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About

Mauro Coccoli is a leading figure in underwater robotics, best known for his pioneering work on dexterous manipulation in deep-sea environments. His research centers on the design and control of soft, fluid-driven robotic hands capable of operating under extreme pressure. Coccoli’s most significant contribution is the AMADEUS project, an advanced subsea manipulator that replaces traditional rigid fingers with fluid-filled tentacles. This innovative design, detailed in his most-cited paper (131 citations), uses hydraulic pressure variations in flexible bellows to achieve bending and grasping, while incorporating force and slip contact sensing for delicate sampling tasks. His work extends to robust control theory, notably applying sliding mode control to underwater grippers (13 citations), addressing the challenge of mono-directional actuation in complex robotic structures. Coccoli’s research has laid the groundwork for safer, more versatile deep-sea exploration, enabling precise manipulation of fragile marine specimens. With over 180 total citations, his contributions continue to influence the fields of soft robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles, marking him as a key innovator in marine technology.