Papers
10
Total Citations
48
H-Index
5
About
Joan Canals is a researcher specializing in microrobotics, integrated circuit design, and miniaturized control electronics, with a particular focus on pushing the boundaries of what is achievable at millimeter and sub-millimeter scales. His work spans two compelling application domains: autonomous microrobots and active endoscopic capsule systems. Canals made significant contributions to the I-SWARM project, developing ultra-low-power System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions designed to enable fully autonomous mm³-sized robots capable of swarm behavior. These chips integrated sensing, actuation control, and optical programming into a single miniaturized platform — a remarkable engineering feat. His later work introduced optical programmability to such microrobots, further advancing their autonomy and versatility. In the medical robotics arena, Canals contributed to the VECTOR endoscopic capsule, the first of its kind to feature active legged locomotion driven by brushless motors, opening new possibilities for gastrointestinal exploration, drug delivery, and in-body surgery. He also developed resonance-based micro-cantilever contact sensing electronics fabricated in standard CMOS technology, demonstrating precise integration of mechanical and electronic sensing. With a citation profile reflecting steady engagement across robotics and microelectronics communities, Canals' work represents an important bridge between integrated circuit design and real-world micro- and medical robotics applications.
Research Focus
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