Ulrich Schwanecke

RheinMain University of Applied Sciences

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Total Citations

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About

Ulrich Schwanecke is a leading researcher in human-drone interaction, with a focus on tactile and proxemic interfaces for quadrotors and micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). His work bridges robotics and human-computer interaction, exploring how people physically engage with drones in close proximity. Schwanecke’s major contributions include the development of MetroDrone, a tactile 3D touch interaction system for quadrotors, which enables intuitive physical control at immediate distances—a critical step for safe, everyday drone use. His user studies on evaluating distances in tactile human-drone interaction (cited 12 times) provide foundational insights into proxemics, helping design drones that feel safe and responsive. Schwanecke also spearheaded ICARUS, a low-cost, scalable testbed for compact aerial robots, democratizing research in MAV supervision and control. With over 30 citations across his key works, his research directly addresses the challenge of minimizing drone size while maximizing user comfort and safety. His work is essential reading for students and engineers developing interactive, human-aware aerial systems for real-world applications.