Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Oliver Lang’s research career bridges two seemingly distinct worlds: assistive robotics and advanced digital fabrication in architecture. His most impactful work centers on the development of the “FRIEND” system, a semiautonomous robotic wheelchair integrated with a MANUS robotic arm, designed to empower individuals with upper limb impairments. This pioneering project, which has garnered 92 citations, combines an intuitive speech interface with a flat-screen display, enabling users to perform daily tasks with greater independence. Lang’s technical expertise is further demonstrated through his contributions to visual-servoing control, where he developed innovative methods for robust, calibration-free robot guidance using zoom cameras—a critical advancement for precise manipulation in unstructured environments. More recently, Lang has applied his robotics knowledge to architecture, exploring adaptive automation strategies for the robotic prefabrication of parametrized mass timber building components. This work, presented at the 2019 ISARC conference, signals a forward-looking shift toward sustainable, automated construction. With a career spanning human-centered assistive technology to cutting-edge architectural robotics, Oliver Lang exemplifies how robotic systems can be engineered to enhance human capability across diverse domains, from rehabilitation to the built environment.