About me
ACADEMIC BIO
I received the BSc and MSc degrees in Aerospace Engineering in 2010 and 2012, respectively, both from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon, Portugal, on the course of which I received the Merit Award. In 2019, I finished my Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with the Institute for Systems and Robotics, Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems, at IST. My research interests include sensor-based simultaneous localization and mapping with RGB-D, vision, ranging, and bearing sensors, as well as active estimation.
INTERESTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Since my adolescent years, I have been interested in creative activities such as playing/composing music, web and logo design, and DIY (woodwork, electronics).
Learning foreign languages is also something that interests me, and I am currently taking B2 level German classes.
I worked as a volunteer in several youth local and national meetings both as a caretaker and group leader/activity organizer, between 2004 and 2009.
Travel is also something that entices me, and I have tried to fuel that interest while making the most of the experiences I’ve had in foreign countries. For instance, my visit to the University of Macau in the course of my research grant, my two months internship in Spain and my participation on a youth exchange in Italy have improved my ability to adapt/live/work in multicultural environments. Another good example is the bicycle tour I did, along with two friends. For three weeks and around 1000 km from Tróia, Portugal to Casablanca, Morocco, we bicycled, sharing experiences along the road and getting to know the local culture.
Here you can find my Curriculum Vitae, and my Curriculum Vitae with focus on academia in pdf format. Or you can continue exploring my professional life in detail in this page.
EXPERIENCE
GNC Engineer @ GMV Skysoft, Lisbon, Portugal
January 2019 - Present
Control Specialist at the GNC section of the Space Segment and Robotics business unit of GMV, Lisbon, Portugal.
Design and analysis of GNC systems for spacecraft in ESA-contracted activities for addressing rendezvous and docking in near-rectilinear lunar orbits, the Lagrange telescope mission phases A/B1, and reusable end-to-end space transportation systems.
Researcher @ Institute for Systems and Robotics, Lisbon, Portugal
October 2011 - June 2018
Development of simultaneous localization and mapping algorithms for autonomous vehicles, such as UAVs, using several exteroception sensors: 1) RGB-D cameras as the Microsoft Kinect, 2) acoustic/radio transceivers as the Cricket, 3) regular RGB cameras.
Currently pursuing my PhD degree.
Visiting scholar @ SCORE Lab, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macao, China
July 2012 (2 weeks) / November 2012 – December 2012 (1 month)
Experimental validation of sensor-based simultaneous localization and mapping techniques based on Microsoft Kinect and acoustic range measurements on a Pelican quadrotor.
Intern @ AENA Aeropuertos, Spain
July 2011 – August 2011 (2 months)
Internship at the Division of Airport Services of the Palma de Mallorca Airport.
EDUCATION
PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering @ Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon
2013 - 2019
Recently handed in my thesis on Globally Convergent Simultaneous Localization and Mapping: Design Techniques, Analysis, and Implementation. Work advised by Prof. Paulo Oliveira, Prof. Pedro Batista, and Prof. Carlos Silvestre at the Institute for Systems and Robotics
MSc degree in Aerospace Engineering @ Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon
2010 - 2012
Branch of Avionics: guidance, navigation and control; avionic systems; telecommunications.
Final average grade of 18 out of 20
Worked on my master’s thesis titled Analysis, Design and Implementation of an Integrated Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Algorithm advised by Prof. Paulo Oliveira, Prof. Pedro Batista, and Prof. Carlos Silvestre at the Institute for Systems and Robotics with a research grant.
BSc degree in Aerospace Engineering @ Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon
2007 - 2010
Final average grade of 17 out of 20
Includes courses on Flight Dynamics and Control, Electronics, Classical and Fluid Mechanics, Materials Science & Mechanics; Satellites, Electrical and Computer Sciences
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2012 | Doctoral scholarship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
2010/2011 | Merit award by Instituto Superior Técnico: best M.Sc. student in Aerospace Engineering, 9th best M.Sc. student overall.
SKILLS
MATLAB/Simulink | Proficient user.
C programming language | Solid knowledge at the level of basic programming, serial and internet communication, and parallel computing.
Python | Basic knowledge.
Robot Operating System | Intermediate user.
Solidworks/Autocad/Xilinx/PSpice | Basic user.
Microsoft Office / LaTeX | Experienced user.
LANGUAGES
Portuguese | Mother tongue.
English | Full professional fluency (understanding, speaking and writing).
Spanish | Solid understanding and speaking fluency. Basic writing.
German | Intermediate fluency (understanding, speaking and writing).
French | Basic fluency (understanding, speaking and writing).