Sami Haddadin
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR), Leibniz University Hannover, Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Intel (Germany), European Severe Storms Laboratory, Robotics Research (United States), Leibniz University of Applied Sciences, Humboldt State University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Institute of Robotics, Institute for Microstructural Sciences, TU Dresden, Arizona State University
Papers
290
Total Citations
15,173
H-Index
52
About
Sami Haddadin is a pioneering roboticist whose work has fundamentally shaped the field of safe physical human-robot interaction (pHRI). Best known for his groundbreaking research at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and beyond, Haddadin has made transformative contributions to lightweight robot design, collision detection, and compliant robotic systems. His landmark paper on collision detection with the DLR Lightweight Manipulator (2006, 763 citations) established foundational methods for enabling robots to safely share workspaces with humans, work he expanded into a comprehensive survey on robot collision handling (2017, 754 citations). His contributions to the DLR lightweight robot's design and control philosophy (2007, 616 citations) helped birth an entirely new generation of torque-controlled manipulators, culminating in the commercially successful KUKA-DLR Lightweight Robot arm. Haddadin's research on soft robotics, variable stiffness actuation, and the anthropomorphic DLR Hand Arm System further demonstrate his broad impact on dexterous, human-safe manipulation. Remarkably, his work also intersects with neuroscience and assistive technology — contributing to a neural-controlled robotic arm enabling individuals with tetraplegia to reach and grasp (2012, 2,730 citations). Collectively, his research has amassed thousands of citations, cementing his status as a defining voice in modern collaborative robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Reach and grasp by people with tetraplegia using a neurally controlled robotic arm2,730 citations · 2012
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- 3Robot Collisions: A Survey on Detection, Isolation, and Identification754 citations · 2017
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- 6Soft robotics474 citations · 2008
- 7The DLR hand arm system430 citations · 2011
- 8Requirements for Safe Robots: Measurements, Analysis and New Insights429 citations · 2009
- 9Human-Like Adaptation of Force and Impedance in Stable and Unstable Interactions392 citations · 2011
- 10