Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Eric Torgerson is a pioneering researcher in the field of robotic automation for textile and apparel manufacturing, with a particular focus on the challenging problem of handling limp, deformable materials such as fabric. His most significant contribution lies in developing vision-guided robotic systems capable of manipulating flexible fabrics for simulated joining operations — work that addressed one of the most technically demanding frontiers in industrial robotics. His foundational 1988 paper on vision-guided robotic fabric manipulation garnered 50 citations and established key methods for translating visual edge-detection data into precise robot motion paths, a framework he revisited and refined in a 2005 publication that accumulated an additional 38 citations. Torgerson also explored the use of tactile sensors for robotic handling of limp materials and contributed to the development of hierarchical control systems for complex garment assembly tasks, including a robotic workstation for shirt collar processing. Collectively, his work bridges computer vision, robotic control, and textile engineering, offering practical pathways toward automating apparel production — an industry historically resistant to mechanization due to the unpredictable behavior of soft materials.