Ivana Palunko
University of New Mexico, University of Zagreb, University of Dubrovnik
Papers
10
Total Citations
724
H-Index
8
About
Dr. Ivana Palunko is a leading figure in aerial robotics, whose work masterfully bridges the gap between autonomous flight and complex physical interaction. Her research centers on the safe and intelligent manipulation of suspended loads using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), a problem she has tackled with groundbreaking approaches in control theory and machine learning. Dr. Palunko’s seminal 2012 paper on agile load transportation, with 276 citations, established foundational methods for safe and efficient load manipulation. She is particularly renowned for pioneering the use of reinforcement learning to enable UAVs to autonomously learn swing-free trajectories and master cooperative object manipulation, as evidenced by her highly cited 2013 and 2014 works. Her contributions have not only advanced fundamental theory but also demonstrated practical impact in the European Robotics Challenge (EuRoC). More recently, Dr. Palunko has expanded her expertise into the critical domain of marine environmental robotics, leading the creation of a major dataset for detecting underwater debris. Her ongoing exploration of tether dynamics and entanglement further solidifies her reputation as a versatile and impactful innovator, shaping the future of autonomous systems from the skies to the sea.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Automated aerial suspended cargo delivery through reinforcement learning166 citations · 2014
- 3Learning swing-free trajectories for UAVs with a suspended load134 citations · 2013
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7Human-in-the-loop control of multi-agent aerial systems16 citations · 2016
- 8
- 9Entanglement Definitions for Tethered Robots: Exploration and Analysis6 citations · 2024
- 10Beam-Based Tether Dynamics and Simulations using Finite Element Model4 citations · 2022