Kalina Bonofiglio

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Kalina Bonofiglio is a rising researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and marine engineering, with a primary focus on developing energy-efficient, untethered underwater systems. Her most-cited work, "Soft Fluidic Closed-Loop Controller for Untethered Underwater Gliders" (2023), addresses a critical bottleneck in bio-inspired robotics: the trade-off between soft, adaptive designs and the power efficiency required for real-world deployment. By integrating a fluidic closed-loop controller into a passive underwater glider, Bonofiglio demonstrates how soft actuators can achieve precise, autonomous control without sacrificing endurance—a breakthrough that bridges the gap between laboratory prototypes and practical oceanographic tools. Though her citation count is still growing (5 citations for her flagship paper), her work has already been recognized for its innovative approach to reducing energy consumption in soft robots, a key challenge for long-duration missions. Bonofiglio’s contributions are particularly notable for their potential to enable low-cost, environmentally friendly underwater monitoring, positioning her as a promising voice in the next generation of soft robotics and marine technology.