Michael Rygaard Hansen

About

Michael Rygaard Hansen is a prominent researcher specializing in robotics, mechatronics, and the design optimization of robotic systems, with particular expertise in anthropomorphic and light-weight robotic arms. His work sits at the intersection of mechanical engineering, biomechanics, and control systems, making significant contributions to how robots are designed and optimized for real-world performance. Hansen is perhaps best known for his research into integrated dimensional and drive-train design optimization of robotic arms, where he developed systematic methods for simultaneously determining optimal link lengths and selecting motors and gearboxes from commercially available components — work that has attracted substantial attention with over 90 combined citations across related publications. His biomechanics-inspired research exploring human arm energy expenditure to guide energy-efficient trajectory planning in anthropomorphic robots represents a particularly innovative bridge between human movement science and robotics engineering. Beyond arm design, Hansen has contributed to spherical parallel manipulator workspace analysis, humanoid walking platforms through the AAU-BOT1 project, and automated servo mechanism sizing procedures. His research demonstrates a consistent commitment to practical, optimized robotic design that draws inspiration from human physiology. With work spanning international conferences and peer-reviewed publications since the mid-2000s, Hansen has established himself as a meaningful contributor to the advancement of intelligent, efficient robotic systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Control, Automation, Robotics and Vision

   97 citations · 2010
2. 2
   Design optimization on the drive train of a light-weight robotic arm

   58 citations · 2011
3. 3
   Integrated dimensional and drive-train design optimization of a light-weight anthropomorphic arm

   31 citations · 2011
4. 4
   odeling of Human Arm Energy Expenditure for Predicting Energy Optimal Trajectories

   13 citations · 2011
5. 5
   Evaluation of workspace of a spherical robotic wrist

   13 citations · 2007
6. 6
   Integrated design optimization of a 5-DOF assistive light-weight anthropomorphic arm

   6 citations · 2011
7. 7
   Automated Sizing Procedure of Servo-Driven Robot for Pallettes Handling

   5 citations · 2004
8. 8
   Modelling of a Spherical Robotic Wrist with Euler Parameter

   4 citations · 2007
9. 9
   AAU-BOT1: a platform for studying dynamic, life-like walking

   2 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links