Tim Rokahr

About

Tim Rokahr is a pioneering researcher in the field of physical human-robot interaction (pHRI), with a central focus on ensuring robot safety through biomechanical understanding. His major contribution is the development of control systems that embed injury knowledge directly into robot behavior, moving beyond simple collision avoidance to a deeper, quantifiable understanding of potential harm. His seminal 2012 paper, "On making robots understand safety," which has garnered 191 citations, laid the groundwork for this paradigm, demonstrating how robots can be programmed to assess and mitigate the severity of impacts with humans. Rokahr’s work is characterized by a holistic design approach, analyzing everything from collision mass and velocity to impact geometry, as seen in his 2010 overview and his 2014 biomechanical speed regulation study. He has also applied his safety analysis to real-world systems, such as the DLR Robotic Motion Simulator, where he used crash test dummies to evaluate passenger safety. By rigorously connecting robotic control to medical injury criteria, Rokahr has been instrumental in making the vision of truly collaborative, human-friendly robotic co-workers a tangible reality.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   On making robots understand safety: Embedding injury knowledge into control

   191 citations · 2012
2. 2
   A truly safely moving robot has to know what injury it may cause

   47 citations · 2012
3. 3
   Holistic design and analysis for the human-friendly robotic co-worker

   17 citations · 2010
4. 4
   Evaluation of human safety in the DLR Robotic Motion Simulator using a crash test dummy

   6 citations · 2013
5. 5
   Biomechanisch sichere Geschwindigkeitsregelung für die Mensch-Roboter Interaktion

   6 citations · 2014
6. 6
   Serial Kinematics based Motion Simulator - Evaluation of safety of the Passenger

   2 citations · 2012

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links