Udayanga G.W.K.N. Gamage

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Udayanga G.W.K.N. Gamage is a rising researcher in aerial robotics, specializing in the design of compliant manipulators for safe aerial physical interaction. His work addresses a critical challenge in the field: enabling drones to physically interact with their environment—such as inspecting infrastructure or manipulating objects—without compromising flight stability or safety. Gamage’s most notable contribution is the development of a novel, lightweight flexible robot arm that weighs just 400 grams at take-off. This mechanism uniquely combines structural compliance with energy dissipation, allowing for precise position control during force interactions. His 2024 paper on this design has already garnered 2 citations, signaling early impact in the community. Building on this, his 2025 work focuses on manipulator design and target localization for safe aerial inspection missions, emphasizing accurate surface detection and physical interaction. By integrating perception with compliant actuation, Gamage is advancing the practicality of aerial manipulators for real-world tasks. His research is particularly relevant for applications in infrastructure maintenance, search and rescue, and industrial inspection, where drones must safely and reliably engage with their surroundings.