Thomas Lochmatter

About

Thomas Lochmatter is a pioneer in bio-inspired robotics and multi-agent systems, best known for his foundational contributions to odor source localization and vision-based tracking. His landmark work, *SwisTrack*, an open-source tracking software for multi-agent systems (162 citations), has become a de facto standard in robotics laboratories worldwide, enabling precise monitoring of agent positions and trajectories. Lochmatter’s core research focuses on developing and comparing bio-inspired algorithms—such as casting, surge-spiral, and surge-cast—for plume tracking in laminar wind fields, as demonstrated in his highly cited papers (73 and 64 citations). He systematically validated these algorithms through real-robot experiments in wind tunnels, bridging theory and practice. His 2013 *Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics* publication (321 citations) synthesizes his extensive work on distributed odor source localization, where he also explored probabilistic and information-theoretic approaches. Notably, his research on obstacle avoidance during plume tracking (18 citations) advanced real-world deployment. With over 800 total citations, Lochmatter’s contributions have profoundly influenced autonomous robotics, environmental monitoring, and search-and-rescue operations, inspiring a generation of researchers to tackle complex olfactory challenges with elegant, nature-inspired solutions.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics

   321 citations · 2013
2. 2
   SwisTrack - A Flexible Open Source Tracking Software for Multi-Agent Systems

   162 citations · 2008
3. 3
   Tracking Odor Plumes in a Laminar Wind Field with Bio-inspired Algorithms

   73 citations · 2009
4. 4
   A comparison of casting and spiraling algorithms for odor source localization in laminar flow

   64 citations · 2008
5. 5
   Bio-inspired and probabilistic algorithms for distributed odor source localization using mobile robots

   47 citations · 2010
6. 6
   Theoretical analysis of three bio-inspired plume tracking algorithms

   41 citations · 2009
7. 7
   A Plume Tracking Algorithm Based on Crosswind Formations

   25 citations · 2012
8. 8
   Simulation Experiments with Bio-inspired Algorithms for Odor Source Localization in Laminar Wind Flow

   25 citations · 2008
9. 9
   Odor Source Localization with Mobile Robots

   24 citations · 2007
10. 10
    Localizing an Odor Source and Avoiding Obstacles: Experiments in a Wind Tunnel using Real Robots

    18 citations · 2009

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links