T.F. Herkommer

Fraunhofer Society, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

T.F. Herkommer’s research career centers on advancing industrial robotics, with a particular focus on task-oriented programming, automated assembly, and specialized robotic applications. His most influential work, "Task-oriented programming of large redundant robot motion" (1998, 14 citations), introduced a high-level programming paradigm that simplifies the control of complex, redundant manipulators—enabling more intuitive and efficient motion planning for large-scale tasks. This contribution laid groundwork for reducing programming complexity in industrial settings. Earlier, Herkommer tackled the challenging domain of flexible material handling in "Robot assembly of pliable hoses" (1990, 4 citations), where he developed a novel technique at IPA Stuttgart for automating the assembly of elastomer and thermoplastic hoses through combined experimental and theoretical investigations. He also contributed to the development of "SKYWASH" (1994, 4 citations), a pioneering robotic system for washing aircraft exteriors. By designing an off-line programming approach for this dual-robot system, Herkommer helped achieve a threefold reduction in ground time for wide-body aircraft cleaning. Though his citation counts are modest, Herkommer’s work demonstrates impactful, application-driven engineering—bridging theoretical robotics with practical solutions for manufacturing and service automation.