Papers
8
Total Citations
67
H-Index
5
About
Shehara Perera is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of bio-inspired robotics, soft robotics, and embodied intelligence. Her most influential work introduces a tapered whisker-based physical reservoir computing system for mobile robot terrain identification, achieving 25 citations. This breakthrough enables robots to classify and navigate unstructured environments in real-time by exploiting the nonlinear dynamics of tapered springs and Hall effect sensors—a paradigm shift from traditional computational approaches. Perera’s contributions extend to assistive and rehabilitation robotics: she led the development of the iGrasp Hand, a biomimetic transradial prosthesis with 19 degrees of freedom and a novel clutching mechanism, and the HipExo exoskeleton for load lifting, which uses a flexible trunk linkage and hybrid actuator to reduce musculoskeletal strain. Her scoping review on exoskeletons for manual handling (7 citations) has become a key reference for occupational safety. Perera also explores how soft robots can serve as platforms to understand embodied intelligence, challenging conventional notions of control. With over 65 total citations and a rapidly growing portfolio, her work is shaping the future of adaptive, human-centered robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Exoskeletons for Manual Handling: A Scoping Review7 citations · 2023
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- 5
- 6Soft Robots as a Platform to Understand Embodied Intelligence2 citations · 2024
- 7iGrasp Robotic Prosthetic Hand2 citations · 2021
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