Papers
17
Total Citations
728
H-Index
12
About
Elisa Donati is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of neuromorphic engineering, bio-hybrid robotics, and animal-robot interaction, whose work bridges computational neuroscience with cutting-edge robotics design. Her highly cited review on animal-robot interaction (205 citations) established a foundational framework for understanding how robots can be integrated into biological societies, while her influential work on embodied neuromorphic intelligence (203 citations) advances the ambitious goal of creating autonomous robots that mirror the adaptive efficiency of living organisms. Donati has made significant contributions to bio-hybrid systems, developing robotic fish that successfully modulate complex animal behaviours — including aggression in Betta splendens and electrocommunication in weakly electric fish — demonstrating how biomimetic robots serve as powerful tools for ethological research. On the hardware frontier, she has implemented spiking neural networks and Central Pattern Generators on neuromorphic VLSI chips, translating biological locomotion principles into low-power, real-time robotic controllers, including deployment on the iCub humanoid platform. Her contributions to swarm underwater robotics through projects like CoCoRo and subCULTron further highlight her interdisciplinary reach. Collectively, Donati's body of work represents a compelling vision for robots that think, move, and interact in genuinely brain-inspired ways.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Embodied neuromorphic intelligence203 citations · 2022
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- 7Mechatronic design of a miniature underwater robot for swarm operations33 citations · 2014
- 8subCULTron - Cultural Development as a Tool in Underwater Robotics31 citations · 2018
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- 10Open-Loop Neuromorphic Controller Implemented on VLSI Devices17 citations · 2018