Federico Thomas

Federico Thomas is a Professor of Research at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), based at the Institut de Robótica i Informàtica Industrial (IRI), affiliated with the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain. He has held visiting and invited professorships at the University of Massachusetts, Oxford University, École Centrale de Nantes, and the University of Ferrara.

• Telecommunications Engineering Degree, 1984, UPC
• Ph.D. in Computer Science, 1988, UPC
• NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Massachusetts, 1991

His research lies at the intersection of Geometry and Kinematics, with strong applications in Robotics, Computer Vision, and Computer Graphics. He specializes in Distance Geometry and Clifford Algebras, developing mathematical frameworks for solving complex robotic motion and configuration problems. His work enables precise modeling of mechanisms such as lobster-inspired arms and parallel robots.

His recent publications (2022–2025) reveal a deep engagement with geometric computation, focusing on rotation matrices, sphere tangents, ellipse intersections, and singularity analysis in parallel robots. These works consistently apply advanced algebraic and geometric methods to practical robotic challenges, demonstrating a trajectory of theoretical rigor with engineering relevance.

His scientific honors include the NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship. He has served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Robotics (2005–2009, and currently), ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics (2009–2012, and currently), and The International Journal of Mechanics and Control.

Federico Thomas was the former director of IRI. He advises students in robotics and geometry, as indicated by the 'Students' section on his homepage. He has not received major grants explicitly listed, but his sustained publication record and editorial roles suggest continuous research support. His 'Art and Science Tapas' initiative reflects an interdisciplinary outreach effort, blending history, art, and science.

He leads research activities within the IRI, particularly in computational robotics and geometric methods. His team likely includes collaborators such as J.M. Porta, S. Sarabandi, and B. Bongardt, with whom he co-authors frequently. The 'Kinematics Virtual Library' and 'Tapas' projects suggest an educational and cultural component to his lab’s mission.