University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, Croatia
Prof. Dr. Zeljko Situm is a full professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Croatia, with extensive experience in automatic control, pneumatics and hydraulics, pneumatic and hydraulic servo systems, computer control systems, modeling and simulation of mechatronic systems, and mechatronics. He has served as Head of the Department of Robotics and Production System Automation and Chair for Automatic Control and led the Laboratory for Automation and Robotics. He obtained his PhD in 2001, MSc in 1997, and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in 1993 from the University of Zagreb. Prof. Situm has been a member of international scientific committees, editorial boards, and professional societies, including the Fluid Power Conference, Ventil, Strojniški vestnik, the Slovenian Society for Fluid Power, and the Croatian Society for Robotics. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Faculty Medal in 2017, Recognition Award in 2016, nine Rector’s Awards for student mentorship, and over 140 national and international medals for student project guidance. He has led several major projects, including “Optimal Energy Management in Fluid Power and Electromechanical Systems,” the HiSkid Hybrid Skidder project funded by the ERDF, and numerous national research initiatives on automotive drivetrain dynamics, industrial and mobile robot control, and intelligent mechatronic systems. His work includes the development of experimental electrohydraulic setups, advanced control techniques, nonlinear control algorithms, hybrid drive modeling, PLC-based control, and patent applications for innovative hybrid skidder drives. He has also led a series of research support projects from 2013 to 2024, covering fluid power systems control, robotic systems with hydraulic and pneumatic actuation, bionic robotic systems, mechatronic systems with advanced control capabilities, and innovative mechatronic systems integrated with Internet of Things concepts. Prof. Situm has published extensively in international journals, contributing over 150 publications with significant citations, holding an h-index of 32, and advancing the fields of mechatronics, robotics, hydraulic and pneumatic actuation, and energy-efficient hybrid systems. Through his mentorship, research leadership, and technical innovations, he has substantially contributed to education, applied research, and technological development in Croatia and internationally.
Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar
Featured Publications
Situm, Z., Cavic, F., Pavlović, V., Zorcic, L., Ivanković, A., Cmelješević, M., Galic, B., Prgomet, M., & Varovic, A. (2025, September 16). Advanced mechatronic systems featuring pneumatic actuation. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Mechatronic Systems.
Situm, Z., Draskovic, T., Hruškar, F., Mestric, L., Sego, M., Stemberger, E., & Antolković, M. (2025, September 16). Designing educational systems to illustrate mechatronic principles. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Mechatronic Systems.
Matkun, B., Cipek, M., Pavkovic, D., & Situm, Z. (2025, September 16). Pneumatically powered hydraulic rescue shears for firefighter operations. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Advanced Mechatronic Systems.
Situm, Z., Benić, J., & Cipek, M. (2025). Mechatronic and robotic systems utilizing pneumatic artificial muscles as actuators. Inventions, 10(4), 44.
Situm, Z., Benic, J., & Cipek, M. (2025, May 6). Mechatronic and robotic systems utilizing pneumatic artificial muscles as actuators [Preprint]. Preprints.
Situm, Z., Benic, J., & Cipek, M. (2024, March 18). Mechatronic and robotic systems utilizing pneumatic artificial muscles as actuators [Preprint]. Preprints.
Situm, Z., Herceg, S., Bolf, N., & Ujević Andrijic, Ž. (2023). Design, construction and control of a manipulator driven by pneumatic artificial muscles. Sensors, 23(2), 776.