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About

About

Hugo Ferreira is currently a senior researcher/engineer at INESCTEC Robotics Centre. He has an electrical engineering degree from the Porto Polytechnic Institute (ISEP-IPP).   Main scientific interests are: Autonomous Systems and Mobile Robotics. He works with marine robotics, underwater and surface vehicles, sonar and positioning systems.  Currently, he is working on several projects involving perception and navigation.    He is also teaching at the Superior School of Hospitality and Tourism, Polytechnic Institute of Porto

Interest
Topics
Details

Details

  • Name

    Hugo Alexandre Ferreira
  • Role

    Assistant Researcher
  • Since

    01st October 2011
014
Publications

2024

Oil Spill Mitigation with a Team of Heterogeneous Autonomous Vehicles

Authors
Dias, A; Mucha, A; Santos, T; Oliveira, A; Amaral, G; Ferreira, H; Martins, A; Almeida, J; Silva, E;

Publication
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Abstract
This paper presents the implementation of an innovative solution based on heterogeneous autonomous vehicles to tackle maritime pollution (in particular, oil spills). This solution is based on native microbial consortia with bioremediation capacity, and the adaptation of air and surface autonomous vehicles for in situ release of autochthonous microorganisms (bioaugmentation) and nutrients (biostimulation). By doing so, these systems can be applied as the first line of the response to pollution incidents from several origins that may occur inside ports, around industrial and extraction facilities, or in the open sea during transport activities in a fast, efficient, and low-cost way. The paper describes the work done in the development of a team of autonomous vehicles able to carry as payload, native organisms to naturally degrade oil spills (avoiding the introduction of additional chemical or biological additives), and the development of a multi-robot framework for efficient oil spill mitigation. Field tests have been performed in Portugal and Spain's harbors, with a simulated oil spill, and the coordinate oil spill task between the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) ROAZ and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) STORK has been validated.

2023

TURTLE Robotic Lander in the context of REP2022 military exercise

Authors
Martins, A; Almeida, J; Almeida, C; Matias, B; Ferreira, A; Machado, D; Ferreira, H; Pereira, R; Soares, E; Peixoto, PA; Silva, E;

Publication
OCEANS 2023 - LIMERICK

Abstract
This paper presents the TURTLE hybrid robotic lander in the context of the field trials performed in the REP(MUS) 2022 military exercise. The TURTLE robot combines the characteristics and mobility of an autonomous underwater vehicle with the ones of a seabed lander, having been designed for extended permanence on the sea bottom and efficient ascending and dive to the deep sea. The REP( MUS) 2022 exercises organized by the Portuguese navy in collaboration with NATO organizations and other institutions demonstrated the large-scale use of unmanned marine systems in an operational scenario. The robotic system is presented as well as some of the results and experience from the field trials.

2021

COLLECTION AND LIFE SUPPORT IN A HYPERBARIC SYSTEM FOR DEEP-SEA ORGANISMS

Authors
Viegas, D; Figueiredo, A; Coimbra, J; Dos Santos, A; Almeida, J; Dias, N; Lima, L; Silva, H; Ferreira, H; Almeida, C; Amaro, T; Arenas, F; Castro, F; Santos, M; Martins, A; Silva, E;

Publication
OCEANS 2021: SAN DIEGO - PORTO

Abstract
This paper presents the development of a hyperbaric system able to collect, transport and maintain deep-sea species in controlled condition from the sea floor up to the surface (HiperSea System). The system is composed by two chambers coupled with a transference set-up. The first chamber is able to reach a maximum of 1km depth collecting both benthic and pelagic deep-sea species. The second chamber is a life support compartment to maintain the specimens alive at the surface, in hyperbaric conditions.

2019

Low Cost Underwater Acoustic Positioning System with a Simplified DoA Algorithm

Authors
Guedes, P; Viana, N; Silva, J; Amaral, G; Ferreira, H; Dias, A; Almeida, JM; Martins, A; Silva, EP;

Publication
OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE SEATTLE

Abstract
For the context of a mobile tracking system, an underwater acoustic positioning system was developed, using three hydrophones to compute the direction of an acoustic source relative to an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV). The paper presents an algorithm for the Direction of Arrival (DoA) of an acoustic source, which allows to estimate its position. Preliminary results will be shown in this paper relative to the detection and identification (ID) of the acoustic sources, as well as an analysis of the proposed algorithm. The solution allows the position estimation of an acoustic source, which can be used in tracking solutions. The system can be applied in an ASV or fixed buoys, as long as the baseline's hydrophones are at equal angular distances. The main objective is to track targets with the DoA algorithm as well to estimate their position, improving what was done in [1].

2019

ROSM - Robotic Oil Spill Mitigation

Authors
Dias, A; Mucha, AP; Santos, T; Pedrosa, D; Amaral, G; Ferreira, H; Oliveira, A; Martins, A; Almeida, J; Almeida, CM; Ramos, S; Magalhaes, C; Carvalho, MF; Silva, E;

Publication
OCEANS 2019 - MARSEILLE

Abstract
The overall aim of the ROSM project is the implementation of an innovative solution based on heterogeneous autonomous vehicles to tackle maritime pollution (in particular, oil spills). These solutions will be based on native microbial consortia with bioremediation capacity, and the adaptation of air and surface autonomous vehicles for in-situ release of autochthonous microorganisms (bioaugmentation) and nutrients (biostimulation). By doing so, these systems can be used as the first line of the responder to pollution incidents from several origins that may occur inside ports, around industrial and extraction facilities, or during transport activities, in a fast, efficient and low-cost way. The paper will address the development of a team of autonomous vehicles able to carry, as payload, native organisms to naturally degrade oil spills (avoiding the introduction of additional chemical or biological additives), the development of a multi-robot system able to provide a first line responses to oil spill incidents under unfavourable and harsh conditions with low human intervention, and then a decentralized cooperative planning with the ability to coordinate an efficient oil spill combat. Field tests have been performed in Leixoes Harbour in Porto and Medas, Portugal, with a simulated oil spill and validated the decentralized coordinated task between the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) ROAZ and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).