The impulse of researchers comes from the curiosity for the current scientific and technological progresses and the tension towards futuristic scenarios, outlined (sometimes almost prophetically) in sci-fi stories often populated by robots and cyborgs. This talk will introduce two lines of research of the Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, IIT), and it will focus on the production of biorobotics systems inspired by new ways of problem solving in nature. Among natural and bionic wonders’, the talk will refer to research and sci-fi scenarios with the help of technology demonstrations available to visitors.

Giovanna Naselli is a IIT’s post PhD researcher from 2018. Under the direction of Barbara Mazzolai, coordinator of “Bioinspired Soft Robotics Lab,” she works to develop robots inspired by the animal and plant world. A mechanical engineer, she works with mathematically describing the mechanical aspects of systems in general, artificial and natural, sometimes using simulation environments.
Giacinto Barresi researcher in neuroergonomics at the Rehab Technologies in Genova, a joint lab IIT and INAIL, and he’s Project Manager of ENACT project, a collaboration between IIT and FISM-AISM, and the GameAbility educational initiative. Trained in psychology, neuroscience, and human-robot interaction, he studies neurocognitive processes and experiences of users of assistive, prosthetic and rehabilitation technologies in order to make these solutions person-centered.