Papers
32
Total Citations
3,009
H-Index
22
About
Micha Sharir is a preeminent figure in computational geometry and algorithmic motion planning, whose decades of foundational research have profoundly shaped theoretical robotics and computer science. He is best known for his landmark series of papers on the "Piano Movers' Problem," published in 1983–1984, which tackled the fundamental robotics challenge of navigating rigid bodies through obstacle-laden environments. These works — spanning two-dimensional polygonal bodies, multiple circular bodies, and three-dimensional rods amid polyhedral obstacles — collectively garnered over 1,700 citations and established rigorous algorithmic and topological frameworks that defined the field. His collaborations extended to analyzing the computational complexity of motion planning with moving obstacles, further deepening the theoretical understanding of dynamic environments. Sharir also made significant contributions through influential surveys and handbook chapters, synthesizing advances in algorithmic motion planning for broader research communities. His 1986 volume on the planning, geometry, and complexity of robot motion demonstrated his commitment to bridging abstract mathematics with practical robotics challenges. With a body of work exceeding 2,500 citations across these core papers alone, Sharir remains an indispensable reference for anyone studying robot motion planning, real algebraic geometry, or combinatorial computational geometry.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Planning, geometry, and complexity of robot motion217 citations · 1986
- 5Motion planning in the presence of moving obstacles176 citations · 1994
- 6Motion planning in the presence of moving obstacles171 citations · 1985
- 7Retraction145 citations · 1983
- 8Algorithmic motion planning in robotics125 citations · 1989
- 9Algorithmic motion planning103 citations · 2004
- 10