Charith Fernando

フェルナンド チャリス

Tokyo, Japan

Have gained 15+ years of electronic system design, 10+ years of real-time robotic system design that includes control, manipulation & perception feedback. The broad skillset & knowledge in the field of Hardware, Software, Robotics, AI & Networking allows me to strategically plan & execute technically challenging projects at any scale in the field of Robotics.

Have led 3 humanoid Telexistence projects, TELESAR 5 (Keio University & The University of Tokyo), Model H (Telexistence Inc.), & TELESAR 6 (The University of Tokyo) over the past decade that demonstrates the work from research, prototype, R&D to production.

Currently serves as an Executive Officer & CTO at avatarin. Co-founded (2017) & served as former CTO of Telexistence Inc., with the aim of commercializing his Ph.D work TELESAR 5. Received Ph.D. (2013) and Masters (2010) from Keio University, Tokyo, Japan and earned BSc (Hons) Electronic Engineering Degree (2007) from the University of Moratuwa.


Technical Skills:

  • Robotics (ROS, Multi-body Kinematics, Path Planning)

  • Embedded System Design (Analog, Digital & Power electronics, Altium Designer, SMT 0201, FPC/FFC)

  • CAD/CAM Structural & Motion design (Inventor Professional, Inventor Fusion 360, Solidworks)

  • Programming (Linux/Windows) C/C++/GCC, C#, PHP, HTML, Matlab, Latex

  • Firmware Development (PIC32, STM32, Arduino, FPGA)


Research Achievements:

  • Authored and co-authored conference and journal papers at IEEE (IROS, ICRA, ICAT, World Haptics), ACM (UIST, CHI, Ubicomp, ACE) and many more.

  • Project Leader and Technical Lead for

    • ACCEL Haptic Media Project (Telexistence) (April 2014 – Sep 2017)

    • Embodied Media Project (Telexistence) (Sep 2013 – Sep 2017)

    • NEDO-Obayashi Telexistence Surveillance Project (Sep 2014 – March 2017)

    • NISSAN Motors Telexistence Project (Sep 2013 – Sep 2015)


Current Interests includes Robotics, Teleoperation & Haptics with a focus on how to benefit the society at large scale.

contact: info [at] chariths.com

Recent Work

Telesar 5 System

Keio University

Model H System

Keio University

Telesar 6 System

Keio University

Employment

2020 ~ now CTO

avatarin Inc. , Tokyo, Japan

2017 - 2020 Co-founder & CTO

Telexistence Inc. , Tokyo, Japan

2013 - 2017 Project Senior Assistant Professor

Keio University, Graduate School of Media Design

2010 - 2015 Co-founder

InMojo Inc. , Delware, US

2011 - 2013 Research Assistant

JST-CREST, さわれる人間調和型情報環境の構築と活用 Project, Tokyo, Japan

2008 - 2012 Research Assistant

JST-ERATO, Igarashi Design Interface Project , Tokyo, Japan

2008 - 2008 Research Engineer

National University of Singapore, Interactive and Digital Media Institute

2007 - 2008 Temporary Instructor

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering

Education

2010 - 2013 Ph.D. in Media Design

Keio University, Japan

2008 - 2010 Master. in Media Design

Keio University, Japan

2003 - 2007 B.Sc Eng (Hons) Electronic Engineering

University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Achievements

2015

  • ICAT-EGVE2015 Awards, Honorable Mention & Best Demo Award at the 25th International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexistence (ICAT 2015) and the 20th Eurographics Symposium on Virtual Environments (EGVE 2015)

  • Augmented Human 2015 Awards: Best Demonstration Award at 6th Augmented Human International Conference, Singapore

2013

  • ICAT 2013 Awards, Honorable Mention Award at 23rd International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexistence Conference, Tokyo, Japan

2012

  • IROS2012 Awards, Best Student Paper Award finalist at 25th IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2012, Vilamoura, Portugal

  • IROS2012 Awards, ICROS Best Application Paper Award finalist at 25th IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2012, Vilamoura, Portugal

2010

  • "Monbukagakusho: MEXT" Scholarship provided by the Japanese Government for year 2010 ~ 2013

2008

  • "Keio Design the Future Award for International Students" for year 2008 ~ 2010

  • Silver Medallist at the 36th International Exhibition of Inventions 2008 in Geneva

  • Distinguished Genius Medal of Hungarian Republic at the 36th International Exhibition of Inventions 2008 in Geneva