CV

Profile

Robotics researcher working on real-world autonomy, robotic perception, and vision-based navigation in outdoor agricultural environments. Experienced in ROS, machine learning, deep learning, and hands-on robotic system development.

Employment

Postdoctoral Research Assistant, University of Lincoln
July 2024 - Present

• AOC: Agri Open Core
• GAIA: Ground-Aerial maps Integration for increased Autonomy outdoors

Research Assistant, University of Lincoln
January 2024 - June 2024

• Developed LiDAR-based obstacle detection for the ARWAC robot

Associate Lecturer, University of Lincoln
April 2022 - December 2022

• Contributed to the Advanced Machine Learning module on the MSc Robotics and Autonomous Systems programme

Assistant Lecturer, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
January 2018 - March 2021

• Taught Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Embedded Systems Engineering, Internet of Things, Digital Electronics, and Analogue Electronics
• Supervised more than 10 undergraduate research projects in robotics and IoT
• Published 11 conference papers in robotics, AI, and IoT during this period
• Served in academic administration, including as Industrial Training Coordinator for the Department of Computer Systems Engineering

Research Assistant, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
June 2017 - December 2017

• Designed and developed a ROS-compatible mobile robotic platform for greenhouse applications

Electronic Engineering Intern, Vega Innovations
October 2015 - January 2016

• Developed embedded sensing and interfacing circuits for temperature monitoring in the Vega electric supercar
• Built custom firmware for the Texas Instruments CC2650 SensorTag in Code Composer Studio

Education

PhD in Computer Science, University of Lincoln
February 2021 - February 2024

• Thesis: Vision-Based Autonomous Navigation System Development for Agri-Robots
• Recipient of the Best Paper Award at the TIG-IV Agri-Food Robotics workshop at ICRA 2023
• PhD studentship funded through Lincoln Agri-Robotics and UKRI Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England programme

BSc of Engineering (Honours) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
January 2014 - December 2017

• First Class Honours, GPA 3.71/4.0
• Awarded the SLIIT Scholarship for academic excellence
• Named to the Dean’s List
• Published a conference paper at ICCA 2018: A Gyroscopic Data-based Pedometer Algorithm with Adaptive Orientation

Research Projects

Vision-Based Autonomous Navigation System Development for Agri-Robots, University of Lincoln
February 2021 - February 2024

• Developed a fully vision-based navigation system using RGB-D data for crop-row detection and navigation in arable fields
• Built a crop-row dataset spanning multiple crop types and several years of field variation
• Established a low-cost in-field navigation pipeline for selective harvesting, monitoring, and crop protection
• Project video: YouTube demo

Skills

• Programming: Python, OpenCV, ROS, Pandas, TensorFlow, NumPy, scikit-learn, MATLAB, C/C++, Java, Verilog, VHDL
• Robotics: Autonomous navigation, path planning, control systems, robotic vision, ROS-based integration
• AI: Machine learning, deep learning, CNNs for computer vision
• Hardware: Embedded systems, sensors and actuators, circuit design
• Professional: Teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, documentation, scientific communication

Awards and Honours

• 2025: Best Research Project (Impact), UKRI TAS Hub AI and Robotics Research Awards
• 2023: Best Paper Award, TIG-IV Workshop at ICRA 2023
• 2023: Runner-Up (Asia Region), Microsoft Imagine Cup Epic Challenge for the Tangiguru project
• 2023: Best Innovative Project - University Category, SLASSCOM National Ingenuity Awards
• 2021: Lincoln Agri-Robotics PhD Studentship funded by UKRI Research England
• 2017: Dean’s List, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
• 2014: Undergraduate Scholarship, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology

Publications

Keypoint Semantic Integration for Improved Feature Matching in Outdoor Agricultural Environments

de Silva, R., Swindell, J., Cox, J., Popovic, M., Cadena, C., Stachniss, C., & Polvara, R. (2025). "Keypoint Semantic Integration for Improved Feature Matching in Outdoor Agricultural Environments." IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, 10(12), 13383-13390.

Vision based crop row navigation under varying field conditions in arable fields

de Silva, R., Cielniak, G., & Gao, J. (2024). "Vision based crop row navigation under varying field conditions in arable fields." Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 217, 108581.

Deep learning-based crop row detection for infield navigation of agri-robots

de Silva, R., Cielniak, G., Wang, G., & Gao, J. (2023). "Deep learning-based crop row detection for infield navigation of agri-robots." Journal of Field Robotics, 41(7), 2299-2321.

Leaving the Lines Behind: Vision-Based Crop Row Exit for Agricultural Robot Navigation

de Silva, R., Cielniak, G., & Gao, J. (2023). "Leaving the Lines Behind: Vision-Based Crop Row Exit for Agricultural Robot Navigation." TIG-IV Workshop at ICRA 2023. Best Paper Award.

Towards Infield Navigation: leveraging simulated data for crop row detection

de Silva, R., Cielniak, G., & Gao, J. (2022). "Towards Infield Navigation: leveraging simulated data for crop row detection." IEEE International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE).

For the full publication list, see Google Scholar.

Teaching

Advanced Machine Learning

Embedded Systems, IoT, and Electronics

Robotics and Intelligent Systems

Professional Service

• 2022-2024: Secretary, IEEE UK and Ireland Young Professionals
• 2019-2021: Secretary, IEEE Young Professionals Sri Lanka
• 2019-2020: Editor, IEEE Sri Lanka Section