DLR, German branch of the Space Agency, serves scientific, economic and social ends. The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics did Europe's first step into space robotics (ROTEX 1993) and since then developed generations of awarded high end robots such as the DLR lightweight arm and hand. The institute is said to be a worldwide leading institution in applied robotics research with focus on space robotics and technology transfer into industrial and service robotics, surgery and prosthetics.

The technology transfer into surgery focuses on the field of surgical robotics. Robotic systems can benefit surgical treatment by increasing precision, overcoming barriers, enabling new instrument designs and enhancing the ergonomics. Key result of the DLR medical group is the development from scratch of the telesurgery scenario MIROSURGE. It includes an input (or master) console as well as a teleoperator with three surgical robots (MIRO). Furthermore, components for planning and registration were developed. The system versatility enables various additional applications such as biopsies or laser osteotomies.

role in the project: DLR will lead the development of a robotic system simulator for MIRS applications. Several well known tools for system dynamics modelling (SIMPACK, Modelica, Dymola) emerged from DLR. Furthermore, DLR will analyse the user interface requirements for MIRS applications and provide guidelines for an appropriate design.