanning from the 1980s to 2020, Wanner’s legacy lies in proving that robots can operate effectively at human scale in unstructured, demanding environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1The Aircraft Cleaning Robot “SKYWASH”16 citations · 1993
- 2CAD and Robotics in Architecture and Construction9 citations · 1986
- 3The aircraft washing system SKYWASH5 citations · 1995
- 4Off-line programming for the aircraft cleaning robot "SKYWASH"4 citations · 1994
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- 8Manipulator system for the redevelopment of gaps in bricks sewers2 citations · 1991