Tim Lueth's Research Page
Last change: Dec-18, 2025 by Tim C. Lueth
Research in Medical Robotics, AI, and Automated Design
Prof. Tim Lueth began his scientific career after completing his studies in 1989, focusing on neural networks, signal theory, language compression , and supervised learning. During his doctoral research (1989–1993), he specialized in Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), followed by postdoctoral work (1993–1997) on autonomous mobile assembly and manipulation robots within the DFG Collaborative Research Center 314 “Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.”
Since 1997, as Professor of Medical Robotics and Navigation at Charité and Department Director at the Fraunhofer Institute IPK, Lueth pioneered the concept of hands-on robotic systems for surgical environments. His team developed the first certified tactile surgical robots for cranial operations (2000). The first commercially successful dental navigation system, RoboDent, was created in 2001 for Straumann AG. In 2003, his group realized the first 3D C-arm system (Vario 3D) for Ziehm Imaging.
Key collaborators during this period included Andreas Hein, Stefan Weber, Olaf Schermeier, and Ralf Tita. Clinical partners were Jürgen Bier, Martin Klein, Frank Hölzle, Ralf Sodian, Norbert Hosten, Detlef Hildebrand, and Gero Strauss.
Since 2005, Lueth has been Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 2006, his group developed the first ENT-dental navigation system for Karl Storz GmbH. In 2013, his research influenced developments later integrated into MAKO (Stryker).
Current Research Focus
- Generative AI for automated design, documentation, manufacturing, and certification of robotic systems
- Development of the SGLib design library for MATLAB (since 2012)
- Integration of MATLAB interfaces between SGLib and OpenAI services via API
- Automation of scientific workflows using AI
- Promotion of young researchers and encouragement of academic entrepreneurship
Selected videos of results of Tim Lueth and his research groups 1993-2025
Note 2025: All videos on this page represent the cutting edge of technology at the time and are real research results. Tim Lueth explicitly distances himself from the tendency in science to promise spectacular and revolutionary technology that is supposedly on the verge of a breakthrough for years and decades. We prefer to show real research results that may one day become products outside the university and promote the start-up scene.
Rescue robotics for disaster response in hazardous or contaminated areas (2025)
Since 2023, as part of a European defense project, we have been working on automating the rescue of people from inaccessible, damaged, or contaminated areas and supporting first responders so that as many people as possible can be rescued from crisis areas as quickly as possible and taken to a medical care facility within the first 60 minutes. (Christoph Parhofer, Maximilian Miller, Julius Ambros)
MIMED e-Hotrod joins the Wenckstern Munich Hotrod Fleet (2025)
Video 2025: The e-Hotrod was developed in 2022, but it took almost three years for it to be approved as normal street car. The reason for this is unclear regulations and conflicting information and requirements from the approval authorities. We also mourn the loss of Maik Wenckstern, who passed away in December 2024.
On a positive note, the MIMED Hotrod is now part of the Munich fleet at Hot Rod Fun with Stephan Bredenkamp and Marcel Stockhecke. Markus Huber did most of the work at MIMED involved in its development and approval
Humanoid Robots – Times have changed (2025)
While humanoid robots were presented at trade fairs in 2022 but were not available for purchase, it was possible to buy them in 2024. We installed a device at the chair in 2025 to inspire students and identify the problems that arise when you have telegenic technology that is desperately looking for a task. We encourage all students to apply for a job to show in their CVs that they were already using and programming these devices in 2025.
Navigated Cardiac Catheter Guidance (2022)
Video 2022: Navigated Cardiac Catheter Guidance with Virtual Endsocopy (2:30 Min)
The rights of this video belong to Cardiac Clinic Lahr near Freiburg (Prof. Dr. Ralf Sodian)
e-Hotrod based on the Wenckstern combustion engine Hotrod (2022)
After Tim Lueth privately purchased a hot rod from Wenckstern at the end of 2021, the idea quickly arose to create an e-hot rod for city driving that could also reach speeds of just under 100 km/h, travel 100 km, and be charged in 10 hours at 220V. The model for this was the Zero electric motorcycle. Mike Wenckstern and Stephan Bredenkamp were quickly enthusiastic about the idea, and Wenckstern provided a vehicle for conversion. Markus Huber designed and built the remarkable hot rod at MIMED.
Development of Low-cost Light-weight Robots (2021)
In 2021, many different versions of the lightweight robot were created, the first version of which was developed by Yannick Krieger in 2020. Later robot version were created in the team of Christoph Parhofer. The Christmas video of the lightweight metal version was created using Felix Pancheri's new combination of 3D printing and metal casting technology. A copy of the robot was built for the FhG IGCV (Professor Wolfram Volk).
MEDICA/COMPAMED trade fair showcases complete navigation and robotics concepts for medical applications (2021)
At the end of the coronavirus pandemic, we were able to present the entire spectrum of surgical navigation and robotics experts again for the first time at the world's largest medical trade fair in Düsseldorf. The exhibition stand was financed by ERGOSURG.
Topology-Optimization-Based Design of Solid-State-Joint-Actuated Complex Mechanisms (2020)
While Tim Lueth and Franz Irlinger are working on modern design methods for articulated gears with complex spatial constraints, Dr. Yilun Sun from MIMED achieved a breakthrough with the parallel approach in his work Topology-Optimization-Based Design of Solid-State-Joint-Actuated Complex Mechanisms (2020). Within 60 seconds, 2.5D grippers or tongs for line or surface loads are designed that are movable thanks to solid-state joints and can therefore be printed as a monolithic structure.
Navigated Augmented Video Endoscopy
Video 2016: Navigated Augmented Video Endoscopy with 45 degree Hopkins Endoscope (0:33 Min)
The rights of this video belong to ERGOSURG GmbH, Ismaning
Snake-Like Tele-Manipulator (Robot) for Minimally Invasive Surgery and NOTES
Video 2015: Multi-Arm Snake-Like Tele-Manipulator (Robot) for MIC and NOTES (3:02 Min)
Student Tutorial Video on Closing the Left Atrial Appendage
3D-Printing a 6DoF robot by lightweight structures (JACO Robot in SLS)
Video 2013: JACO Robot printed in 3D by Selected Laser Sintering (0.50 Min)
The rights of this video belong to ERGOSURG GmbH, Ismaning
Waypoint Guidance in Surgical Navigation (ENT)
The rights of this video belong to ERGOSURG GmbH, Ismaning
Ultrasound integrated into the patient support and robot-assisted sonography (2010)
Surgical Navigation System for Dental Implants (RoboDent III)
Hands-Free Sheet Metal Bending with Navigated Bend Control – “NaviBend”
Sheet metal bending, for example for the manufacture of historical armor or complex individual pieces, is done with a machine that can punch or compress sheet metal. Only a very experienced worker can use this machine to produce free forms without rejects and without using a die and a press. With the help of "navigated control," it is possible to compare the deviation of the current sheet metal shape with the target shape and, while the worker moves the sheet metal back and forth under the machine, decide where another blow is necessary to approach the target shape. The project was developed in close cooperation with Professor Wolfram Volk (Chair of Forming Technology), who complemented our navigation expertise with his bending expertise.
3D Optical Tracking for Free Hand Spray Painting with Navigated Control - "NaviFitty"
Navigated Control in Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery
Attention: The video is a real surgical video and shows bone structures and blood.
Video 2005: Removing a bone tumor by an automatic power switching drill/burr (0.20 Min)
Automatic Detection of Human Hand Gestures and Controlling the DLR Hand
This was the Ph.D. research of Dr.-Ing. Yuichiro Honda, today working at the Kobe Rehabilitation Laboratory, Hyogo, Japan.
Video 2007: Controlling the movements of the DLR hand by skin deformation measurement (0:11 Minutes)
Robotized Isocentric C-Arm as Cone-Beam CT "Robo-C"
The isocentric C-Arm became an important orthopedic product as "Instrumentarium/Ziehm Vario-3D"
Video 2003: Worldwide 1st cone-beam CT using a 135 deg c-arm with a dynamic isocenter (2:40 Minutes)
Surgical Navigation System for Dental Implantology "RoboDent"
RoboDent started as research project of Olaf Schermeier. At this time the Israeli company DenX offered a dental training system and Michael Truppe's company ARTMA was also developing a navigation system for maxillofacial surgery. Nevertheless, RoboDent was the highlight of the IDS 2001 in Cologne.
Video 2001: RoboDent worldwide 1st commercial successful dental navigation system (4:30 Minutes)
Redundant 7DoF Surgical Hands-on Manipulator "Otto 2"
OTTO-2 was based on a Mitsubishi PA10, a 7DoF redundant manipulator. The robot holds the drill and is (push/pull) by the surgen within a limited work space. The Video is featuring Andreas Hein, today full professor in Oldenburg, Germany.
Video 2001: Worldwide 1st redundant hands-on surgical robot at a spine phantom (0:45 Minutes)
Ceiling Mounted Delta-3 Surgical Robot "Otto von Decke"
OTTO von Decke based on a SurgiScope Delta-3 kinematics with 6DoF. It was the first clinical used "hands-on" robot. The video shows the clinical case of the first patient.
Surgeons and Engineers: "Surgical Robotics Lab" at Charité Berlin
The Surgical Robotics Lab was started by Juergen Bier (Chief Surgeon Maxillofacial Surgery) and Tim Lueth (Engineer/Computer Scientist) with support by Guenter Hommel.
Video 1997: Introduction of the Surgical Robotics Lab at Charité (6:50 Minutes)
Behaviour Based Cooperative Robot Systems "KACORS"
Even with almost no computational power and a primitive robot system, it was possible to create an assembly robot by connecting simple skills.
Video 1995: KACORS - Khepera based micro robot for assembly tasks (6 Minutes).
Autonomous Assembly Robot "KAMRO"
The robot KAMRO is located today at the Deutsche Museum in Munich. Nevertheless from 1992-1996, the robot was the highlight of the SFB 314 (Artificial Intelligence) in Karlsruhe, Kaiserslautern and Saarbrücken.
Even 30 years later, the video and the capabilities are astonishing.
Video 1994: Autonomous Assembly Robot KAMRO (5 Minutes - accelerated 5 times)
Video 1993: Autonomous Assembly Robot KAMRO (5 Minutes - accelerated 5 times)