+94 11 754 4801
info@sliit.lk
CAREER SUMMARY
Prof. Pradeep Kumara Wijesekara Abeygunawardhana is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of Computer Systems Engineering, currently serving as a professor at the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT). With a robust educational background, he holds a Ph.D. in Robotics Engineering (2010) and an M.Sc. in Engineering (2006) from Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, and a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (2003) from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
Prof. Abeygunawardhana’s professional journey encompasses a blend of academic and industry experiences. He is the Director of Technology Diffusion at the Information Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka, and a professor at SLIIT. Previously, he was the Head of the Computer Systems Engineering Department at SLIIT and a Senior Lecturer, contributing significantly to the institution's academic and research output.
His research interests lie in robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), electronics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Prof. Abeygunawardhana has published extensively in high-impact journals and conferences, showcasing his work on intelligent systems and automation. His scholarly contributions are well-recognized, with a substantial citation record on Google Scholar.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Prof. Abeygunawardhana has played a pivotal role in organizing national and international conferences and competitions, including the National Robotic Competition (Robofest) and the National Coding Competition (Codefest). He has also been actively involved in reviewing for prestigious journals and conferences, further cementing his influence in the field.
Prof. Abeygunawardhana is a Senior Member of the IEEE, a member of the IET, the Computer Society of Sri Lanka (CSSL), and Toastmasters International. His excellence in communication and leadership is underscored by awards from Toastmasters International.
His career is marked by numerous accolades, including the Japanese government Monbukagakusho scholarship and multiple research grants from Keio University. His dedication to teaching, project management, and research innovation continues to inspire students and peers alike in the global academic community.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD (Keio), Japan,
- Msc (Keio), Japan
- Bsc (University of Moratuwa), Sri Lanka
RESEARCH INTERESTS AND MEMBERSHIP
Research Interests
- Agricultural Robotics and Automation
- Precision Farming and Smart Agriculture Technologies
- Robotics and IoT for Disaster Management
- Environmental Monitoring and Sensing Technologies
- Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) in Smart Agriculture
- IoT-Based Smart Devices for Farming and Disaster Response
- Machine Learning for Autonomous Agricultural Robots
- Sensor Fusion in Advanced Robotics Systems
- Remote Sensing and Data Analytics for Disaster Management
- Social Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction
- AI, ML, and IoT Applications in Material Science
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Social Development
Memberships
- Senior Member of IEEE
- Member of CSSL
- Member IET
- Associate Member, IESL
Research Clusters
Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems (AIMS)
Pioneering research in intelligent systems, robotics, and IoT to develop autonomous solutions for industrial and societal challenges. Focus areas include drone technology, smart systems, and real-time embedded applications.
Technology Integration & Management (TIM)
Bridging technology and business through research on human-computer interaction, ethical tech integration, and strategic frameworks for digital transformation.
Transportation engineering
"The transportation engineering research group is a multidisciplinary research unit that investigates sustainable and safe mobility covering land, water, and air transportation. Current research focuses on intelligent transportation systems which provide innovative services for road users enabling more coordinated, safer, and 'smarter' use of transport networks.
Possible mitigating options for traffic congestion in the urban road network and asset management systems focusing road rehabilitation and maintenance works are being studied
Areas: Modeling and simulation of Transportation systems, Traffic Engineering, Pavement materials and structural design, Traffic safety, Human Factors, Infrastructure engineering, Urban engineering"
PUBLICATIONS
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“Control of Two Wheel Mobile Manipulator on a Rough Terrain using Reaction Torque Observer Feedback
P.K.W. Abeygunawardhana, Toshiyuki Murakami, “Journal of Automation, Mobile Robotics & Intelligent System” , pp. pp. 56-67
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Stability Improvement of Two Wheeled Driven Mobile Manipulator using Nonlinear PD Controller
Pradeep Abeygunawardhana, Toshiyuki Murakami, “Transaction on industrial application of IEEJ” , pp. pp.1149-1156
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Environmental interaction of two wheeled mobile manipulator by using reaction torque observer
Pradeep Abeygunawardhana, Toshiyuki Murakami, (Advanced Motion Control, 2008. AMC'08. 10th IEEE International Workshop on)
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Vibration suppression of two-wheel mobile manipulator using resonance-ratio-control-based null-space control
Pradeep Abeygunawardhana, Toshiyuki Murakami, “IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics” , pp. 4137-4146
