Abeje Yenehun Mersha

I’m a passionate and empathetic entrepreneurial engineer and scientist in Robotics and AI, with particular interest and expertise in autonomous unmanned systems. I have a 15+ years experience in high education in Ethiopia and the Netherlands. I am currently professor of Smart Mechatronics and Robotics at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, and a fellow of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering.

I received my BSc. degree with Very Great Distinction from Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia, in 2007. In 2008, I received a full Huygens Scholarship to pursue my graduate studies at the University of Twente. In 2010, I completed MSc. in Electrical Engineering and graduated with honors (Cum Laude). I obtained his PhD in the field of aerial robotics from the University of Twente in 2014. During my PhD research, I have developed novel control algorithms for autonomous as well as teleoperated aerial robots and aerial manipulators in the context of the AIRobots European project, a pioneering project in the field of aerial interaction. The applicability and performance of his algorithms have been tested in extreme conditions, including in the longest intercontinental haptic control of a drone in the world (Netherlands-Australia). The results of my research have been published in various peer reviewed journals, conferences and professional magazines.

I use my scientific knowledge and applied research insights with my engineering, team building and leadership skills to conduct multi-disciplinary projects to provide innovative and sustainable solutions for urgent societal challenges. All my projects are mission-driven that are conducted together with public-private partners, researchers, engineers, teachers and students, and, as such, knowledge sharing is structurally embedded to boost innovative capacities of our partners and to keep higher professional education up to date. The impacts of our activities are reflected in numerous innovative solutions integrated with a number of partners, especially SMEs, with their products, services and processes.    
 
I’m an out-of-the-box thinker, a direct and bold communicator and a reflective person. I have a large (inter)national network and actively take part in regional and (inter) national clusters/associations as (board)member and advisor. Within these clusters/associations, I co-initiate new research and development programs and co-define operational action plans to respond to current and future trends and external geopolitical developments. I am a firm proponent of open access to research outputs for peaceful perpetuation of life and betterment of our planet.
 
My personal mission is to inspire people from all walks of life by sharing knowledge equally to all and in all forms, so that they discover and use their “Unknown” potential for the betterment of our society. My fundamental moral values-sharing, empathy and loyalty, in which people are always the focus. I get a kick from making the “Impossible” possible.