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About

Vitor N. Hartmann is a robotics and instrumentation engineer whose work bridges precision mechanics and astronomical discovery. His research centers on parallel kinematic mechanisms and fibre-optic positioning systems, with a focus on developing innovative robotic solutions for both educational contexts and large-scale telescopes. Hartmann’s most significant contributions lie in the design and development of the MANIFEST multi-object fibre positioner for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). As detailed in his 2020 pre-concept design paper (3 citations) and a 2024 enhancement study (2 citations), MANIFEST employs “Starbug” robots to accurately position fibre units across the GMT’s focal plane, dramatically expanding the telescope’s observational capabilities. This system enables simultaneous spectroscopy across a 14 arcmin field-of-view, coupling with instruments like G-CLEF and GMACS to unlock new frontiers in astronomical exploration. Earlier in his career, Hartmann developed a milling parallel robot for educational purposes (2013, 3 citations), demonstrating the versatility of parallel mechanisms for fast, precise motion. With a growing citation impact and a role in one of the next generation of giant telescopes, Hartmann is a key figure in the intersection of robotics and observational astronomy.