Rolf Johansson

About

Rolf Johansson is a prominent robotics and control systems researcher whose work spans industrial robot control, force feedback systems, and nonlinear dynamics. Over three decades, he has made foundational contributions to the design and implementation of advanced robotic systems, particularly in bridging the gap between theoretical control methods and real-world industrial applications. Johansson's most influential contributions lie in force-controlled robotics, including cost-efficient drilling with high-bandwidth force feedback (153 citations) and pioneering sensor integration platforms for industrial robot controllers (122 citations), the latter developed through the EU-funded AUTOFETT project. His work on sensorless force control (96 citations) and sensor fusion for compliant motion (71 citations) has helped redefine how robots interact with uncertain environments during assembly and manufacturing tasks. Beyond industrial applications, Johansson has made notable theoretical contributions in nonlinear control, including virtual holonomic constraints applied to underactuated systems like the Furuta pendulum and Pendubot, with two papers each earning approximately 100 citations. His earlier work on adaptive control of robot manipulators using Lyapunov-based methods (99 citations) established him as a rigorous control theorist. Together, his body of work reflects a rare combination of mathematical depth and practical engineering impact.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Cost-efficient drilling using industrial robots with high-bandwidth force feedback

   153 citations · 2009
2. 2
   Extending an industrial robot controller

   122 citations · 2005
3. 3
   Virtual-Holonomic-Constraints-Based Design of Stable Oscillations of Furuta Pendulum: Theory and Experiments

   100 citations · 2007
4. 4
   Adaptive control of robot manipulator motion

   99 citations · 1990
5. 5
   Periodic motions of the Pendubot via virtual holonomic constraints: Theory and experiments

   97 citations · 2007
6. 6
   Force controlled robotic assembly without a force sensor

   96 citations · 2012
7. 7
   Force estimation and control in robot manipulators

   76 citations · 2003
8. 8
   Integrated architecture for industrial robot programming and control

   73 citations · 1999
9. 9
   Sensor Fusion for Compliant Robot Motion Control

   71 citations · 2008
10. 10
    State-space system identification of robot manipulator dynamics

    59 citations · 2000

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links