Rui de Gouvea Pinto

Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Papers

2

Total Citations

7

H-Index

2

About

Rui de Gouvea Pinto is a visionary aerospace and robotics engineer whose work is shaping the future of autonomous mobility in extreme environments. His primary research focuses on diamagnetic levitation, micro-robotics, and advanced transportation systems for space exploration. Pinto’s most significant contribution is the conceptual design of the Flexible Levitation on a Track (FLOAT) system—a novel lunar transportation network that uses diamagnetically-levitated robots on a flexible film track. This durable, long-life system is envisioned to support NASA’s Moon to Mars initiative by transporting regolith for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), enabling sustainable base operations in the 2030s. His earlier work on 2D-compliant, diamagnetically-levitating micro-robots demonstrated passive stability and maneuverability over non-flat, non-clean surfaces—a breakthrough for resilient robotic mobility. With his most-cited paper (2023) already garnering 5 citations and his micro-robot study (2022) earning 2, Pinto’s research is gaining traction for its practical, scalable approach. His work stands out for merging fundamental physics with applied engineering, offering elegant solutions to the harsh realities of space and planetary surfaces.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

2
H-Index
2
Papers
7
Total Citations
4
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
Design of a Novel Lunar Transportation System (FLOAT) consisting of Diamagnetically-Levitated Robots on a Flexible Film Track
5 citations · 2023
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2023 (1 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 4
🏛 Institutions: Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Top Papers

  1. 1
  2. 2

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 13 days ago