ROBOT PRODUCTION ENGINEER, TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE: AUTOMATA [2019-today]
robthttps://automata.tech/ Ensuring that quality is built in our EVA robotic arm's design, processes and working at scaling up manufacturing, pushing towards a lean manufacturing paradigm. This is done by working and communicating with all internal engineering and design teams to develop and test new designs before deploying them, defining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for manufacturing (assembly, testing, rework) and overseeing operations of contract manufacturers. Analysing data and getting my hands dirty in the workshop, building and fixing robots on a daily basis. Acting as Technical Representative of the robot production team.
RESEARCHER, MARIE CURIE PHD: QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON [2015-TODAY]
In the framework of the H2020 Marie Curie innovative training networks European project called MICACT, I‘m a research fellow pursuing my PhD at the School of Engineering and Material Science (SEMS) in London. I'm working at the development of electrically tuneable devices made of electro-responsive elastomeric smart materials to demonstrate adaptive optical systems with this novel technology. The research activities cover all steps of the development chain that leads to a final demonstrator starting from an original idea. I analyse requirements, define technical specifications, design, prototype and develop appropriate manufacturing processes for the devices, characterise them and develop their control systems. I‘m also in charge of choosing and ordering equipment for the lab, dealing with suppliers and our school‘s finance office asking for quotes and dealing with purchase orders. The PhD viva is fixed for on the 16th of March 2020. ___________________ Supervisors: James Busfield, Federico Carpi, Kaspar Althoefer
RESEARCHER, ASSEGNISTA DI RICERCA: UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE [JUL 2018-MAR 2019]
The research activity is aimed at designing and developing devices based on dielectric elastomer electromechanical transducers. The transducers consist of deformable films of insulating elastomeric materials covered by deformable electrodes, so as to obtain deformable capacitors. These structures are used to develop systems for both actuation and stretch sensing. Supervisor: Federico Carpi
RESEARCH FELLOW: QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON [2014-2015]
The project was called PauseInMotion and it was done as a collaboration between SEMS and the department of Media and Arts Technology (MAT). PauseInMotion aimed at using dielectric elastomer actuators to develop an artistic installation. The research activities covered all the steps of the development chain that led to a final demonstrator. ___________________ Supervisors: Federico Carpi
VISITING SCIENTIST: EPFL NEUCHATEL [AUG 2012, AUG-SEPT 2013, MAR 2014]
Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) in the framework of the European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles (ESNAM) project. The STSMs topic was the realization of a new type of tunable Dielectric Elastomer (DE) soft lens starting from the concept, to the fabrication process, all the way to the characterization of the final devices. This work was then published on a peer-reviewed journal and was my master thesis project. ___________________ Supervisors: Herbert Shea, Samuel Rosset
STSM in the framework of the ESNAM project. The STSM’s topic was the realization of a new type of folded Dielectric Elastomer (DE) actuator. This work was my bachelor thesis project. ___________________ Supervisors: Gabor Kovacs, Michel SIlvain
VISITING SCIENTIST: TU DELFT [DEC 2016 - MAR 2017]
Collaboration with TU Delft (Netherlands) on a joint project. I've been visiting and working in their microfabrication labs at the department of MEMS and microelectronics twice as of now (Dec 2016, Mar 2017) ___________________ Supervisors: Kouchi Zhang, Rene Poelma
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: PHD DEGREE IN MEDICAL ENGINEERING (Mar 2020 [expected])
The research work that I’ve carried out working at Queen Mary University as a Research Fellow was used to write my PhD thesis. The PhD viva is fixed for on the 16th of March 2020.
UNIVERSITY OF PISA: MASTER AND BACHELOR IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (2007-2015)
The intensive courses and projects I’ve studied for and worked on during these years covered a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines, starting with a solid background in basic sciences and building from there touching mechatronics and robotics, physiology, medical devices and cellular engineering, statistics and modelling, with a strong focus on electronics, signal processing and material sciences. I worked on many projects at the intersection of these different and complex fields, both solo and in team, building a flexible critical and analytical approach to problem solving. Both theses done abroad, bachelor‘s atEMPA (Dubendorf, CH)and master‘s atEPFL (Neuchatel, CH) ___________________ Supervisors: Federico Carpi, Danilo De Rossi
This intense design course takes students from an initial brief aimed towards their own design of a finished product with an emphasis on the creative process and self-direction.
One day intensive workshop provided by Elevate Scientific designed to provide scientists with a comprehensive 360° view and hands-on experience on how to plan, structure, write, and publish scientific papers so that the reported research results are not only read, but understood, and found meaningful and influential by the readers.
Summer school on composite materials [2017 - Xi'an, china]
Seven days-long summer school on composite materials: lectures and workshop sessions on advanced micro/nano materials, manufacturing techniques and smart composite materials.
CONNECT, COLLABORATE, INNOVATE is a mantra adopted by smart companies big and small. Companies with the innovation gene switched on display creativity, powerful networks and the ability to experiment without fear of failure. This 10 week course addresses the following key questions: How do you innovate? What mindset, process and environment do you need to have in order to innovate? How can your team come up with innovative solutions, products or services? Generating ideas is great, but it doesn't end there...
ONLINE COURSES
Foundations of Programming: Fundamentals (Lynda.com)
Foundations of Programming: Object-Oriented Design (Lynda.com)
Up and Running with Python (Lynda.com)
Up and Running with C++ (Lynda.com)
Sketching for Product Design and AEC (Lynda.com)
Rapid Prototyping for Product Design (Lynda.com)
Up and Running with 3D Printing (Lynda.com)
An Introduction to Programming the Internet of Things (IOT) Specialization (Coursera.com)
Introduction to the Internet of Things and Embedded Systems
The Arduino Platform and C Programming
Interfacing with the Arduino
The Raspberry Pi Platform and Python Programming for the Raspberry Pi
Interfacing with the Raspberry Pi
SOFT SKILLS CPD SHORT COURSES
"CRITICAL THINKING"
"USING DRAMATURGY TO DESIGN SEMINARS AND LECTURES"
"TALKING TO CLIENTS" WORKSHOP RUN BY PATENT ATTORNEYS FROM KILBURN & STRODE
Holding a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®) certification demonstrates knowledge and ability to support Scrum.
The CSM certificant: ● Adheres to Scrum as it is defined in the Scrum Guide ● Facilitates Scrum events and maintains Scrum artifacts ● Works to remove team and organizational impediments CSM certification is a prerequisite for Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM℠) and the first step in the journey to become a Certified Scrum Professional® ScrumMaster (CSP®-SM).
Certification Requirements This certificant has: ● Participated in person for an educational offering (>16 hours) or coaching session (>25 hours) led by a CST®, CEC, or CTC covering established learning objectives ● Demonstrated knowledge of being a Scrum Master by passing a certification exam
Programming: Matlab (advanced), Java, Python, C++ (basics). Familiarity with Arduino, Raspberry Pi microcontrollers. Softwares: Photoshop, Illustrator, Office Suite, Solidworks, Ableton Live, Reaper, Logic Pro, Final Cut, Jira. Science, lab&co: mechatronics and basic circuit design, workshop practice, clean room work, manufacturing techniques, optics, computer vision, image processing, microfabrication, laser cutting, CNC milling, 3D printing, spin coating, microscopy, SEM, FTIR, materials characterisation, blade casting, conductive inks preparation, video editing, audio production and sound design, scientific writing, sketching. Soft skills: presentations skills acquired presenting my research at several conferences, meetings and training schools, strong work ethic and ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines. More: Italian driving license type B (2007), PADI advanced open water and scuba deep diving certification (2019), BSAC member.
CONFERENCE PAPERS: H. Boys, G. Frediani, M. Ghilardi, S. Poslad, J. Busfield, F. Carpi, "Soft wearable nonvibratory tactile displays”, Proc. of RoboSoft 2018 - the 2018 IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics, Livorno, Italy, 24-28 April 2018.
M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, L. Chen, J. Costa, J.C. Busfield, F. Carpi, “Dielectric elastomer based devices for optics, haptics and tissue engineering”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2018 – Eighth International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Lyon, France, 5-6 June 2018. INVITED TALK
J. Costa, M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, J.C. Busfield, A. Ahluwalia, F. Carpi, “Innovative bioreactor based on dielectric elastomer actuation to dynamically stretch cells in vitro”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2018 – Eighth International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Lyon, France, 5-6 June 2018.
H. Boys, G. Frediani, M. Ghilardi, S. Poslad, J.C. Busfield, F. Carpi, “Soft wearable non-vibratory tactile displays based on dielectric elastomer actuation”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2018 – Eighth International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Lyon, France, 5-6 June 2018.
M. Ghilardi, A. Iannarelli, X. Li, R. Poelma, K. Zhang, J.J.C. Busfield, F. Carpi, "Electrically tuneable stretchable binary Fresnel lens", BAMN 2017 - World congress of biomimetics, artificial muscles and nano-bio, Wollongong, Australia, 25-27 September 2017.
M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, "A Tuneable Microwave Absorption System", NPU Summer School of Composite Materials, Xi'An, China, 13-20 August 2017.
M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, L. Chen, J. Busfield, "Dielectric Elastomers: devices that can both sense and move", Rubbery Robotics at Bristol Robotics lab, 30 June 2017.
M. Ghilardi, H. Boys, J. Busfield, F. Carpi, “Double cone dielectric elastomer actuator-driven positioning system”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2017 – Seventh International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Cartagena, Spain, 6-7 June 2017.
M. Ghilardi, J. Busfield, F. Carpi, "Breakdown detection system for Dielectric Elastomer Actuators", Innovations in Rubber Design, London, UK, 7-8 December 2016.
M. Ghilardi, F. Carpi, “A simple and compact high voltage breakdown detection system for dielectric elastomer actuators”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2016 – Sixth International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Helsingør (Copenhagen), Denmark, 14-15 June 2016.
M. Ghilardi, L. Maffli, H. Shea, S. Rosset, F. Carpi, “Ultrafast All-Polymer Electrically Tunable Silicone Lenses”, Proc of Photoptics 2016 - Fourth International Conference on Photonics, Optics and Laser Technology, Rome, Italy, 27-29 Feb 2016
M. Ghilardi, A. Bin, F. Carpi, “Engaging the public and the art and design community in EAPs via biomimetic artistic installations”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2015 – Fifth International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Tallinn, Estonia, 9-10 June 2015.
L. Maffli, S. Rosset, M. Ghilardi, F. Carpi, H. Shea, “Fast and soft tuneable lenses based on dielectric elastomer actuators”, Proc. of EAP Workshop 2014, London, 25-26 November 2014.
S. Rosset, L. Maffli, M. Ghilardi, F. Carpi, H. Shea, “Silicone as a multifunctional material: ultrafast tuneable lenses and energy harvesting based on silicone membranes”, 2014 MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA, 21-25 April 2014.
M. Ghilardi, G. Kovacs, S. Michel, F. Carpi, “Investigations on a new type of folded dielectric elastomer actuator with structural integrity”, Proc. of EuroEAP 2012 – Second International conference on Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) transducers and artificial muscles, Potsdam, Germany, 29-30 May 2012.