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About

Stefano Mariani is a leading researcher in bioinspired soft robotics, with a focus on harnessing plant seed mechanisms for autonomous, sustainable actuation. His work centers on morphological computation, hygroscopic materials, and photothermal-hygroscopic effects to create self-burial and flying soft robots. Mariani’s major contributions include pioneering 4D printing of humidity-driven, seed-inspired soft robots (103 citations), which mimic Geraniaceae seeds’ ability to move autonomously in response to environmental moisture. He also developed a bioinspired plasmonic nanocomposite actuator (19 citations) that uses sunlight for sustainable soft robotics, and an autonomous biodegradable hygroscopic seed-inspired robot for visual humidity sensing (14 citations). His research has been recognized in a 2025 roadmap on mechano-intelligence in functional materials (17 citations), highlighting his role in shaping the field. With over 170 total citations, Mariani’s work bridges biology, materials science, and robotics, offering scalable, eco-friendly solutions for environmental monitoring and adaptive systems. His innovative use of plant-inspired design principles positions him as a key figure in next-generation soft robotics.