Smart people in focus: Carlos Cueto

Meet Carlos Roberto Cueto Zumaya, Doctoral Researcher at Smart Systems | University of Turku, part of the Intelligent Work Machines – IWM Doctoral Pilot programme programme!

Ever wonder how autonomous robots ‘understand’ complex environments in real-time?

Carlos’ research leverages 3D Scene Graphs to bring smart perception and reasoning to autonomous systems in dynamic real-world scenarios

What are your interests?
“I am passionate about autonomous systems, semantic understanding, and real-time operations in complex environments. My primary focus is on situational awareness and decision-making in industrial applications, particularly for heavy-duty machinery and autonomous vehicles. As a hobby, I enjoy restoring classic pickup trucks and am currently developing a Bird’s-eye View system (BEV) for my 1994 Chevrolet Cheyenne.”

What is your research about?
“My research focuses on 3D Scene Graphs (3DSGs) and their role in situational awareness. I aim to develop a scalable framework for constructing 3DSGs that capture spatial and semantic relationships in complex environments, such as worksites, construction zones, and urban areas. By integrating semantic data, geometric information, and reasoning strategies, my work seeks to further improve systems reasoning and understanding in dynamic unstructured settings. The goal is to enhance safety, efficiency, and decision-making by providing a comprehensive understanding of the environment.”

Carlos’ work is supervised by Prof. Wallace Moreira Bessa and part of Intelligent Work Machines – IWM Doctoral Pilot programme programme, which connects academic research excellence with relevant industrial research and development challenges, accelerating industrial renewal in the machine industry.