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About

Minna Lanz is a prominent researcher in advanced manufacturing systems, with a particular focus on human-robot collaboration (HRC), safety systems, and augmented and virtual reality applications in industrial environments. Based at the intersection of robotics engineering and smart manufacturing, her work addresses one of the most pressing challenges in modern industry: enabling humans and robots to work safely and efficiently in shared workspaces. Lanz's most influential contribution, "AR-based interaction for human-robot collaborative manufacturing" (2019, 243 citations), pioneered depth-sensor-based approaches to real-time safety monitoring, establishing her as a leading voice in protective systems design. Her complementary review papers on vision-based safety systems (143 citations) and VR/AR solutions in HRC (127 citations) have become essential references for researchers entering the field, synthesizing the state of the art with clarity and rigor. Beyond safety, Lanz has made meaningful contributions to task allocation between humans and robots in assembly contexts, virtual safety training, and agile manufacturing solutions tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises. Her work on robotics education further demonstrates a commitment to bridging industry and academia. With a cumulative citation record reflecting substantial field-wide impact, Lanz continues to shape how collaborative manufacturing systems are designed, validated, and taught.