Robert Rohling
Papers
12
Total Citations
325
H-Index
12
About
Robert Rohling is a leading figure in the fields of medical robotics, image-guided surgery, and haptic interfaces. His career is defined by pioneering work in two distinct but interconnected domains: dexterous teleoperation and intra-operative ultrasound. In the early 1990s, Rohling developed the Optimized Fingertip Mapping (OFM) algorithm, a foundational contribution enabling precise teleoperation of the Utah/MIT Dextrous Hand by mapping human hand poses to robot fingers, with his seminal papers on the topic garnering over 80 combined citations. More recently, he has revolutionized robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery by introducing the concept of a “pick-up” ultrasound transducer, which remains in the abdominal cavity throughout a procedure to provide real-time imaging. His work on tracked “pick-up” ultrasound and projector-based augmented reality (the Pico Lantern and PARIS systems) has been critical for enhancing surgeon spatial awareness during complex tasks like laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, with multiple papers exceeding 30 citations. Rohling’s research directly addresses high-complication-rate procedures, demonstrating a sustained impact on surgical safety and precision.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Optimized fingertip mapping for teleoperation of dextrous robot hands41 citations · 2002
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- 6Tracked “Pick-Up” Ultrasound for Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery30 citations · 2015
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- 9Modeling and parameter estimation of the human index finger24 citations · 2002
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