Isira Naotunna

University of Moratuwa, Chiang Mai University

Papers

Total Citations

101

H-Index

About

Isira Naotunna is a robotics and human-computer interaction researcher whose work sits at the intersection of assistive technology, brain-machine interfaces, and autonomous navigation. His research has made meaningful contributions to improving independence for individuals with physical disabilities, particularly through the development of intelligent meal assistance systems. Naotunna's most impactful work centers on brain-machine interface (BMI) driven assistive robots. His 2015 review on meal assistance robots (39 citations) established a foundational overview of the field, identifying key challenges and future directions for self-feeding technology. Building on this, his 2016 paper on SSVEP-based BMI control of a meal assistance robot (40 citations) demonstrated a practical, non-invasive approach using brain signals to enable disabled users to operate robotic feeding systems — a significant step toward real-world clinical deployment. He further expanded human-robot control modalities through electrooculography-based interfaces for similar applications. More recently, Naotunna has broadened his scope into autonomous mobile robotics, with his 2020 comparative study of ROS local planners on differential drive heavy robotic systems (19 citations) gaining recognition in the navigation research community. Collectively, his work reflects a sustained commitment to building robots that meaningfully enhance human quality of life.