Sven Winkler

Papers

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About

Sven Winkler investigates the intersection of virtual reality (VR) and telepresence robotics, focusing on how humans perceive and navigate unfamiliar environments through mediated interfaces. His research addresses a fundamental challenge: when operating a robot remotely or exploring a virtual space, users often struggle with spatial orientation and distance estimation due to limited sensory feedback. Winkler’s most cited work (2023, 10 citations) demonstrates that VR-based environment learning can significantly improve subsequent robot teleoperation in unfamiliar buildings, helping users align allocentric map representations with egocentric views. In related studies, he has examined how visual cues enhance spatial orientation in both VR and telepresence contexts, and quantified how well users estimate distances through double telepresence robots. Winkler’s contributions are particularly valuable for advancing remote operation technologies used in search-and-rescue, hazardous environment exploration, and assistive robotics. By systematically identifying the perceptual gaps between direct experience and mediated interaction, his work provides practical insights for designing more intuitive teleoperation interfaces.