{"id":"9641e24e-bcd5-4253-88a5-943be59d8bef","slug":"gerd-hirzinger","name":"Gerd Hirzinger","bioBrief":"Gerd Hirzinger joined DLR in 1969, became head of the automation and robotics laboratory in 1976, and served as Director of the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics (RMC) from 1992 until his retirement. He is one of the most influential figures in German robotics, known for pioneering work in space robotics, lightweight torque-controlled robots, and technology transfer. Under his leadership, the institute became one of the largest and most acknowledged robotics institutes worldwide.","priorExits":null,"nationality":"German","verificationPosture":"reported","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerd_Hirzinger","title":"Gerd Hirzinger role","sourceName":"Wikipedia"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-08-21T18:25:51.407Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-23T15:14:15.378Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"cf0f638a-a074-4fec-bca3-a177becec7d9","personId":"9641e24e-bcd5-4253-88a5-943be59d8bef","companyId":"db08caab-ad5c-43fc-9cc7-71851bd9961b","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Founder and Former Director of the Robotics and Mechatronics Center","startDate":null,"endDate":null,"currentRole":false,"roleBasis":"verified_secondary","createdAt":"2026-08-21T18:25:52.195Z","company":{"slug":"dlr-robotics","name":"DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[{"id":"be1ee060-45da-4d5e-b2be-8d7f49f557f7","personId":"9641e24e-bcd5-4253-88a5-943be59d8bef","companyId":"db08caab-ad5c-43fc-9cc7-71851bd9961b","foundingDate":null,"cofounderStatus":"cofounder","stillAtCompany":false,"createdAt":"2026-08-22T03:39:30.407Z","company":{"slug":"dlr-robotics","name":"DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics"}}]}