Tuscany an Excellence in Italian Robotics
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copertina robotica 23-09-2013 15:30 Pagina 1 Dedicated to the memory of Georges Giralt, for its effort in support of the international cooperation in robotics, for strong determination in increasing the governmental links through the IARP organisation, for its personnel and precious friendship that he conceded to me. With sincere friendship, Claudio Moriconi ROBOTICS IN ITALY Education, Research, Innovation and Economics outcomes Silvia Bossi, Angelo Cipollini, Ramiro dell’Erba, Claudio Moriconi 2014 ENEA Agenzia per le Nuove tecnologie, l’Energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile Lungotevere Thaon di Revel, 76 00196 Rome ISBN 978-88-8286-303-6 Revised edition: March 2014 First edition: November 2013 Cover pictures 1. Astromobile, SSSA, 2012, Photo by Massimo Brega/The Lighthouse 2. Mascot, ENEA, 1987 Foreword by the ENEA Commissioner Introducing the result of this new initiative of the Agency, I cannot help recalling the early stage of the automation and robotics technology ENEA has contributed to build up in Italy. ENEA was the first research body in Italy and in Europe to develop in 1959, when it was called CNRN, what is perhaps the pioneer of modern robots: the Mascot teleoperator. Designed as a manipulator controlled by a human operator from a very remote control console, Mascot allowed to manage the very dangerous fissile materials, avoiding man’s exposition to nuclear radiation. The performance in sensitivity of operation reached by the Mascot family remains unsurpassed yet, after 60 years and after all the technological progress that the robotics community has been able to build up. I am therefore proud to present this volume, which demanded a detailed and long preparation; and it is not by chance that, in these days of competitiveness, ENEA is still in charge of analyzing the scenario of the Italian research centers’ network, that is working at the highest levels in the whole world. The Report offers a number of points which deserve an in-detph analysis to improve the efficiency of research in this interdisciplinary science at the national level, being many of these adopted not only for robotics but for most of the high-tech disciplines in Italy. I do hope this new product of the Agency will greatly contribute to relaunching research and high-tech industry in our Country. Giovanni Lelli 3 Index of topics Letter to the Italian Robotics Community ............................................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Aims of the Report ................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Some considerations about the importance of Robotics and of automation developments .......................................... 10 Structure, strength and criticalities of the Italian research operators ............................................................................. 12 Characteristics of the national industrial operators in robotics and automation field .................................................... 14 Strength and possible improvements in the education system ....................................................................................... 14 Main Robotics areas and players in Italy ............................................................................................................................. 17 Descriptive cards and interviews with the visited Institutes ................................................................................................. 19 Liguria - One of the most important poles of robotics .......................................................................................................... 21 CMRE - Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation .................................................................. 22 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Educational activity ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Research ...................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Funded projects ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 Other activities ............................................................................................................................................................ 25 Facilities ....................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Main results (papers and realizations) ........................................................................................................................ 27 The Foundation “Italian Institute of Technologies” (IIT) ......................................................................... 32 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Policy of the body ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 Turin area - The integration between Industry, Academy and Education ............................................................................ 35 Some notes on the area features ................................................................................................................................ 35 DAUIN, DIMEAS - Polytechnic of Turin .................................................................................................. 36 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Research ...................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Main results (papers and realizations of reference people) ....................................................................................... 38 North-eastern Italy - The research pole of the most industrialized area of Italy .................................................................. 39 Airlab, Merlin, Nearlab, Cartcas - Polytechnic of Milan .......................................................................... 40 AirLab........................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Merlin Group ............................................................................................................................................................... 43 Nearlab ........................................................................................................................................................................ 44 Cartcas group .............................................................................................................................................................. 46 Main results (papers and realizations of reference people) ....................................................................................... 47 University of Bologna ........................................................................................................................... 49 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 49 Educational .................................................................................................................................................................. 50 Research ...................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Funded projects ........................................................................................................................................................... 51 Other activities ............................................................................................................................................................ 52 Facilities ....................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Publications ................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Altair - University of Verona ................................................................................................................. 54 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................