Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio do Governo Regional dos Açores e no âmbito do seu mestrado em ‘Robotics, Systems and Control’ do Federal Institute of Technology em Zurique, André Gomes desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa na Carnegie Mellon University, PA, EUA.
~~~
«My Fulbright experience at Carnegie Mellon University was truly a once in a life opportunity. For six months, I worked at the Robotics Institute developing control methods for drones, including an experiment where a drone learned to bounce a ball. It was the kind of project that reminded me why I love engineering: blending physics, code, and creativity into something tangible and exciting.
What made the experience most special wasn’t just the research, but the people. I met brilliant and generous colleagues from all over the world, many of whom became close friends. Their curiosity and openness reshaped how I think about collaboration and what science can be when shared freely.
Outside the lab, I explored Pittsburgh and traveled across the U.S., experiencing the country’s incredible variety of people and places. One unforgettable moment was swimming at the beach in Cape Canaveral as rockets lifted off into the sky. Visiting the Kennedy Space Center and standing beneath the Apollo rockets and space shuttles reignited my childhood enthusiasm for flight and space exploration.
Overall, this experience gave me not only lasting friendships and professional connections but also a deeper understanding of American culture and the boundless curiosity that drives scientific discovery.»
~~~
Thank you, André, welcome back!