Dr Lasitha Piyathilaka is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Central Queensland University, the Discipline Lead for Industrial Automation, and the Research Cluster Leader of the Mechatronics Research Group within the School of Engineering and Technology. He holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and an M.Phil in Robotics from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, and a PhD in Robotics from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.

Dr Piyathilaka’s research focuses on field robotic systems, autonomous sensing platforms, and machine intelligence for environmental monitoring and agricultural applications. His work spans robotic design, perception systems, machine learning–enabled sensing, and intelligent automation architectures. He has led and contributed to multiple high-impact applied research programs in collaboration with industry, government, and research partners.

He has secured major competitive funding, including a significant Australian Economic Accelerator (AEA) grant for the development of an intelligent and adaptable weed management robotic system, as well as an Innovation Connections grant, which enabled the development and successful deployment of an underwater robotic cleaning system. His earlier work at the University of Technology Sydney on robotic inspection systems for water and sewer pipelines received national recognition, winning both the National and NSW Research Innovation Awards from the Australian Water Association.

Dr Piyathilaka has established a strong research presence in robotics and automation at CQUniversity. His current work integrates robotics, automation, sensing technologies, and AI to develop scalable solutions for environmental restoration, agricultural automation, and industrial asset monitoring.  He has extensive teaching experience and contributes to curriculum innovation in Mechatronics and Industrial Automation, embedding cutting-edge technologies such as AI, advanced sensing, and autonomous systems into engineering education.