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About

R.J.P. deFigueiredo is a robotics and automation researcher whose work has made significant contributions to space robotics, computer vision, and the control of robotic manipulators. His research spans three interconnected domains: robot sensing and perception, kinematically redundant manipulator control, and multi-sensor fusion for space applications. Among his most influential contributions is his generalization of moment invariants to n-dimensional spaces, enabling robust object identification and attitude determination in complex environments — a foundational technique that earned 36 citations. Equally impactful is his work demonstrating how kinematic redundancy in flexible robot arms can be strategically exploited to actively damp structural vibrations, a critical insight for safe robotic operations aboard space structures like the Space Station Freedom, also garnering 36 citations. deFigueiredo further advanced the field through pioneering sensor fusion research, combining radar and optical data to reconstruct 3D surface geometries of space objects — work that accumulated 23 citations and addressed one of the central challenges in autonomous space robotics. His sustained attention to robustness in redundant manipulator control reflects a rigorous commitment to practical, deployable systems. Taken together, his body of work represents a coherent and lasting contribution to intelligent robotics for demanding space environments.