Arne Sonnenburg

Papers

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About

Arne Sonnenburg’s research bridges the frontiers of space robotics and bionic actuation, demonstrating a rare versatility in engineering innovation. His most impactful work, “EKF-SLAM based Approach for Spacecraft Rendezvous Navigation with Unknown Target Spacecraft” (2010, 25 citations), addresses a critical challenge in autonomous orbital operations, enabling a spacecraft to navigate and dock with an uncooperative target using simultaneous localization and mapping—a foundational contribution to debris removal and on-orbit servicing. In parallel, Sonnenburg pioneered the DOHELIX-Muscle (2007, 11 citations), a novel, scalable technical muscle composed of a high-strength, flexible plaited shaft wrapped around a turning spindle. This design, built from standard components, offers adjustable size, weight, power, and speed, making it a cost-effective alternative for bionic robots and industrial drives. His follow-up guidelines (2007, 3 citations) further refined the muscle’s design parameters, though practical applications remain nascent. Together, these works showcase Sonnenburg’s dual impact: advancing autonomous space navigation while laying groundwork for accessible, high-performance artificial muscles in robotics.