Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Pascal Egli is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of autonomous systems, legged robotics, and real-world field applications. His research focuses on enabling heavy-duty machines and legged robots to operate autonomously in complex, unstructured environments — from construction sites to dense forest settings. Egli's most prominent contribution is his central role in developing HEAP, the Heuristic Excavation Autonomous Platform — an autonomous walking excavator designed to transform construction industry practices. With 76 citations since its 2021 publication, this work has attracted significant attention for its potential to enhance worker safety, address labor shortages, and improve environmental sustainability in one of the world's most resource-intensive sectors. Equally compelling is Egli's sustained work on robotic precision harvesting, where he has developed integrated systems enabling legged harvesters to autonomously navigate GPS-denied forest environments, selectively remove trees, and preserve surrounding vegetation. His 2022 paper on this topic has already garnered 20 citations, reflecting growing community interest in sustainable forestry automation. Across his research, Egli consistently addresses the full robotics stack — mapping, localization, planning, and control — demonstrating both technical depth and a clear commitment to deploying autonomous systems where they can deliver meaningful real-world impact.