Manuel F. Silva
Universidade do Porto, Institute of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, INESC TEC, Institute for Systems Engineering and Computers, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administracao do Porto, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Papers
98
Total Citations
2,165
H-Index
20
About
Manuel F. Silva is a prolific robotics and control systems researcher whose work spans agricultural robotics, legged locomotion, fractional calculus applications, and mobile robot navigation. With over 1,300 citations across his most recognized publications, Silva has established himself as a significant voice in both theoretical and applied robotics research. His most celebrated contribution, a 2021 state-of-the-art review on agricultural robotics (403 citations), addresses pressing global challenges including population growth, labor shortages, and environmental sustainability, offering a comprehensive roadmap for the field's future. Equally influential is his 2009 work applying fractional calculus to engineering systems (333 citations), which helped bridge advanced mathematical theory with practical dynamical systems design. Silva has made enduring contributions to legged robotics, pioneering fractional order control strategies for hexapod robots and producing foundational historical and optimization surveys that remain essential references for researchers entering the field. His 2008 survey on climbing robot adhesion technologies further demonstrates his breadth across specialized robotic platforms. More recently, his 2021 forest robotics survey and 2019 path planning review reflect a researcher continuously evolving with emerging technological demands. Silva's body of work is characterized by a rare combination of rigorous mathematical foundations and broad real-world applicability, making him an invaluable reference for students and researchers across robotics, control engineering, and automation.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Advances in Agriculture Robotics: A State-of-the-Art Review and Challenges Ahead403 citations · 2021
- 2Some Applications of Fractional Calculus in Engineering333 citations · 2009
- 3Fractional Order Control of a Hexapod Robot127 citations · 2004
- 4A literature review on the optimization of legged robots93 citations · 2011
- 5Advances in Forest Robotics: A State-of-the-Art Survey87 citations · 2021
- 6A Historical Perspective of Legged Robots84 citations · 2007
- 7A Survey on Path Planning Algorithms for Mobile Robots78 citations · 2019
- 8A Survey of Technologies for Climbing Robots Adhesion to Surfaces63 citations · 2008
- 9Fractional Order PD <sup>α</sup> Joint Control of Legged Robots58 citations · 2006
- 10Modelling and simulation of artificial locomotion systems52 citations · 2005