Actuators Webinar | Advanced Underwater Robotics
the chair
1st Actuators Webinar
Advanced Underwater Robotics
We welcome you to this webinar entitled "Advanced Underwater Robotics."
This webinar will bring together researchers with complementary expertise in fluid power, variable buoyancy systems, marine robotics, underwater navigation, and autonomous vehicle operation. Through different methodological approaches, the session will highlight the central role of energy-efficient actuation and system-level design in the development of autonomous underwater vehicles for ocean monitoring, inspection, and intervention.
The programme includes contributions from both early-career and established researchers, offering different perspectives on variable buoyancy actuation, propeller-driven vehicle design, and the broader challenges of sensing, navigation, and energy management in marine robotic systems.
We hope that this webinar will provide a valuable opportunity for scientific exchange and discussion among colleagues interested in the current and future applications of underwater robotics.
We thank all the speakers for their participation and the journal Actuators for their support in organizing this webinar.
Date: 16 September 2026
Time: 6:00 PM CEST | 12:00 AM CST, Asia (next day)
Webinar ID: 880 4602 7781
Webinar Secretariat: actuators@mdpi.com
Meet Our Speakers
Mr. João Bravo Pinto
Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto ;
João Bravo Pinto received his M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal, in 2017, where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the same field. Since 2017, he has been conducting research at the Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (INEGI) and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto. His research interests include the development of pneumatic actuators, control of servopneumatic systems, variable-geometry ejector design, and the design and control of variable buoyancy systems.
Prof. Nuno Cruz
Department of Electrical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto;
Nuno Alexandre Cruz was born in Porto, Portugal, in 1970. He is an Associate Professor at FEUP and Coordinator of the Center for Robotics and Autonomous Systems at INESC TEC, Portugal. The center brings together over 90 researchers focused on field robotics, operating in air, land, and at sea. He holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto, Portugal, an MSc in Digital Systems Engineering from UMIST, UK, and a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from FEUP. Nuno Cruz has over 30 years of experience in the design, development, and operation of marine robotic vehicles. His research interests include underwater navigation, acoustic localization, and the efficient use of autonomous vehicles at sea. He has led and actively participated in numerous national and international R&D projects, advancing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and robotic perception systems. Nuno Cruz has authored or co-authored over 100 publications in international journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings, and has regularly presented at leading venues such as IEEE/MTS OCEANS and IEEE UT. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, Associate Editor of the IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, and Chair of the Portuguese Chapter of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES).
This is a FREE webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar.
Can’t attend? Register anyway and we’ll let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Register for free here!
Underwater Advanced Robotics
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. João Falcão Carneiro, Dr. Nuno Cruz
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027