# Neal Y. Lii: researcher, DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics

Canonical ID: `2b9e5609-577f-420b-930e-525e7de2fb40`

Neal Y. Lii is the Scientific Director of the Surface Avatar program at DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, and domain head of Space Robotic Assistance. He served as principal investigator of the ISS-to-Earth telerobotic experiments including Surface Avatar, where astronauts on the International Space Station controlled heterogeneous robot teams on Earth. He led the successful elasto-plastic controller test enabling cooperation between an ESA rover and DLR humanoid robot Rollin Justin controlled from the ISS in January 2024.

- **Nationality:** American
- **Verification posture:** reported

## Current roles (1)

- [DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics](https://registry.deploy.report/companies/dlr-robotics.md) Scientific Director, Surface Avatar program (secondary-verified)

## Sources (1)

1. https://www.dlr.de/en/blog/archive/2025/surface-avatar-experiment-controlling-robots-from-space


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