Staff


Michal Kelemen (Director)

Background

Michal Kelemen received MSc and PhD degrees from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Currently he works as a professor and director of Institute of Autmation, Mechatronics, Robotics and Production Systems, which includes also ARM-Lab.

Research
  • Mechatronics
  • Sensors
  • In-pipe robots

Ivan Virgala (Group leader)

Background

Ivan Virgala has received MSc and PhD degrees in mechatronics from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Kosice, in 2009 and 2012. Currently he works as full professor and leader of ARM-Lab at Institute of Automation, Mechatronics, Robotics and Production Systems. He acted as a visiting researcher at Bristol Robotic Laboratory (University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom) and Interactive Robotics Lab CEA (Paris, France). His research is focused on mathematical modeling and control of kinematically redundant robots, continuum robots, soft robots, and applications of AI/ML in robotics.

Research
  • Mathematical modelling
  • Robotic manipulators
  • Continuum robots
  • Snake robots

Martin Varga (Post-doc)

Background

Martin Varga has received MSc and PhD degrees in mechatronics from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, in 2015 and 2023. Before starting his doctoral studies, he was working in mechanical design for the automotive industry for 5 years. The aim of his PhD thesis was on mechanical design and control algorithms for redundant robots. He currently works as assistant professor at Institute of Automation, Mechatronics, Robotics and Production Systems. His interests also include additive manufacturing, custom pneumatic actuators design and soft robotics.

Research
  • Redundant robots
  • Control algorithms
  • Additive manufacturing
  • Soft robotics

Marek Vagas

Background

Marek Vagas obtained his MSc and PhD degrees in manufacturing systems with industrial robots and manipulators from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Technical University Kosice in 2005 and 2009, respectively. He currently holds the position of associate professor at the Institute of Automation, Mechatronics, Robotics, and Production Systems. In addition to his role, he has served as a visiting researcher at the Biorobotics Laboratory at University of Pisa and the Robotics and Mechatronics Lab at University of Twente, working with the KUKA iiwa and Franka Emika robots.

Peter Jan Sincak (Post-doc)

Background

Peter Jan Sincak has received his MSc/PhD degree from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Kosice, in mechatronics. His master's and bachelor's theses were focused on novel in-pipe robot mechanisms with the applications in chimney cleaning. His current research is focusing on application of machine learning based control algorithms in the area of continuum robotics.

Research
  • Continuum robots
  • Machine learning
  • Mathematical modelling

Tomas Merva (PhD student)

Background

Tomas Merva has received his MSc degree from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Kosice, both in electrical drives (control and construction of electric motors, power electronics, microprocessors). His research interest is focused on optimization-based Integrated Task and Motion Planning within robotic manipulations.

Research
  • Robotic manipulations
  • Motion planning
  • Optimization

Jaroslav Romancik (PhD student)

Background

Jaroslav Romancik has received MSc degree from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Technical University of Kosice in mechatronics. Both his master's and bachelor's theses centered around automation and collaborative robots. Currently, his research is primarily focused on soft grippers and tactile feedback.

Research
  • Soft robotics
  • Additive manufacturing