Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Robert Harle is a leading researcher in ubiquitous and indoor positioning systems, with a particular focus on magnetic field sensing and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). His work addresses the fundamental challenge of accurate, infrastructure-free indoor navigation. A key contribution is his development of sequence-based magnetic loop closures for automated signal surveying, which reduces the need for time-consuming manual fingerprint maps. He has also pioneered the use of magnetic field-based GraphSLAM, introducing scalable back-ends like MSGD that enable robust trajectory recovery for mobile devices and robots. Harle’s research extends to novel applications, such as using personnel movement data for autonomous indoor environment discovery and enabling in-ear magnetic sensing through automatic magnetometer calibration for earables. With over 90 citations across his most-cited works, his impact is evident in advancing practical, user-transparent positioning systems. His work on ray-tracing within ceiling-mounted systems further demonstrates his innovative approach to building world models. Harle’s contributions are foundational for next-generation indoor navigation and wearable sensing technologies.