Papers
22
Total Citations
435
H-Index
11
About
Tomasz Rybus is a prominent space robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of autonomous manipulation, orbital mechanics, and microgravity systems engineering. Based at a leading Polish research institution, Rybus has established himself as a key contributor to the rapidly growing field of on-orbit servicing and active debris removal — two of the most pressing challenges facing the modern space industry. His most influential contribution, a 2018 review of obstacle avoidance in space robotics (113 citations), has become an essential reference for researchers navigating the unique control challenges posed by free-floating manipulator systems, where a robot arm's motion inherently disturbs the host satellite's position and attitude. Building on this foundation, Rybus developed spline-based and RRT path-planning algorithms for collision-free space manipulator operation, works that have collectively gathered nearly 100 additional citations. Equally notable is Rybus's hands-on approach: he designed and validated planar air-bearing microgravity testbeds that allow realistic ground demonstration of orbital capture maneuvers. His involvement in ESA's e.Deorbit consolidation study further underscores his real-world impact. Through both theoretical rigor and experimental innovation, Rybus has meaningfully advanced humanity's capacity to operate robots safely and effectively in space.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10