Dhanika Mahipala

Dhanika Mahipala is an Early-Stage Researcher under the Autonomous Navigation Systems team at Kongsberg Maritime AS, Ålesund, Norway. As part of the ETN – AUTOBarge project, he will research under the topic “Scenario-based Model Predictive Control for collision avoidance and traffic control of autonomous ships in inland waterways”. His objectives are to develop scenario-based model predictive control algorithm for COLREGS compliant collision avoidance for autonomous ships in open and coastal waters and extend the control methodology to provide safe and efficient control in confined spaces that are typical for inland waterways where high traffic density where narrow passages, local traffic patterns and the dynamic constraints of own and other ships needs to be accounted for.

He accomplished his Master’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering where he focused on robot dynamics and control for his thesis at Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. His Undergraduate degree was also in Mechatronics Engineering where he focused on multiple robot cooperation for parts assembly for his final research project at the same university.

His passion is to continue his research on intelligent control strategies for autonomous robots.