Angel L. Petrus

Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Angel L. Petrus is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of aerial robotics and structural health monitoring. His work focuses on developing autonomous drone systems and novel sensor technologies for the inspection and maintenance of critical infrastructure, particularly concrete bridges. Petrus’s major contributions include the design of an aerial robotic system capable of performing complete, autonomous bridge inspections—a significant advancement over manual methods that are often dangerous and time-consuming. He also introduced a groundbreaking acoustic micro-opto-mechanical transducer, a sensor that enables drones to precisely measure the width of surface cracks in concrete structures using high-frequency acoustic waves. This innovation allows for non-contact, remote damage assessment from an aerial platform. Although his most-cited papers currently hold 3 citations each, these foundational works represent early, high-impact contributions to a rapidly growing field. Petrus’s research promises to make infrastructure inspection safer, faster, and more reliable, positioning him as a key innovator in the future of civil engineering and robotics.