AI, Robotics, and the Living: A Research Journey and Future Perspectives
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
This talk will delve into the dynamic relationship between artificial and natural systems, with a focus on behavior, adaptability, robustness, and performance. Nature serves as a rich source of inspiration for robotics, influencing key areas such as perception, control, locomotion, and action. In turn, robotics and AI offer powerful tools for the precise analysis of complex data, rapid decision-making, and efficient task execution. The ultimate frontier in bio-robotics research is achieving peer-to-peer interaction between living and artificial systems, with AI fully integrated into the loop. This scenario presents unique opportunities, including the ability to perform real-time machine learning from physical data, uncovering the underlying mechanisms of natural systems, and the potential to sense and repair damaged ecosystems.
Prof. Stefanini will share insights from his extensive research journey within these domains, with a particular focus on neuro-inspired control of robots with embodied intelligence, the development of bio-hybrid ecosystems, and advancements in biomedical and industrial robotics. The presentation will highlight both theoretical and experimental achievements, including innovations in neuro-inspired locomotion in underwater robots, AI-powered biomedical diagnostic and interventional systems, and industrial platforms that enhance human capabilities in manipulation tasks. Additionally, the discussion will cover bio-hybrid ecosystems spanning aerial, underwater, and terrestrial environments. Many of the robotic systems featured in the talk have been developed by Prof. Stefanini and his research team, showcasing innovations at both the software and hardware levels.
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Speaker/s
Cesare Stefanini is the Director of the Biorobotics Institute at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA) in Pontedera, Italy, where he also heads the Creative Engineering Design Lab. He earned both his M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics and Automation track, and his Ph.D. in Industrial and Information Engineering with a specialization in Microengineering, from SSSA, graduating with honors in 1997 and 2002, respectively. Dr. Stefanini has also been a visiting researcher at Stanford University’s Center for Design Research. His research spans various fields, including small-scale and swarm robotics, bioinspired systems, mechatronics, and robotics for environmental, medical, and industrial applications. He has gained international recognition for developing novel actuators for microrobots and is a three-time first prize winner at the International Microrobot Maze Contest in Nagoya, Japan. Dr. Stefanini has served as the scientific advisor for MMI (Medical Micro-instruments SpA), a leader in robotic surgery, and received the ""Intuitive Surgical Research Award."" From 2018 to 2021, he was a founding member and Director of the HEIC Research Center at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi. He is the author or co-author of over 180 articles in refereed international journals and conference proceedings and holds 17 international patents, 10 of which are commercially utilized by major companies such as Amazon Inc., Magneti Marelli S.p.A., General Electric Co., and Pirelli SpA. Dr. Stefanini is a member of the UAE Academy of Scientists and IEEE Societies RAS (Robotics and Automation), EMBS (Engineering in Medicine and Biology), and PES (Power and Energy).
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