Martin Stelzer

About

Martin Stelzer is a prominent researcher specializing in space telerobotics, force-feedback control systems, and autonomous spacecraft technologies. His work sits at the intersection of human-robot interaction and space exploration, with a particular focus on enabling remote operation of robots from orbit as a precursor to deep-space human missions. Stelzer's most celebrated contribution is his leadership in the KONTUR-2 mission, a landmark German-Russian collaboration that demonstrated force-feedback teleoperation of robots directly from the International Space Station. His 2016 paper on this achievement has garnered over 110 citations, establishing it as a cornerstone reference in space robotics. Expanding on this foundation, he investigated how microgravity conditions affect astronaut teleoperation performance, contributing critical insights for future Mars habitat construction scenarios. Beyond KONTUR-2, Stelzer has advanced robot systems through the CAESAR project, building on DLR's celebrated lightweight robot technology, and contributed to the EROSS mission targeting in-orbit satellite servicing capabilities. His work on scalable avionics (ScOSA) and modular spacecraft software architectures further demonstrates his broad systems-engineering expertise. Collectively, his research has shaped how humanity might one day construct habitats on distant worlds before astronauts ever set foot there, making him a significant voice in the future of planetary exploration.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   KONTUR-2: Force-feedback teleoperation from the international space station

   110 citations · 2016
2. 2
   Teleoperating Robots from the International Space Station: Microgravity Effects on Performance with Force Feedback

   33 citations · 2019
3. 3
   CAESAR: Space Robotics Technology for Assembly, Maintenance, and Repair

   20 citations · 2018
4. 4
   Extended Predictive Model-Mediated Teleoperation of Mobile Robots through Multilateral Control

   12 citations · 2018
5. 5
   Software architecture and design of the Kontur-2 mission

   11 citations · 2017
6. 6
   ScOSA - Scalable On-Board Computing for Space Avionics

   10 citations · 2018
7. 7
   End-to-end simulation and verification of GNC and robotic systems considering both space segment and ground segment

   9 citations · 2018
8. 8
   EROSS: In-Orbit Demonstration of European Robotic Orbital Support Services

   6 citations · 2024
9. 9
   The Robot as an Avatar or Co-worker? An Investigation of the Different Teleoperation Modalities through the KONTUR-2 and METERON SUPVIS Justin Space Telerobotic Missions

   6 citations · 2018
10. 10
    Robust and modular on-board architecture for future robotic spacecraft

    5 citations · 2014

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links