Markus M. Schill

Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Markus M. Schill is a leading researcher in dynamic robotic manipulation, with a primary focus on nonprehensile catching—the challenging task of intercepting moving objects without grasping. His work bridges the gap between academic robotics and industrial reliability, addressing fundamental problems in high-speed, reactive control systems. In his highly cited 2015 paper (19 citations), Schill introduced the concept of quasi-direct nonprehensile catching, demonstrating why achieving ideal initial contact is less critical than robustly managing uncertain object states. This insight shifted the paradigm from precision-based to stability-focused approaches. His 2018 work (17 citations) further advanced the field by formulating ballistic catching as a hybrid system stabilization problem, reducing the complex 3-D task to a tractable 1-D parameterization along the flight path. This breakthrough enables more reliable, computationally efficient catching strategies suitable for real-world applications. Schill’s contributions are foundational for the development of agile, industrial-grade robotic systems capable of dynamic interaction with unpredictable environments.