Pedro Couto

Pedro Couto is an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Department at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal. He also serves as Vice Director of the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB) and is an integrated researcher in the Biosystems Engineering group at CITAB. His academic journey includes a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Computer Vision) from UTAD (2007), an M.Sc. in Engineering Technologies (2003), and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering (1999).

His research focuses on Digital Image Processing, Computer Vision, and Artificial Intelligence, with applications in agriculture, biomedical systems, and robotics. Key areas include root phenotyping for drought resilience, UAV-based remote sensing in almond orchards, and obstacle detection for autonomous vehicles. He also explores kinematic analysis of animal locomotion and spinal cord injury recovery in animal models.

His work integrates fuzzy logic and intuitionistic fuzzy sets for image segmentation and classification, with notable contributions to prostate ultrasound imaging and gait analysis in rats. Over 50 peer-reviewed papers demonstrate his expertise across interdisciplinary fields, combining engineering with agricultural and biomedical sciences.

Couto's research trends highlight advancements in precision agriculture through UAV technologies, real-time pest detection using machine learning, and biomechanical studies of animal movement. His methodologies emphasize practical applications, such as optimizing orchard management and improving diagnostic tools for medical imaging.