TEDxDelft 2012 | Performer: Martijn Wisse – the future of robots

Martijn Wisse (1976) researches the mechanics of robots. He develops mechanisms and motions that make it easier for the robots to fulfill their task.

Inspired by the human body, he develops hands that make it easy to grasp oddly-shaped objects, legs that walk almost by themselves without motors or controls, and arms that efficiently and robustly reach their target positions. His work is part of a greater effort in Delft – and worldwide – to develop the robot technology that is so dearly needed in the developed countries.

The Netherlands and other countries are facing an enormous demographic challenge due to aging, resulting in a labor shortage across the board, ranging from production and packaging to distribution and personal assistance. Wisse’s designs and ideas help create affordable and effective robotic solutions.

Martijn Wisse currently is tenured as Associate Professor at Delft University of Technology, after completing the MSc (2000) and PhD (2004) programs in Delft and a Postdoc at The Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. He also holds a position as Chief Technology Officer at Lacquey, a company that develops grippers for fruits and vegetables (and all other oddly and variably shaped objects).