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About

Georges Giralt stands as a foundational figure in mobile robotics and human-robot interaction, whose pioneering work has shaped the field across five decades. Based at LAAS-CNRS in Toulouse, France, Giralt's research spans autonomous navigation, motion planning, physical human-robot interaction, and intervention robotics in hazardous environments. His most celebrated contribution is the HILARE mobile robot project, introduced as early as 1979, which established multi-level planning and navigation architectures that became a blueprint for autonomous mobile systems worldwide. His 1990 work on integrated navigation and multisensory control (173 citations) further cemented his influence on how robots perceive and move through complex environments. Giralt also made seminal contributions to the challenge of safe physical human-robot interaction (pHRI), co-authoring landmark surveys through the EURON network that garnered over 230 citations and shaped safety standards for robots operating alongside humans in everyday settings. Beyond his research papers, Giralt helped define the international robotics community itself, editing proceedings from the Third and Seventh International Symposia on Robotics Research. His work on teleoperation and intervention robots addressed real-world applications in dangerous remote environments, bridging theoretical robotics with urgent practical needs. Across his career, Giralt's cumulative impact reflects a researcher equally comfortable pioneering new ideas and building the collaborative infrastructure that advances an entire discipline.