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About

D. Angelletti is a pioneering roboticist whose research centers on dexterous manipulation for extreme environments, with a particular focus on deep-sea exploration. Angelletti’s most notable contribution is the AMADEUS project, which developed an advanced manipulator for deep underwater sampling. This innovative robot hand uses fluid-filled tentacles—three flexible bellows per finger—to achieve bending motion and contact force through hydraulic pressure variations, while incorporating force and slip contact sensing. This design represents a significant leap in subsea robotics, enabling delicate, adaptive grasping in high-pressure, low-visibility conditions. Although the seminal 2002 paper on AMADEUS has garnered 33 citations, its impact extends far beyond this number, influencing subsequent work in soft robotics and underwater manipulation. Angelletti’s work bridges the gap between traditional rigid manipulators and bio-inspired soft systems, demonstrating how hydraulic actuation can provide both strength and sensitivity. For students and researchers, Angelletti’s research offers a compelling case study in engineering for challenging environments, where creativity in actuation and sensing is essential for unlocking new capabilities in ocean exploration and beyond.