Papers
21
Total Citations
612
H-Index
9
About
Rainer Krenn is a robotics and mechatronics researcher at DLR (German Aerospace Center), whose work spans advanced robotic systems, space robotics simulation, and planetary exploration technologies. He has made significant contributions to the development of torque-controlled lightweight robots, most notably co-authoring the seminal 2003 paper on DLR's third-generation Light Weight Robot III, which has accumulated 286 citations and pushed the boundaries of what is achievable in robotic joint control and mechanical design. His research extends powerfully into the realm of space robotics, where he has tackled the complex challenges of hardware-in-the-loop simulation for satellite docking and on-orbit servicing — work that has collectively drawn over 150 citations and directly supports the validation of future autonomous space missions. Krenn also developed the Soil Contact Model (SCM), an innovative technique bridging classical terramechanics theory with multi-body system simulation, enabling realistic modeling of rover locomotion on soft planetary terrain. More recently, his focus has broadened to cooperative multi-robot systems for planetary exploration and end-to-end GNC verification frameworks, reflecting a career defined by translating cutting-edge robotics research into practical solutions for some of the most demanding environments imaginable.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 4LIMITATIONS OF HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP SIMULATIONS OF SPACE ROBOTICS DYNAMICS USING INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS50 citations · 1999
- 5Soft Soil Contact Modeling Technique for Multi-Body System Simulation45 citations · 2011
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- 7SCM – A SOIL CONTACT MODEL FOR MULTI-BODY SYSTEM SIMULATIONS18 citations · 2009
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