Philippe Velha

Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, University of Trento

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About

Philippe Velha is a leading researcher at the intersection of photonics and robotics, with a core focus on advancing tactile sensing for dexterous manipulation. His major contributions lie in the innovative integration of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) optical sensing technology into robotic grippers, a field where he has pioneered methods to embed high-precision, real-time force feedback directly into robotic fingertips. His seminal 2020 work, "On the integration of FBG sensing technology into robotic grippers" (20 citations), established a foundational framework for this approach, demonstrating how optical fibers can transform standard grippers into sensitive tactile instruments. Building on this, his 2023 study, "Towards robust grasping: An analysis of in-hand object motion with FBG optical fibers as force sensing technology" (10 citations), provided critical insights into how such sensors can detect subtle in-hand object movements, enabling more stable and adaptive grasps. This work directly addresses a key bottleneck in advanced manipulation—the need for robust, non-intrusive force sensing. Velha’s research is pivotal for the future of robotics, promising to unlock more sophisticated, human-like interaction capabilities in automated systems.