Fran Real
Papers
6
Total Citations
170
H-Index
6
About
Fran Real is a leading researcher in aerial robotics, specializing in compliant bimanual manipulation, long-reach systems, and cooperative multi-UAV missions. Their major contributions include pioneering the design and motion planning of aerial manipulators with dual arms and passive joints, enabling safe, compliant interaction in cluttered environments—work that has garnered over 64 citations for their foundational 2020 paper on standard and long-reach configurations. Real also developed the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Abstraction Layer (UAL), a software framework that simplifies high-level algorithm development by abstracting hardware and autopilot interfaces, cited 28 times for its impact on UAV programming. Their experimental work extends to cooperative construction, where teams of UAVs autonomously build brick walls, and autonomous fire-fighting using heterogeneous UAVs to deploy fireproof blankets and suppress flames on high-rise facades. Notably, Real’s team was a finalist in the 2017 Mohamed Bin Zayed International Robotic Challenge (MBZIRC), demonstrating their leadership in multi-UAV coordination. With a growing citation record and innovations bridging hardware, software, and real-world applications, Real is shaping the future of aerial manipulation for infrastructure, disaster response, and beyond.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 5Autonomous Fire-Fighting with Heterogeneous Team of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles11 citations · 2021
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