My name is João da Silva Gomes Mota, I'm portuguese, born in 1970, in Lisbon, Portugal, where I live.

I hold Engineer and Master of Science degrees on Electrical Engineering by IST-Instituto Superior Técnico (the engineering faculty of the Technical University of Lisbon). My first degree was in the field of Telecommunications and Electronics, while the MSc. was in the field of Systems and Robotics.

I keep this site in collaboration with my sister Mariana, who is a researcher in the field of plant biotechnology.

Since February 2006, I work for Albatroz Engineering, a R&D start-up in the fields of robotics and avionics.

I worked at the R&D Group of LABELEC, Estudos, Desenvolvimento e Actividades Laboratoriais, S.A., a laboratory and research company of Group EDP from December 2003 to December 2005.

From January 1994 to May 2002, I was a graduate student and a researcher at the Lisbon branch of the ISR-Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica, a R&D unit of Instituto Superior Técnico.

My research activities were dedicated to Mobile Robotics, with a focus on the localisation of land mobile robots.

Contact

João Gomes Mota

A/C Profª Maria Isabel Ribeiro

Instituto de Sistemas e Robótica
Torre Norte, Piso 8
Instituto Superior Técnico
Av. Rovisco Pais
P-1049-001 LISBOA, PORTUGAL

Research

Subjects of interest:

Mobile Robotics

As a researcher in Mobile robotics, I worked four years on the RESOLV project and I elaborated my MSc thesis about the localisation of mobile robots using laser scanner and reconstructed 3D models.
Check the list of publications. Most of them is available for download.

Social and cultural effects of telecommunications

Although the emphasis in research and development in telecommunications focuses on the technical possibilities, I believe it is, at least, as important to study the social and cultural effects of new telecommunications technologies and predict the user's wishes, adapting the innovations to it.

Optimisation and Algorithms

As a teaching assistant I lectured this course (forth year of the Electrical Engineering degree) and I applied the concepts and methods to the other fields of research.

Web-based interfaces for remote operation

Most designs of land mobile robots include an on-line system to monitor the mission and remotely operate the system.
A good interface conjugates concerns on ergonomy, bandwitdh, response delay, complexity of operation and learning curve.
The lessons I learned while developing remote operation interfaces had a decisive influence to my approach to Web design, focusing on usability, robustness, ergonomy and efficiency.

Robotics LEGO

Combining Robotics studies and playing with LEGO™ is very pleasant to me and to numerous people. Robotics LEGO are the reason of many books, web sites and on-line communities. On my pages you'll find some simple projects and relevant links.

Major Scientific Publications

In addition to the papers available for download, there are interactive presentations associated to the papers I presented.
Unless stated otherwise, the papers are written in English.
 

Monitorização remota e detecção de falhas em rede de Média Tensão
  João Gomes Mota, João Gonçalo Maciel
  LABELEC, S.A., Grupo EDP
  Actas do Forum Energia IST, volume 1, pp. 45 a 48, Maio 2004.

  in Portuguese

Abstract: EDP Distribution and LABELEC began a joint study to optimise the quality of service (QoS) of the Medium Voltage network. Acknowledging the various devices capable of QoS measurements and telecommunications spread across the network, we propose the use of these features to perform real-time, continuous, diagnosis of the network. The work plan is presented in the paper, highlighting the different features of each equipment, the communications scheme and the information architecture. Since most of the equipment is already installed on the network, there is room for significant improvements at a low cost, enhancing the QoS and the tools available for distribution management and network exploitation.

Keywords: Quality of Energy/Service, medium voltage network, telecommunications

Localisation of a Mobile Robot using Laser Scanner and Reconstructed 3D Models
  João Gomes Mota
  Thesis to obtain Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, November 2001.

The thesis is available in Adobe^® PDF format, split in seven documents:

0. Prologue (abstract and table of contents)	1. Introduction
2. The Frame Localisation Algorithm	3. The Likelihood Test
4. The Approximate Localisation Algorithm	5. Conclusions
6. References and Appendices

Mobile Robot Localisation on Reconstructed 3D Models
  João Gomes-Mota, Maria Isabel Ribeiro
  Journal of Robotics and Autonomous Systems 31 (1-2) pp. 17-30, Elsevier Science, April 2000.

Abstract: This paper presents a two-layer mobile robot localisation solution based on a Laser Range Scanner applied on reconstructed 3D models. This solution encompasses a feature matching layer performing without an initial posture estimate; a second layer based on coordinate transforms to refine an initial posture estimate, and a third module to assess the likelihood of the results computed by the two layers.

Keywords: mobile robot localisation, laser scanner, 3D scene reconstruction, frame localisation.

Note: This is a reviewed and extended version of the SIRS'98 paper.
 

RESOLV: da Robótica à Realidade Virtual
  João Gomes-Mota, Maria Isabel Ribeiro
  V Jornadas Tecnico-Científicas, DEE, Escola Superior Tecnologia, Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal, April 99.

Paper in:  PDF   HTML   PostScript(.zip)   in Portuguese
 

Localisation of a Mobile Robot using the Laser Scanner on Reconstructed 3D models
  João Gomes-Mota, Maria Isabel Ribeiro
  Proceedings 3^rd Portuguese Conference on Automatic Control, Coimbra, Portugal, September 1998.

Paper in:  PDF   PostScript(.zip)
 

A Multi-Layer Robot Localisation Solution using a Laser Scanner on Reconstructed 3D Models
  João Gomes-Mota, Maria Isabel Ribeiro
  Proceedings 6^th Symposium on Intelligent Robotic Systems, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, July 1998.

Paper in:  PDF   PostScript(.zip)
 

Photography

Photo Albums

The theme albums show a set of pictures from one common location and some text about the photos. The albums may be written in Portuguese, English or French. Sometimes they ara available in mora than one language.
Each album follows its own web design and they are viewed in a dedicated window..
Most albums include JavaScript and DHTML, so make sure your browser has these options activated.
 

Photographs of Alfama, Lisbon

This was my first photo album. It's about one of the most touristic quarters in Lisbon, Portugal.

Portuguese version. Netscape Navigator 3.0 and later. Internet Explorer 3.0 and later. Minimum window: 640x480.

EXPO'98 in Lisbon, Portugal, by night and by day

  The After Eight EXPO album shows images during the EXPO'98 exhibition, Later I to open a second album to collect the photos taken after the exhibition.

Portuguese and English versions. Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later. Minimum window: 640x480.

Paris la nuit ... et le matin - photographs of Paris, France

  A small and simple album, without JavaScript. The sliding bar is all you need to walk along the "wall" where the photos are exhibited.

French, Portuguese and English versions. Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later. Minimum window: 800x600.

Bienvenue en Belgique - Welcome to Belgium

This album covers various belgium cities (Brussels , Antwerp, Bruges, Gent, ...) and various seasons and years (1993, 1994, 1995 e 2000).

Note: this album is being re-writen to make it compatible with newer Netscape Navigator 6.0 and Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, according to the new Document Object Model.

French, Portuguese and English versions. Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later. Minimum window: 800x600.

Benvenuto a Ispra - Welcome to Ispra

One week of work at the European Union Joint Research Centre, was the pretext for this album of Ispra, a town on the North of Italy, near Milano, on the oriental banks of Lake Maggiore.

Italian and English versions. Netscape Navigator 6.0. Internet Explorer 5. Minimum window: 800x600.

Rome, from dusk to midnight

An invitation to discover my point of view of the ruins and streets of Rome, Italy. This album is divided in four routes that one can follow on the screen and also on the streets.

Italian and English versions. Netscape Navigator 6.0. Internet Explorer 5. Minimum window: 800x600.

Panoramas

See some panoramas - mostly landscapes - and visit some references related to panoramas (software and texts).
   

Praktica cameras and gear

Although I use most often digital cameras I still use SLR cameras for a lot of my photos, mainly landscape and nature. In particular, I am very found of these robust, reliable and simple cameras...
 

Web design

Advanced Web design: JavaScript, CSS and DHTML

Examples on JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets and DynamicHTML, some of those explained step-by-step.
I also included links to other sites on advanced web editing. It is not a thorough list, these are my favorite from all the references I read.

Applications

From the previous examples, I created some applications using JavaScript and DynamicHTML.
It features Net versions of classical board games, photo albums and the illustration of my Robotics research activities.

Examples and Applications

Slideshow: Adapted from a classical example; you can use to show a slow animation, but I believe it is best used as slide projector. Step-by-step guide in English.

Netscape Navigator 3.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later.

Aquarium - I pure DynamicHTML example: it has no purpose than to please the eyes. It is a window where different types of fish swim smoothly.

Netscape Navigator 4.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 and 5.0

Magnifier Lens - This is a script to present an enlarged version of a photo.

Netscape Navigator 4.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 and 5.0

Pocket lamp - An example similar to the previous one. A different area on a dark underground room is revealed by moving the cursor as someone moving a pocket lamp (also known as a flashlight).

Netscape Navigator 4.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0 and 5.0

Puzzles

A classical puzzle programmed with JavaScript with two boards and three different scenes: three 15-piece puzzles (4x4 board) and three 24-piece puzzles (5x5 board).

Created in June 2002. Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later.

Reversi

A two-player strategy game on a 8x8 board with bi-coloured pegs. Each player chooses one colour, black or white. Then they play in turns, adding one peg with their colour facing top at each turn. When a peg is added, all the pegs of the opposite colour located between the new peg and other pegs of the same colour in the horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions are turned.

Created in June 2002. Netscape Navigator 4.0 and later. Internet Explorer 4.0 and later.

Mastermind and the Game of Colours

This is a version of the Mastermind for one player (the computer generates the colour key at random). I also added my personal variation of this game, which I called the Game of Colours. This application includes a detailed user manual with examples, both for the Mastermind and the Game of Colours.

Created in September 2001. Netscape Navigator 4.0. Internet Explorer 4.0 5.0.
 

Discoveries

Pages on history and cultural subjects, especially about Portugal.

Monastery of Santa Clara-the-Old, Coimbra

Virtual visits to a religious compound in ruins, currently under restoration. The original church in early gothic style sank in the mud of nearby Mondego river. On top of it a new church in Gothic style was built, which has sunk partially ...
Photo and history notes on the Monastery of Santa Clara collected by me.

Heritage and landscape panoramas

Combining my interests in History and Photography, I have made some panoramic photographs of portuguese monuments and cities (especially Lisbon).

Abandoned Lisbon

The Lisboa Abandonada site (www.lisboa-abandonada.net) is maintained by Pedro Fonseca with the purpose of cataloguing the abandoned houses in Lisbon, Portugal.

Being a collaborator to Lisboa Abandonada, I created a companion record with additional information.

Later, Pedro Fonseca and I created a record of Lisboa Renovada, still in construction. This site contains the houses that were once abandoned and that are now restored or replaced.