Prof. Dr. Sarah Dégallier Rochat

• Head Strategic Thematic Field Humane Digital Transformation

• Further information available on my website

• Bachelor (BFH)

• Master in Precision Engineering (UniBE/BFH)

• Calculus

• Statistics

• Dynamical Systems

• Linear Algebra

• Control and Automation

• Human Factors in Engineering

• Human-Machine Interfaces

• Intuitive Programming

• Future Skills

• Inclusive Design

• Agile Manufacturing

• Cobotics

• Sarah Dégallier Rochat is the Head of the strategic thematic field « Humane Digital Transformation” at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). She is a researcher at the Institute for Human-Centered Engineering (HuCE) and the co-leader of the Computer Vision and Virtual Reality Lab (cpvrLab). She holds a BSc and MSc in Mathematics and a PhD in Robotics from EPFL. She received the “Industry 4.0 Shapers” Award in 2019.
  As the Head of Humane Digital Transformation, her goal is to foster a development of digital technologies that is centered on the human needs and that aims at creating an inclusive and equitable future. Her personal research focuses on the participative development of inclusive human-machine interfaces and on the upskilling of the workforce in production settings. With her spin-off AutoMate Robotics, she is developing flexible robotic cells that can be easily reprogrammed by non-experts for industrial applications.

• 2022- Head Humane Digital Transformation Bern University of Applied Sciences
• 2014-2022 Professor Bern University of Applied Sciences
• 2012-2014 Teacher Gymase (High School) de Burier
• 2010-2012 Post-Doc Researcher Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

• 2006-2010 Ph.D., Robotics Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
• 2000-2005 Master, Mathematics Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
• 1998-2000 Demi-Licence, Psychology University of Lausanne (UNIL)
• 2012-2013 Teaching Diploma in Mathematics (Secondary II) Haute Ecole Pédagogique de Lausanne (HEPL)

• Specialization in User Interface Design - Coursera - University of Minnesota 2019

• Innosuisse - 104.986 IP-ENG - Smart Dispensing -2023-2026

• Gerbert Rüf Fundation - First Venture - Power-Up! Making Automation Profitable for High-Mix Low-Volume Production - 2022-2024

• Innosuisse - 60597.1 IP-ICT - Agile robotic system for high-mix low-volume production - 2022-2024

• Innocheque - 66310.1 INNO-ENG - Flexible Quality Control - 2023

• Innosuisse - Robotics Booster - Flexible Pick and Place - 2022-2023

• BFH Humane Digital Transformation Call - Augmenting Workers with Mixed Reality - 2022

• Innosuisse - NTN Microtech Booster - Active Perception - 2022

• BFH-TI Internal Project - Human Factors in Engineering - 2021-2022

• SNF - FNP77 - A future that works: Cobotics, digital skills and the re-humanization of the workplace (CODIMAN) - 2020-2024

• Innosuisse - NTN Microtech Booster - Draw Your Task ! - 2021-2022

• BFH Digitalisation Call - Upskilling at the workplace: A “learning by doing” approach to continuing education - 2021-2022

• BFH Diversity Call - Gendered technology: The mutual shaping of gender and technology and its effect on human-machine interactions - 2020-2021

• Collaboration with the New Museum Biel (NMB) in the framework the exhibition "Hello Robot" - 2020-2021

• Innosuisse - Impulse Project 35610.1 IP-ICT - Towards true collaborative robotics - 2019-2021

• Swiss Smart Factory Cluster Project - Cobotic IoT - 2016-2019

• EBGB - Chancen und Risiken für Menschen mit Behinderungen im Rahmen der technologischen Entwicklung - 2017-2018

• S. Dégallier-Rochat, M. Kurpicz-Briki, N. Endrissat Nada, O. Yatsenko, Human augmentation, not replacement: A research agenda for AI and robotics in the industry, Frontiers in Robotics and AI, vol. 9, p. 270, 2022.

• S. Dégallier Rochat, L. Righetti, S. Gay and A. Ijspeert. Towards simple control for complex, autonomous robotic applications: Combining discrete and rhythmic motor primitives, in Autonomous Robots, vol. 31, num. 2, p. 155-181, 201

• S. Dégallier and A. Ijspeert. Modeling Discrete and Rhythmic Movements through Motor Primitives: A Review, in Biological Cybernetics, vol. 103, num. 4, p. 319-338, 2010.

• S. Dégallier Rochat, A. J. Ijspeert (Dir.). Discrete and Rhythmic Motor Primitives for the Control of Humanoid Robots. EPFL, Lausanne, 2010

• N. Endrissat and S. Degallier, From Blue to White? Cobots and the Humanization of Blue-Collar Work, short paper, 36th EGOS Colloquium, 2020

• N. Beuchat, R. Chavarriaga, S. Degallier and J. d. R. Millán. Offline Decoding of Upper Limb Muscle Synergies from EEG Slow Cortical Potentials. The 35th Annual International Conference of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Osaka, Japan, 2013.

• S. Dégallier Rochat, L. Righetti, S. Gay and A. Ijspeert. Towards simple control for complex, autonomous robotic applications: Combining discrete and rhythmic motor primitives, in Autonomous Robots, vol. 31, num. 2, p. 155-181, 2011.

• S. Gay, S. Dégallier Rochat, A. Ijspeert and J. Santos-Victor. Integration of vision and central pattern generator based locomotion for path planning of a non-holonomic crawling humanoid robot. 2010 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Taipei, Taiwan, 2010.

• A. Gams, S. Degallier, A. Ijspeert and J. Lenarcic. Dynamical system for learning the waveform and frequency of periodic signals - application to drumming. 15th International Workshop on Robotics in Alpe-Adria-Danube Region (RAAD), 2008.

• S. Degallier, L. Righetti, L. Natale, F. Nori and G. Metta et al. A modular bio-inspired architecture for movement generation for the infant-like robot iCub. 2nd IEEE RAS / EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Scottsdale, AZ, 2008.

• P.-A. Mudry, S. Degallier and A. Billard. On the influence of symbols and myths in the responsibility ascription problem in roboethics - A roboticist’s perspective. RO-MAN, Münich, 2008.

• S. Degallier, L. Righetti and A. Ijspeert. Hand placement during quadruped locomotion in a humanoid robot: A dynamical system approach. IEEE-RAS International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS07), San Diego, 2007.

• S. Degallier, C. Santos, L. Righetti and A. Ijspeert. Movement generation using dynamical systems: a humanoid robot performing a drumming task. IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots (HUMANOIDS06), Genova, 2006.

• S. Degallier and A. J. Ijspeert. A bio-inspired architechture for movement generation based on discrete and rythmic movement primitives modeled by dynamical systems, International Symposium on Adaptive Motion of Animals and Machines (AMAM), Cleveland, 2008.

• Sarah Dégallier Rochat (13.01.2022), "Robot Programming by Demonstration - A feasibility study", NTN Microtech First Loop Closing Event, SIP Biel

• Sarah Degallier Rochat (25.08.2021), "NTN Microtech Booster Project - Robot programming by demonstration: draw your task!", CEP Petit Déjeuner de la Microtechnique, Moutier

• Sarah Dégallier Rochat (21.06.21), Panel discussion : "Key challenges in lab automation", Future Labs Live, Online

• Sarah Degallier Rochat (2021), Inclusive HMIs for Flexible Cobotics, ILT Swiss Automation, Online Event

• Sarah Degallier Rochat (2021), Cobotics, digital skills and the re-humanization of the workspace, 6. F&E Konferenz zu Industrie 4.0 von «Industrie 2025», Online Event

• Gabriel Gruener and Sarah Degallier Rochat (2019), Collaborative Robotics: Potential and challenges for the Industry, Swiss R&D Conference of the Initiative “INDUSTRIE 2025”

• Sarah Degallier Rochat and Gabriel Gruener (2018), Collaborative Robotics: An Industrial Perspective,Conference on Commercialization of Emerging Technologies (COMS18), Montreux

• Gabriel Gruener and Sarah Degallier Rochat (2018), Recent Advances in Collaborative Robotics,Swiss Smart Factory - Networking event, Fraisa S.A., Bellach

• Sarah Degallier Rochat and Gabriel Gruener (2018), Industrie 4.0 et robotique collaborative: Quelsavantages pour les PME? (Workshop), Association de Recherche Communautaire en moyens deproduction Microtechnique (ARCM), Rollomatic S.A, La Neuveville

• Sarah Degallier Rochat and Gabriel Gruener (2018), Industrial Applications of Collaborative Robotics, Medtronic Open Innovation Day 2018, Tolochenaz

• Dégallier Rochat, Sarah (2023) Digital & AI Literacy as a Pillar of Digital Responsibility – A Report from the Shift Conference on Digital Ethics, SocietyByte, BFH Online Magazine for Humane Digital Transformation

• Dégallier Rochat, Sarah (2023). «KI und Robotik sollen den Menschen unterstützen, nicht ersetzen» spirit biel/bienne: Das Magazin der technischen Disziplinen der Berner Fachhochschule(1), pp. 28-29. Berner Fachhochschule BFH, Architektur, Holz und Bau/Technik und Informatik

• Dégallier Rochat, Sarah (2023) Humane Digital Transformation: Towards a human-centered digitalization, SocietyByte, BFH Online Magazine for Humane Digital Transformation

• Endrissat, N., & Dégallier Rochat, S. (2020). Hello, Robots. Roboter in der neuen Arbeitswelt. In Präsenz. Das Kundenmagazin des Departements Wirtschaft. (Issue 2). BFH. https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.13750

• Dégallier Rochat, S., & Endrissat, N. (2020). Schöne neue Arbeitswelt? Arbeiten im digitalen Zeitalter. In Spirit biel/bienne. BFH. https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41668

• Dégallier Rochat, S., & Endrissat, N. (2020). Le meilleur des mondes : le travail à l’ère du numérique. In Spirit biel/bienne. BFH. https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41669

• Hahn, S., Bennett, J., & Dégallier Rochat, S. (2019). Japan: Die alternde Gesellschaft braucht Technologie-und Communityentwicklung. In SocietyByte – Wissenschaftsmagazin der Berner Fachhochschule. Berner Fachhochschule, Wirtschaft. https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.17087

• Gabriel Gruener and Sarah Rochat (2019), The Ultimate Cobot, Spirit Biel/Bienne

• Gabriel Gruener and Sarah Rochat (2018), Auf dem Vormarsch: Die cleveren Cobots der BernerFachhochschule, Aktuelle Technik,

• Eugen Albisser (2022), Programmieren? Es geht auch einfacher?, Technik und Wissen #020

• NTN Microtech Booster (04.03.2022), Robot Programming by Demonstration, Linkeding / Blog

• Emission Portefeuille (14.01.2022), Telebielingue, L'innovation dans la microtechnique

• Philippe Oudot (25.08.2021), Programmation intuitive, Journal du Jura

• NTN Microtech Booster (20.08.21), Interview avec Sarah Rochat, porteuse du projet Robot Programming By Demonstration, NTN Microtech Booster Platform

• Claudia Nuara (2020), Emission Talk, Télébielingue

• Johannes Supe (2020), Roboter ermöglichen uns 15-Stunden-Woche», Work Zeitung

• José Barnes (2019), L’invité du jour: Sarah Dégallier Rochat, Interview Radio Canal3

• Jean-René Gonthier (2019), Les robots maintiendront des emplois en Suisse, MSM, Le Mensuel del’Industrie

• Marc Schiess (2019), Les cobots, assistants de l’avenir, Le Journal du Jura

• Elsbeth Heinzelmann (2018), Les ingénieux cobots de la BFH-TI, La Revue Polytechnique

• Member of the SNSF Ambizione Evaluation Committee

• Member of the BRIDGE Discovery Evaluation Committee

• Member of NTN Booster Robotics Innovation Management Committee

• Member of the Swiss Cobotics Competence Center (S3C) Advisory Board

• Mentor Swiss TecLadies (SATW)

• Mentor Coding Club des Filles (EPFL)

Award for the promotion of innovation in Swiss industries decerned by the bank Bonhöte and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Neuchatel, Jura, Berner Jura and Vaud

• Kilian Gyger Interface de programmation intuitive pour robots mobiles 2020

• Gionata Quadri Smart Robotic System for Table Football 2020

• Lars Kipfer Development of an Intuitive HRI for Collaborative Robotics 2019

• Lucas Renfer Umsetzung einer Cobotic-Anwendung zum Verpacken von Teilen 2019

• Dominik Bielmann Robot Learning By Demonstration of Constrained Trajectories 2019

• Ivan Fontana Cobotic Integration Study 2019

• Dario Aeschlimann Automated Object Detection in a Collaborative Robot Workspace 2019

• Christian Wyss Smart and Dynamic Cobotic Workspace 2019

• Leonardo Sartori and Gaëtan Gogniat Robot Control with Dynamic Motor Primitives 2018

• Bastien Waeber Flexible Automation for Digital Measuring System 2023-2025

• Gabriel Da Costa TBD 2023-2025

• Mitra Gholami TBD 2022-2024

• Lucas Renfer Cobotic integration for watch manufacturing 2020-2022

• Charly Blanc (Ph.D Student) Human Machine Interfaces for Empowerment in Industrial Set-Up 2020-2024

• French - Native or bilingual proficiency
• German - Professional working proficiency
• English - Professional working proficiency