Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Maximilian Heinig is a robotics and medical device engineer whose work bridges the gap between precision machinery and neurosurgical practice. His primary research areas include robotic stereotaxy, surgical navigation, and autonomous sailing systems. Heinig’s most significant contribution is the development of the Motor-Assisted Robotic Stereotaxy (MARS) system, a robotized platform for stereotactic neurosurgery that integrates three translational and two rotational axes with a motorized MicroDrive, closely modeled after the clinical Zamorano-Duchovny frame. This work, published in 2011 and 2012, has accumulated 19 citations, establishing a foundation for motorized, frameless stereotactic procedures. In parallel, Heinig explored magnetic field–based navigation for localizing thin surgical instruments, achieving sub-millimeter tip detection of a 0.5 mm steel rod within a 30 mm workspace—a feasibility study with potential for real-time electrode guidance. Beyond the operating room, he contributed to robotic sailing with the Robotic Racing Micro Magic, a novel class of autonomous sailboats that demonstrated robust control in dynamic environments. Heinig’s work exemplifies a cross-disciplinary approach, applying robotic precision to both life-saving surgery and competitive maritime robotics.