Miguel de Castro Neto

Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias, University of Lisbon

Papers

Total Citations

107

H-Index

About

Miguel de Castro Neto is a leading researcher in the field of soft robotics and tactile sensing, with a primary focus on developing low-cost, high-performance tactile sensors for human-friendly robots. His major contributions center on the innovative use of magnetic technology to create 3-axis soft tactile sensors, which are both affordable and easy to fabricate. His seminal 2017 paper, "Low-cost 3-axis soft tactile sensors for the human-friendly robot Vizzy," has garnered 91 citations, establishing a foundational approach for integrating tactile feedback into robotic systems. This work demonstrated how a small magnet embedded in silicone, paired with a Hall-effect sensor, can detect subtle magnetic field changes to measure force and contact. Building on this, his 2021 paper, "A Soft Tactile Sensor Based on Magnetics and Hybrid Flexible-Rigid Electronics," with 16 citations, addresses the critical challenge of miniaturizing sensors for complex, multi-curved robotic hand surfaces. By combining flexible and rigid electronics, Neto has advanced the practical deployment of tactile sensors, enabling robots to manipulate objects with greater precision and safety. His work is pivotal for the next generation of human-robot interaction, making tactile sensing more accessible and scalable for real-world applications.