Rob Mertens graduated in 2023 with a Master's degree in Industrial Sciences: Electronics-ICT (University of Antwerp). For his master's thesis, he delved into research on a new form of localization techniques that combine 5G and LEO satellites to determine the exact position of hardware with greater precision and speed than current localization methods.
Additionally, Rob worked on several student projects. In the Subterranean Search & Rescue project, research was conducted to devise an automated rescue system. This system would autonomously locate lost individuals in caves and inform the rescue team of the victims' location in the cave using Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). Prior to this, he contributed to the Holo-Robotics project, for which his team won the IoT Audience Award. Moreover, as a student, he also worked on the Tetra project AI-driven VR training, where he assisted in the development of VR training and the use of motion capture suits.
Since 2023, Rob has been working full-time for the AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He is a lecturer for the IT programs (Media, Design, and IT). As a researcher, he works for the technological team of the Immersive Lab, where he focuses on the development of various VR and AR projects, such as Embodiment in XR, Media XR & 5G Testbed, and Creative AI.