Roland Siegwart

Roland Siegwart, a distinguished Professor of Autonomous Systems at ETH Zurich since 2006, has shaped the landscape of robotics and autonomous systems through his remarkable career spanning academia, research, and entrepreneurship. After completing his studies in mechanics and mechatronics, he established himself as a leading figure in robotics research, serving as a professor at EPFL Lausanne for ten years and holding visiting positions at Stanford University and NASA Ames. His expertise in creating intelligent robots for complex environments has led to groundbreaking developments in personal and service robots, inspection devices, autonomous micro-aircraft, and walking robots. As Vice President of Research and Corporate Relations at ETH Zurich from 2010 to 2014, he initiated crucial programs like the Pioneer Fellowship and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab. His entrepreneurial spirit has resulted in co-founding multiple successful spin-off companies, while his academic leadership has earned him membership in the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, IEEE Fellow status, and a position as an officer of the International Federation of Robotics Research. Siegwart's influence extends to organizing major robotics conferences, including IROS 2002 and ISRR 2009, and his research continues to push the boundaries of autonomous systems technology.