Max Alexej Pötter

Curriculum Vitae

I am a research associate and Ph.D. student at the Chair of Industrial Design Engineering at TU Dresden and a member of the CeTI team. My research focuses on user experience in human–robot collaboration, with a particular emphasis on human–robot skill transfer and mixed reality interactions.

I studied Mechanical Engineering at TU Dresden, where I worked on the FingerTac for my diploma thesis, a wearable device providing vibrotactile feedback on the user’s fingertips. In this context, I developed and evaluated mixed reality applications integrating haptic feedback to support manual and collaborative workflows.

As an interdisciplinary researcher at the intersection of engineering and design, I am interested in how emerging technologies must be designed and implemented to create value for users and organizations. My goal is to contribute to the future of work by improving manual processes and human–robot collaboration through user-centered mixed reality systems.

Projekte/Kooperationen innerhalb von CeTI, an denen Sie beteiligt sind:

Developing Human-Robot Collaborations for industry and craft with the groups of Prof. Uwe Assmann and Prof. Diana Göhringer
Use Case development and interaction design for applications in the CeTIBAR
Demonstrator TSN for Skill Transfer showcasing Tactile Internet networking technologies for teleoperation with haptic feedback
Designer and consultant for demonstrator design across all Use Case Rooms

What are the main topics or questions that drive your research?

We’re constantly working on developing robots that are more easily and effectively implemented in industry and crafts. To achieve this meaningfully, incorporating the user’s perspective is essential. Our systems should genuinely address user problems and do so without overwhelming them. I’m keen to understand how to design robot-user interactions so that users can easily employ robots to simplify their lives. This requires understanding their user experience, their thoughts and feelings about robots and how to measure these effectively. This information will guide researchers and developers in making informed decisions throughout the development process.

What inspired you to pursue your current field of work?

Using products that address needs beyond mere functionality sparks joy and excitement. I wanted to understand how developers and designers can.achieve this. However, I also wanted to learn how to create and understand the technological aspects of products. This led me to pursue an engineering and design degree where I learned to incorporate user perspective into technological product development. During my studies, I discovered that robots are a unique product category capable of autonomous decision-making.
Now, I’m keen to explore how to transform robots into exceptional products by understanding their strengths and weaknesses.

What excites you most about being part of CeTI?

CeTI offers numerous opportunities for collaboration with renowned researchers from around the globe who dedicate themselves to their best work. When these efforts converge and a fascinating technology emerges, the prospect of interacting with it and ultimately creating a remarkable demonstrator that could revolutionise the world is akin to glimpsing into the future.

Which challenge or question has recently sparked your curiosity?

Most researchers investigating the user experience of robots concentrate on functionality: does it perform as expected and is it useful? However, they overlook the question of why interacting, working, or collaborating with a robot is enjoyable. Does it bring joy to work with a robot and does it foster a sense of autonomy or competence? My PhD aims to bridge this gap by developing a method to measure user experience beyond mere functionality.

How do you like to recharge or spend your time outside of work?

I believe it’s crucial to eat well and maintain social connections outside work. Therefore, I love enjoying delicious food while spending quality time with friends and family. I also enjoy sports while listening to podcasts, particularly in the gym, during runs, or gravel bike rides in the summer. Furthermore, I can’t underestimate the influence of my chief fresh air officer, my Dalmatian Svea. She takes me for walks at least twice a day, so I’m happy to hit my daily 10,000 steps goal easily!