Waruna Kaluarachchi

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Waruna Kaluarachchi is a robotics engineer focused on solving critical infrastructure maintenance challenges through innovative robotic systems. His primary research areas include climbing robotics for structural inspection and automated surface preparation for corrosion control. Kaluarachchi’s most cited work, "Climbing robot for steel bridge inspection: design challenges" (2014, 30 citations), addresses the pressing need for robotic alternatives to high-risk manual inspections of bridges—operations often conducted at heights, in confined spaces, or hazardous environments. This paper outlines key design hurdles and solutions for deploying climbing robots on steel structures, directly contributing to safer, more efficient infrastructure monitoring. His earlier work, "Robotic grit-blasting: engineering challenges" (2011, 2 citations), tackles the corrosion crisis facing Australia’s aging steel bridges, proposing robotic automation for rust stripping and repainting—a vital step in extending infrastructure lifespan. Together, these contributions highlight Kaluarachchi’s commitment to developing practical, field-ready robots that reduce human risk and improve maintenance outcomes. His research is particularly relevant for students and engineers interested in applied robotics, structural health monitoring, and automated maintenance systems for critical infrastructure.