Nora-Sophie Staufenberg
Papers
3
Total Citations
34
H-Index
3
About
Nora-Sophie Staufenberg is a robotics researcher whose work centers on the mechanics and control of dynamic bipedal locomotion, with a particular focus on making humanoid robots walk with greater speed, stability, and human-like efficiency. Her most impactful contribution is the ongoing development of the LOLA humanoid robot, where she has led significant hardware and software upgrades to enable dynamic multi-contact locomotion—allowing the robot to use its hands for environmental support, thereby enhancing robustness during fast walking. This work, detailed in her most-cited paper (14 citations), pushes the boundaries of real-world bipedal agility. Staufenberg also explores the fundamental biomechanics of walking, investigating how the intersection point of ground reaction forces (the virtual pivot point) differs between human and robotic gait. Her research further advances real-time control by employing quintic spline collocation to generate dynamically feasible center-of-mass trajectories with variable torso height, a technique that respects multi-body dynamics and kinematic limits while meeting hard real-time constraints. Through this blend of practical robot design and theoretical motion planning, Staufenberg is helping to bridge the gap between human and machine locomotion.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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