Papers
29
Total Citations
600
H-Index
13
About
Hagen Schempf is a pioneering robotics engineer whose career has centered on developing autonomous and teleoperated robotic systems for hazardous inspection, reconnaissance, and industrial applications. Best known for his groundbreaking work on pipeline inspection robotics, Schempf led the development of the Explorer™ family of pipe robots — untethered systems capable of visually and nondestructively evaluating live natural gas distribution mains without costly excavations — work that has garnered over 160 citations across two landmark studies. His Neptune robot system revolutionized above-ground storage tank inspection by enabling unmanned corrosion assessment in petroleum-filled environments, eliminating dangerous human entry. Beyond infrastructure inspection, Schempf made significant contributions to military and urban robotics, designing the miniature Cyclops reconnaissance robot (82 citations) and the terrain-adaptive Pandora system for urban environments. His earlier theoretical work on robotic transmission characteristics (35 citations) established foundational principles still referenced in manipulator design. From the compact AURORA tracked platform to the practical GRISLEE gas main repair system, Schempf's body of work consistently bridges rigorous engineering with real-world deployment, making him a defining figure in field robotics and robotic inspection systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Cyclops: miniature robotic reconnaissance system82 citations · 2003
- 3Explorer: Untethered Real-Time Gas Main Assessment Robot System68 citations · 2003
- 4Neptune: above-ground storage tank inspection robot system61 citations · 1995
- 5Pandora: autonomous urban robotic reconnaissance system45 citations · 2003
- 6Study of Dominant Performance Characteristics in Robot Transmissions35 citations · 1993
- 7Neptune: above-ground storage tank inspection robot system26 citations · 2002
- 8Roboleg: a robotic soccer-ball kicking leg24 citations · 2002
- 9GRISLEE: Gasmain Repair and Inspection System for Live Entry Environments22 citations · 2003
- 10AURORA — Minimalist Design for Tracked Locomotion21 citations · 2007