Thomas Hemker
Papers
10
Total Citations
157
H-Index
6
About
Thomas Hemker is a robotics and engineering researcher whose work spans humanoid robot locomotion, industrial robot modeling, and optimization methods for complex engineering systems. He is perhaps best known for his research on walking motion optimization for humanoid robots, particularly in the context of RoboCup autonomous soccer competition, where his hardware-in-the-loop and surrogate optimization approaches for the HR18 robot prototype earned significant recognition, accumulating nearly 40 citations for his 2009 study alone. His contributions extend into the rigorous modeling and calibration of industrial robots, where he developed novel self-calibration methods incorporating both geometric and nongeometric effects, aiming to deploy industrial robots as precision measurement instruments — a cost-effective alternative to dedicated coordinate measuring machines. Hemker also made meaningful advances in understanding robot-process interactions, particularly for milling applications, investigating how robot structural compliance affects path accuracy under process loads. His 2010 work on derivative-free surrogate optimization for mixed-integer black-box problems demonstrates a broader mathematical sophistication applicable across engineering domains. With over 130 cumulative citations, Hemker's research bridges theoretical robotics, applied mechanics, and practical industrial deployment, making his portfolio valuable reading for students in robotics engineering and computational optimization.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Efficient Walking Speed Optimization of a Humanoid Robot39 citations · 2009
- 2
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- 4Simulation, Modeling, and Programming for Autonomous Robots21 citations · 2010
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- 6Hardware-in-the-loop optimization of the walking speed of a humanoid robot10 citations · 2006
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- 8Self-calibration for industrial robots with rotational joints3 citations · 2010
- 9
- 10Prediction of the Tool Displacement for Robot Milling Applications using Co-Simulation of an Industrial Robot and a Removal Process2 citations · 2010