PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Gerd Hirzinger

Gerd Hirzinger is a robotics researcher whose work paired remote control with autonomous action in space robots. He joined DLR in 1969, earned a doctorate in digital control in 1974, and directed its Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics from 2001 to 2012. ROTEX became the first robot in space in 1993, and his institute also developed the DLR SpaceMouse, lightweight robot arms and multi-fingered hands. His awards include the 1995 Leibniz Prize, the 2004 Federal Cross of Merit, and the 2026 RIG Pioneer Award. He is an honorary professor at TUM.

Timeline

  1. 1969–1974

    Studies and joins DLR

    He studies electrical engineering at TUM, joins DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen as a research assistant in 1969, and earns a doctorate in 1974 with a thesis on digital control.

  2. 1976–2012

    Leading DLR robotics

    At DLR, he leads the Automation and Robotics Division at DFVLR from 1976 to 1992 and co-directs the Institute for Robotics and System Dynamics from 1992 to 2009. From 2001 to 2012, he directs the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics.

  3. 1987–1993

    ROTEX reaches space

    As principal investigator, he leads ROTEX, the first robot in space to fly on the Spacelab D2 mission in April 1993. During the April 1993 mission, the remotely controlled robot catches a floating cube; its gripper closes autonomously after ground operators predict the cube's path.

  4. 1995

    A Leibniz research prize

    In 1995, he receives the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize for his Advanced Space Robot Technology Experiment, ROTEX.

  5. 1999–2010

    Orbital robots on the ISS

    In 1999, he takes part in remote control of Japan's first free-flying space robot during the ETS-VII mission. DLR's ROKVISS arm operates outside the ISS from 2005 to 2010, switching between automatic and telepresence modes.

  6. 2004

    SpaceMouse and medical robotics

    In April 2004, he receives the Federal Cross of Merit. By 2004, his DLR institute is known for the SpaceMouse, lightweight robot arms, multi-fingered hands, an artificial heart and a surgical-robotics concept.

  7. 2015

    The Eugen-Sänger Medal

    He retires from his DLR director post in 2012 and continues advisory work for DLR and TUM. In 2015, the DGLR awards him the Eugen-Sänger Medal for achievements in space robotics.

  8. As of October 2026

    Honorary professor at TUM

    He is an honorary professor at TUM and keeps an office beside the research labs. In March 2026, RIG presents him with its Pioneer Award for lifetime achievement and announces that its annual award will carry his name.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI from 1961 to 2025, with a year-by-year chart.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 53% of people in our data with a known employment countryOur estimates of where AI careers are concentrated now and how countries’ shares of dated positions changed over time.
  3. 46% of living people in our data with known birth and employment countries work outside their birth countryOur estimate of cross-border careers in AI, from country of birth and the country of each current organization.
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionOur estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.

Sources and credits

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  1. International Robotics Colloquium in Oberpfaffenhofen dlr.de. Checked 19 October 2026.
  2. Prof. Dr. Gerd Hirzinger professoren.tum.de. Checked 19 October 2026.
  3. Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerd Hirzinger mit Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande ausgezeichnet dlr.de. Checked 19 October 2026.
  4. Wer ist Gerd Hirzinger? robotics-institute-germany.de. Checked 19 October 2026.
  5. Ausnahmetalent in der Robotik: Prof. Dr. Gerd Hirzinger erhält die Eugen-Sänger-Medaille dglr.de. Checked 19 October 2026.
  6. Robotics pioneer Prof. Gerd Hirzinger honored – RIG to rename its most important award after him robotics-institute-germany.de. Checked 19 October 2026.