Andreas Spenninger

From prototypes to production: Managing the development of industrial-grade products * Industrialization Manager: Leading a team across System Engineering, Functional Safety Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Change and Configuration Management, Test Engineering, Verification and Validation Management, Manufacturing Engineering, as well as Modeling and Identification. Close cooperation with the Supply Chain, Industrial Integration and Manufacturing Department. Establishing of processes for safety-related development of software and hardware, Change and Configuration, as well as Release and Document Management. Contributing to the ISO 9001/CIG certification process, including setting up necessary quality measures for the production of robotic systems in Germany and China. Provide inputs for the improvement of design, manufacturability and reduction of costs. * Safety Manager: Provide comprehensive overview on various safety-related standards, especially IEC 61508, ISO 13849, ISO 10218, and ISO/TS 15066. Certified as CE Manager, Functional Safety Engineer and Functional Safety Professional by TÜV SÜD. Preparation of the necessary technical documentation for the TÜV assessment. * Systems Architect and Product Manager: Refining the system architecture for industrial robotic systems (requirements management/engineering and architecture definition), while also contributing to product management by driving future development initiatives, prioritize features, and ensure alignment with customer needs. * Verification and Validation Manager: Building up the department, including the creation of a Verification and Validation Plan and test specifications, as well as the design of test and test rigs. * Tech Lead for mechatronic, test engineering and modeling & identification topics: Support and supervision of the development of novel robotic solutions such as joint concepts, torque sensors, development of test rigs/equipment as well as control and identification algorithms.

* Team Lead: Leading of 12 employees, defining technological roadmaps and strategies in close cooperation with the CEO, CTO and the VP Engineering, close coordination of system design, mechatronics, and software teams as well as co-design of system architectures * Technology consultant and tech lead: Support and supervision of prototype development (e.g. novel joint concepts, pan-tilt units, tactile robot grippers, mobile platforms, arm prosthesis and multi-arm systems) as well as development of test benches/equipment * Patent engineer: Filling of over 85 patents and utility models in the field of mechatronics, industrial, and service robotics and control engineering. Supervision of the entire patent grant process (e.g. FTOs, patent strategy, creating a portfolio of 100+ patent families and design patents) * Systems engineer: Requirement engineering and conception of a safe collision detection for lightweight robots * Contact person for research institutes: Support of research projects (e.g. Impact Aware Manipulation by Dexterous Robot Control and Learning in Dynamic Semi-Structured Logistic Environments, Synergy-based Open-source Foundations and Technologies for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation, Supervised Autonomous Interaction in Unknown Territories)

In the followings years, my role shifted to contribute to the establishment and optimization of large-scale production of several thousand systems per year in close cooperation with the manufacturer. My responsibilities involved: * Conceptual design, commissioning, and maintenance of test framework (hardware rigs, software architecture etc.) for actuators, sensors, robotic joints and manipulators * Developing and implementing a data-driven commissioning and test infrastructure, utilizing statistical methods and machine learning to optimize test procedures and resolve production issues * Automation of series test benches for drive units and robot systems * Supervising the commissioning and testing of prototypes up to series production using data visualization and analysis tools to monitor production quality * Designing and executing verification and validation tests to ensure product safety as well as reliability and performance * Design of FMEA/FTA's and writing technical test reports for mechatronic systems

At Franka Emika (previously KBee AG), I had the privilege of working with a small but incredible capable and interdisciplinary team. Together we set out to create the next generation collaborative robot for industrial automation, research, education and beyond. I managed to become a full stack control engineer with a deep knowledge of mechatronic systems. My initial role involved: * development of component and system requirements * mathematical modeling of mechatronic systems * design, implementation, and analysis of various control systems including torque, impedance, and force control as well as path planning and collision detection algorithms * robust control and commissioning of robotic joints and manipulator prototypes * performance analysis of mechatronic systems

Research Report: On making robots understand safety: Embedding injury knowledge into control MSc Thesis: Design, Implementation and Analysis of Novel Motor Units and Joint Torque Concepts; Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dongheui Lee and Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin; Grade (Thesis): 1.0 (very good);