M. A. Viraj J. Muthugala
Singapore University of Technology and Design, University of Moratuwa
Papers
77
Total Citations
1,183
H-Index
18
About
M. A. Viraj J. Muthugala is a prominent robotics researcher whose work spans autonomous cleaning systems, human-robot interaction, and intelligent service robots. His research has made significant strides in developing practical robotic solutions for real-world maintenance challenges, including floor cleaning, wall cleaning, door handle disinfection, and ship hull maintenance — a body of work that proved particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Muthugala's most cited contribution, a deep-learning framework for robotic door handle disinfection (78 citations), exemplifies his ability to align cutting-edge technology with pressing societal needs. His pioneering work on reconfigurable floor cleaning robots, including the innovative hTetro platform, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of adaptive robotic morphology and area-coverage optimization. His research on ship hull maintenance integrates bio-inspired neural networks and reinforcement learning to achieve energy-efficient, autonomous cleaning — garnering over 160 combined citations across related publications. Beyond physical robotics, Muthugala has contributed substantially to human-robot interaction, authoring influential reviews on robot proxemics and natural language instruction handling, with his MIRob intelligent service robot showcasing early work in knowledge acquisition through human dialogue. Collectively, his publications have amassed over 500 citations, establishing him as a versatile and impactful voice in modern service and field robotics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Design and Control of a Wall Cleaning Robot with Adhesion-Awareness60 citations · 2020
- 4A Review on Human–Robot Proxemics53 citations · 2022
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