Robotics and AI for Security, Defense & Aerospace

Autonomous Mobility (Legged & Wheeled Robots)

Ground robots that move on wheels or legs to navigate diverse terrain. For civilian use, autonomous mobile robots can assist in factories, hospitals, and urban environments – delivering goods, monitoring industrial sites, or helping people with limited mobility. In defense, rugged legged robots (inspired by animals or humans) and unmanned ground vehicles can scout dangerous areas, carry heavy gear for troops, defuse explosives, or support disaster relief operations where it’s unsafe for humans. These robots are designed to operate reliably in all conditions, whether it’s a busy city street or a remote conflict zone.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Markus Lienkamp, Prof. Johannes Betz

Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMI)

Technology that connects the human brain directly with computers or robots. In healthcare, BMI systems allow paralyzed patients to control prosthetic limbs or communicate using neural signals. This research also opens up new ways for anyone to intuitively interact with smart devices. For defense and security, brain-machine interfaces could enable pilots or soldiers to control drones and robotic teammates by thought alone, or assist wounded service members in controlling assistive technologies. By uniting human intuition with machine precision, BMIs are a perfect example of dual-use innovation – improving quality of life and enhancing operational capabilities.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Bernhard Meyer, Prof. Simon Jacob

Exoskeletons & Exosuits

Wearable robotic frames and suits that enhance human strength and endurance. In civilian life, these technologies assist patients in rehabilitation and enable factory workers or caregivers to lift heavy loads safely. In defense, exoskeletons can help soldiers and first responders carry equipment and casualties with reduced fatigue, augmenting human capability while preventing injuries.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Lorenzo Masia, Prof. Sandra Hirche

Humanoid Robots

Human-like robots capable of interacting with the world built for humans. Humanoids in civilian settings can serve as caregivers, companions for the elderly, or workers in roles that require a human touch – such as assisting doctors or providing customer service – exemplified by MIRMI’s own geriatronics projects in elder care. In defense and emergency response, humanoid robots can traverse rubble or climb ladders like a person, to perform search-and-rescue in disaster sites or handle hazardous materials in situations too dangerous for people. Their human-like form enables them to use tools and navigate environments designed for humans, making them invaluable in both home care and homeland security scenarios.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Alin Albu-Schäffer, Prof. Alexander Koenig

Prosthetics

Advanced robotic prosthetic limbs and assistive devices. Cutting-edge prosthetics give amputees and people with disabilities more natural movement and control in daily life. The same innovations benefit injured veterans and security personnel, with robust bionic limbs restoring mobility and even enhancing performance beyond natural abilities. Research includes mind-controlled prosthetics that blur the line between human and machine, offering independence to civilians and active duty personnel alike.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Cristina Piazza

Secure and Energy-Efficient AI Hardware

A key enabler of this initiative is the integration of secure, high-performance AI hardware on in-memory computing with brain-inspired AI chips which eliminates dependence on cloud infrastructure, making it possible to run AI tasks directly on robotic platforms — a vital requirement for defense and security operations in the field. These processors are cyber-secure, ultra-low-power, and robust against extreme environmental conditions, aligning perfectly with MIRMI’s goals in mobile robotics, UAVs, and edge AI for tactical autonomy. Incorporating such expertise ensures that MIRMI’s robotic systems not only think faster but also operate securely and independently, crucial for Europe’s push toward technological sovereignty.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Hussam Amrouch, Prof. Achim Lilienthal, Prof. Eckehard Steinbach

Surgical Robots

Robotic surgery technologies developed for civilian healthcare can also play a vital role in emergency and defense contexts. Future robotic modules are envisioned to perform telemedical operations during evacuation flights, autonomously administer medication through bone access, control severe bleeding with tourniquets, or deliver life-saving injections in hazardous environments. 

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Tim Lüth, Prof. Dirk Wilhelm

Astrodynamics and Orbital Robotics for Space Resilience

Orbital robotics and astrodynamics address the growing challenges of an increasingly congested and contested space environment. Space debris threatens critical services such as communication, navigation, and environmental monitoring, while close-approach maneuvers by adversarial spacecraft pose risks to national security assets. Orbital robotic systems capable of proximity operations, inspection, docking, and debris removal enable satellite protection, life-extension missions, and enhanced space situational awareness.

In parallel, through the project series Space Factory 4.0, AI-In-Orbit-Factory and ACOR, we are developing technologies for assembling CubeSats directly in orbit. Although small, these satellites are fully functional. Their modular and cost-efficient design allows swarms of satellites to replace large systems without a single point of failure. In-orbit assembly further increases flexibility by reducing the time from order to deployment from months to hours and enabling new satellite designs that benefit from reduced structural constraints. In collaboration with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), these technologies have also been implemented on a space robot. MIRMI’s work in this area supports safer and more resilient space infrastructure through advanced dynamics, guidance, navigation, and control methods.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Alin Albu-Schäffer, Prof. Marcello Romano

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Autonomous drones for air operations. Civilians are already seeing UAVs deliver medical supplies, survey infrastructure, and aid in search-and-rescue after natural disasters. In defense and security, UAVs act as “eyes in the sky,” performing reconnaissance, border patrol, and emergency response in hazardous areas without risking human pilots. MIRMI’s UAV research will advance safer navigation, longer flight endurance, and intelligent swarming behaviors that benefit everything from agriculture to national security.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Achim Lilienthal, Prof. Florian Holzapfel, Prof. Marcello Romano, Prof. Angela Schoellig

Autonomous Maritime Systems

Robotic systems designed to operate in aquatic environments. In civilian applications, underwater robots perform scientific research, inspect infrastructure such as offshore wind farms, monitor marine ecosystems, and support aquaculture operations. For defense and security, they survey sensitive areas, protect critical undersea infrastructure like communication cables, and conduct search and recovery missions in challenging maritime conditions. These robots are equipped with advanced sensors, manipulators, and AI-driven navigation systems that allow them to operate autonomously for extended periods.

PIs with related research experience

Prof. Sandra Hirche