March 2015 - February 2020

Teamleader of the group "cognitive robotics and interaction lab" including 12 PhD students and visiting master students

July 2014 - February 2015

Researcher - Responsible for the cognitive and social abilities of the humanoid robot iCub at RBCS (IIT)

January 2014 - June 2014

Researcher - DARWIN "Dextrous Assembler Robot Working with embodied INtelligence"

The objectives comprise obtaining fully autonomous mode in the humanoid robot iCub via cognitive models of reasoning. Cognitive models emulate reasoning models studied in humans which relate to the ability to effectively generalize and transfer previous knowledge into novel tasks. In project new techniques guarantee that past experiences, memorized in the short- and long-term memory, are used as plateau for novel experiences. In the cognitive system such complex cognitive mechanism interact with the perception stage in the humanoid robot iCub. The interaction performs in real-time on a fully developmental robotic system.

January 2013 - December 2013

Researcher - "Consequences of loading on postural-focal dynamics"

The objectives comprise different important investigation in the study of whole body synergy formation under loading conditions. The task space analysis and investigates the effects of loading on reduction in the available degrees of Freedom is the chief goal of the survey. In the same project postural affordances and lack of access to physical /functional workspace is exploited in order to achieve models of biological control. Another aspect addressed in the professional experience is investigation into systems-level dynamics of postural-focal coupling under load during the execution of motor tasks in unstructured (and often unpredictable) environmental conditions using a biologically feasible approach to motor control i.e. the Equilibrium point hypothesis (EPH) and Passive motion paradigm (PMP). The study has been carried on by implementing models of the dynamics systems involved in simulation environment (OpenSim). In this simulation system aspects such as stabilization of unstable tasks, motor skill learning and tool use in the presence of perceptual, motor and cognitive loads have been under detailed study.

June 2009 - December 2012

Researcher - cognitive skills of the humanoid robot iCub

Software engineer at the Italian Institute of Technology. Duties included porting existing code about visual attentive system based on biological evidences from previous humanoid robotic platform (babybot) to humanoid robot ICUB. Implementation of biological evidences concerning the visual attentive system on the humanoids robot Icub. Exploiting different sensorial/acquisition mechanisms embedded in the humanoid robot Icub within the visual attention framework. This enhanced the researcher`s knowledge in the field of traditional vision thanks to the use of traditional frame-based camera. In addition the research carried on in the area of neuromorphic engineering gives deep and strong knowledge on software programming in the field or event-based vision. Generally speaking event-based programming because its profound different mechanisms widen the perspective as software developer.