Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) @ RWTH Aachen University

What Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) @ RWTH Aachen University does

The Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) is a public university research institute founded in 2006 within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at RWTH Aachen University, located in Aachen, Germany. The institute is led by Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Jürgen Roßmann and operates with approximately 17 personnel, including senior engineer PD Dr.-Ing. Michael Schluse, research assistants, secretariat, system administrators, and library staff. MMI's central discipline is "eRobotics," a methodology that combines 3D simulation technology, virtual reality, digital twins, virtual testbeds, and simulation-based development to span the full lifecycle of robotic and intelligent systems from initial conception to operational deployment.

The institute's core technology assets include the proprietary VEROSIM simulation environment for multi-body dynamics, sensor simulation (optical, LiDAR, camera, ultrasonic, radar), virtual testbeds, virtual commissioning tools, and immersive VR interfaces including the AixCAVE facility. Research outputs are applied across three primary verticals: industrial automation and manufacturing (Industry 4.0, textile machinery, automotive ADAS), space and planetary exploration (satellite servicing, ISS mission planning, planetary exploration robots), and environmental applications (forestry digital twins, forest machine simulation, precision agriculture). The institute has executed more than 42 research projects and participates in EU-funded consortia including Centauro, IntellAct, ReconCell, ViTOS, and Twins4Space.

MMI operates as a non-commercial publicly funded research entity. Its revenues derive from institutional university funding, German national research grants (BMWi, BMBF, DFG), and European research programs. The institute engages in technology transfer to industry through collaborative projects rather than commercial product sales, and generates visibility through academic conferences, peer-reviewed publications, research blogs, and the broader RWTH Aachen University communication infrastructure. Recognition includes the 2019 AutoSens Silver Award for Most Influential Research, the 2013 GAIA-X funding competition win, and multiple Best Paper Awards at international conferences (ISC, DBKDA, DeSE, GeoProcessing, SGEM, AIMS, ARIS, SIMEX) between 2013 and 2021.

Name

Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) @ RWTH Aachen University

Legal name

Institut für Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion (MMI)

Website

https://mmi.rwth-aachen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MMI is a public research institute at RWTH Aachen University specializing in eRobotics — combining 3D simulation, virtual reality, digital twins, and virtual testbeds for robotics applications in industry, space, and environmental sectors, funded primarily through public research grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research & Development Services - Robotics and Simulation

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL)

Keywords

• Robotics research
• Simulation technology
• Virtual testbeds
• Human-machine interaction
• Digital twin development

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As an institute of RWTH Aachen University (a public institution), MMI operates primarily through publicly funded research grants, government-sponsored projects, and institutional funding.
2. Research Project Collaborations: The institute conducts joint research projects with academic, governmental, and industry partners, funded through national (BMBF, BMWi, DFG) and European (EU) research programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MMI conducts academic research and develops methods, software tools, and virtual testbeds for simulation-based development of robotic and autonomous systems. Its core offering centers on the eRobotics paradigm, which combines 3D simulation, virtual reality, digital twins, and intelligent systems to enable the development lifecycle from initial concept to real-world operation across industry, space, and environmental applications. Outputs include the VEROSIM simulation environment, applied research projects, technology transfer, and university-level education.

Product overview

The Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) at RWTH Aachen University operates as a research institute rather than a commercial product company. Its primary offering is the eRobotics framework — a comprehensive suite comprising VEROSIM (3D simulation platform for multi-body dynamics and robotics), Virtual Testbeds for controlled virtual development environments, and applied solutions like Virtual Forest and Smart Forestry for forestry applications. The institute focuses on combining expertise in 3D simulation technology, virtual reality, and robotics to develop methods and tools for intelligent systems across industry, space, and environmental applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VEROSIM

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed comprehensive, accessible, and interactive virtual International Space Station model used for astronaut mission planning
• +1 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LivLabPRoFruit ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MMI participates in the Living Lab for Precision and Robotisation in Fruit Growing project for fruit growers across the Meuse-Rhine region.
• SAFERWATER ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MMI contributes to the Safe AI Framework project for improved water efficiency and resilience.
• ReconCell ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MMI contributed to ReconCell developing a novel robot workcell for automated assembly with tools for process development and economic evaluation, specifically designed for SME needs.
• TUB – Institute for Air and Space Travel at University of BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated on the iBOSS (Intelligent Building Blocks Concept for On-Orbit Satellite Servicing) project, developing concepts for modular satellites that can be reconfigured in orbit.
• FZI – Centre for Information Technology at Karlsruhe Institute for TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partner in iBOSS project for on-orbit satellite servicing, contributing expertise in information technology and software systems.
• SLA – Institute of Structural Mechanics and Lightweight Design at RWTH AachencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated in iBOSS project, contributing structural mechanics analysis for modular satellite designs and their mechanical coupling systems.
• RIF e.V. – Research Institute for Research and TransfercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated on iBOSS and multiple other projects, providing research transfer and industry liaison services. RIF pools innovations from project partners in shared development environments.
• JKIC – Joerg Kreisel International ConsultantminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015International consulting partner in the iBOSS project, contributing commercial and market expertise for satellite servicing concepts.
• DLR GSOC – German Space Operations CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated in iBOSS project. DLR GSOC operates the German Space Operations Center and contributes operational space mission expertise.
• DFKI – German Research Centre for Artificial IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Collaborated on Virtual Crater project, developing a test environment for programming and testing robotic systems in simulated lunar crater landscapes.
• Centauro Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MMI contributed to the Centauro disaster response robot project developing a human-robot symbiotic telepresence system with a four-legged base and anthropomorphic upper body. See https://www.centauro-project.uni-bonn.de
• IntellAct ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MMI developed Virtual Testbeds for the IntellAct project, enabling robots to learn assembly tasks by observing humans. The project addressed object manipulation at signal and symbol levels. See http://intellact.sdu.dk/
• ViTOS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MMI contributed to the ViTOS (Virtual Testbed for Space Robotics) project series focusing on optical sensor simulation and testing for space robotics applications.
• RWTH Aachen Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The parent faculty of MMI at RWTH Aachen University. The institute belongs to this faculty and operates within its institutional framework.
• WZL – Werkzeugmaschinenlabor at RWTH AachencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Collaborated with WZL on ProDemo project series for robot programming by demonstration, developing methods to simplify robot deployment in small and medium enterprises.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=sEEgsHSDXTo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mmi-rwth-aachen-de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Man-Machine Interaction (MMI) @ RWTH Aachen University