PRISMA Lab and ICAROS Center will bring the excellence in robotics of University of Naples Federico II at Maker Faire Rome, The European Edition from October 8–10 2021. A special edition in a hybrid form, in presence and online, where makers, companies, schools, universities, research centers, innovators, artists and musicians, and enthusiasts of all ages, will be sharing knowledge and innovative discoveries. The event is organized in cooperation with the Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM). The I-RIM 3D event will offer universities, research groups and companies the opportunity to show intelligent machines and robots to professionals and a wider audience.

The PRISMA team with the scientific responsible of the project, professor Vincenzo Lippiello, will exhibit a sophisticated amphibious drone developed for PLaCe, a research project funded under the National Operational Program Research and Innovation 2014-2020 of the Ministry of University and Research aiming to test ― for the first time at national level ― cutting-edge technologies and solutions for the eco-sustainable reuse of offshore oil and gas platforms at the end of their production phase. The drone is equipped with numerous sensors in charge of monitoring water bodies in flight and in depth, and it will be integrated with a station for environmental measurements in-situ.

 

The team of the interdepartmental research center ICAROS directed by professor Bruno Siciliano will present some new research solutions in minimally invasive surgical robotics, with particular reference to the automation of surgical procedures assisted by robots. In particular, professor Fanny Ficuciello, scientific responsible of the robotics laboratory at the ICAROS center, will show PRISMA Hand II, an anthropomorphic hand designed to be tested as a prosthesis on amputated patients. The robotic hand is able to grasp and manipulate objects and is equipped with tactile sensors applied to the fingertips to regulate the force of contact. As part of the research on robotic surgery, MUSHA Hand II will be presented too. It is a 2.5 cm miniature three-fingered hand for laparoscopic surgery which is equipped with force sensors providing tactile perception to the surgeon and thus ensuring a safe interaction with the organs.

On 8 October professor Siciliano will participate to a workshop on educational robotics as a tool for inclusive education, while on the 9th he will give a plenary on the topic "Robot manipulation and control: Scenarios and Challenges" in which he will present the results of the PRISMA group with reference to the enabling technologies of the National Research Program 2021‒2027 for the field of robotics, drawn up by the group he coordinated for the Ministry of University and Research.