Santiago Sanchez-Escalonilla

University of Groningen, University of Twente

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Santiago Sanchez-Escalonilla is a leading researcher in aerial robotics, specializing in the intersection of control theory, physical interaction, and computer vision for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). His primary research areas include impedance control, energy-aware manipulation, and autonomous contact-based inspection using fully-actuated flying platforms. Sanchez-Escalonilla’s major contributions lie in developing geometrically consistent variable-stiffness impedance control frameworks, notably within the port-Hamiltonian formalism, which enables safe and precise wrench regulation for aerial end-effectors during physical interaction tasks. His most-cited work, "Energy Aware Impedance Control of a Flying End-Effector in the Port-Hamiltonian Framework" (2022, 38 citations), introduces energy tanks to ensure stable contact while minimizing power consumption—a breakthrough for aerial manipulation. In another influential paper, "Towards Vision-Based Impedance Control for the Contact Inspection of Unknown Generically-Shaped Surfaces with a Fully-Actuated UAV" (2020, 22 citations), he integrates real-time visual feedback to enable autonomous inspection of textured, unknown-geometry surfaces. These works have garnered significant attention, with over 60 combined citations, reflecting their impact on advancing safe, autonomous aerial interaction. Sanchez-Escalonilla’s research is pivotal for applications in infrastructure inspection, industrial maintenance, and collaborative robotics, positioning him as a rising authority in the field.