Wolfgang Slany

About

Wolfgang Slany is a computer scientist whose work bridges autonomous robotics and accessible computing education. His research spans mobile visual programming, open-source robotics, and low-cost environmental monitoring. Slany is best known as the creator of **Catrobat** (including Catroid), a free, open-source visual programming language that enables children as young as eight to build animations and games directly on their Android smartphones and tablets—democratizing coding for the over 700 million teenagers worldwide who lack access to traditional PCs. His most cited work, *"ROS-based mapping, localization and autonomous navigation using a Pioneer 3-DX robot"* (104 citations), addresses key challenges in indoor autonomous navigation using the Robot Operating System. Slany’s impact is evident in the sustained global adoption of Catrobat, which also supports wireless control of external hardware like Lego Mindstorms. More recently, he has explored reducing underwater observation costs through cloud technology. A long-term advocate for smartphone-only coding education, Slany’s contributions have empowered millions of first-time programmers in resource-constrained environments, making him a pivotal figure in both robotics and inclusive computing education.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   ROS-based mapping, localization and autonomous navigation using a Pioneer 3-DX robot and their relevant issues

   104 citations · 2011
2. 2
   Catroid

   21 citations · 2012
3. 3
   A mobile visual programming system for Android smartphones and tablets

   19 citations · 2012
4. 4
   Rock bottom, the world, the sky: Catrobat, an extremely large-scale and long-term visual coding project relying purely on smartphones

   6 citations · 2018
5. 5
   Catroid: A Mobile Visual Programming System for Children

   3 citations · 2012
6. 6
   Reducing Underwater Observation Costs by Leveraging Cloud Technology

   2 citations · 2025

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links