María Francisca Rosique Contreras

María Francisca Rosique Contreras serves as a Full Professor at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, driving interdisciplinary research at the nexus of autonomous systems, agricultural technology, and rural development. Her work bridges technical innovation with societal impact through concrete applications in transportation, farming, and digital inclusion initiatives.

Her research portfolio demonstrates three converging trajectories: (1) Pioneering autonomous driving systems using end-to-end deep neural networks for real-world vehicle control; (2) Advancing computer vision applications for agricultural challenges like grape berry segmentation under variable lighting; and (3) Leading rural development projects addressing digital isolation in Spain while empowering women through green entrepreneurship programs. These interconnected domains reflect her commitment to solving practical problems through technological innovation.

Analysis of her 68 publications (2007-2025) reveals consistent growth in AI-driven solutions, with recent work emphasizing practical deployment in autonomous vehicles and agricultural imaging. Her scholarly output shows increasing focus on societal applications, particularly in bridging the digital divide and creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.

Professor Rosique Contreras actively mentors graduate students as evidenced by thesis supervision records and secures research funding for projects spanning autonomous vehicle development and rural empowerment initiatives. Her educational innovation work includes the VR360 UPCT project, demonstrating commitment to transforming teaching methodologies through immersive technologies.