Luca Ascari Academic and Professional Curriculum Vitae

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1 Luca Ascari Academic and Professional Curriculum Vitae Electrical Engineer Ph.D. in Bioengineering Current affiliation Biorobotics Science and Engineering gruop IMT Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies Lucca, Italy ARTS (Advanced Robotics Technology & Systems) Lab Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant Anna Pisa, Italy HENESIS srl: co-founder and president Contact information mail via Roma Pontedera (PI) luca.ascari@imtlucca.it luca.ascari@henesis.com Phone Fax URL

2 Academic section Current Position Post-Doc Research Fellow at IMT (Lucca Institute for Advanced Studies, Lucca, Italy), area of BioRobotics Sciences and Engineering, and at ARTS-Lab (Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa, Italy); research theme: Systems for sensorial processing and perception in biologically inspired robots. Research Interests 1. Biologically inspired: sensors; algorithms and architectures for parallel processing of sensorial data for robotics; control algorithms for robotic grasping; 2. Vision-driven robot-assisted endoscopy. Education 12 July 2005: Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering at Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa. Marks: 100/100 cum laude; Thesis title: A novel robotic system for the exploration of the spinal cord. Advisors: Prof. Paolo Dario, Prof. Maria Chiara Carrozza, Prof. Arianna Menciassi; June - December 2004: Visiting scientist at Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI), University of Karlsruhe, Germany (design and implementation of a biologically inspired artificial vision system for autonomous walking robots); December 2003: Visiting student at Analogic and Neural Computing Systems Laboratory, Pazmany University, Budapest, Hungary. Topic: use of CNNs computing architecture for parallel processing of tactile signals; May November 2001: Post-Degree Scholarship at Parma University for the design of a analog sigma-delta converter for a pace-maker; October 2000 April 2001: Post-Degree Master in Telecommunications and Networking (I.F.O.A. - Reggio Emilia) (not completed: joined Marconi corp. 1 month before the ending of the Master); May State exam for the italian engineering profession qualification; April 2000: Laurea degree in Electronic Engineering (MscEE). Marks: 109/110, University of Parma, Italy. Thesis in Biologically inspired Image Processing field by the title Study of a quality evaluation system for scaled images containing textures, with Prof. Carlo Morandi; October April 1999: visiting student at ENSEIRB, Bordeaux, France, within the European Project SOCRATES ERASMUS. September 1994: Award of Mantova Industrial Association; July 1994: Scientific Lycee Diploma. Marks: 60/60. Liceo Scientifico Statale P.A. Maggi, Viadana, MN, Italy. Scientific Publications Papers on International Journals 1. Ascari, L., Bertocchi, U., Corradi, P., Laschi, C., Bio-inspired grasp control in a robotic hand with massive sensorial input, Biological Cybernetics (submitted), L. Ascari, P. Corradi, L. Beccai and C. Laschi, A miniaturized and flexible optoelectronic sensing system for a tactile skin, International Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (accepted), B. B. Edin, L. Ascari, L. Beccai, S. Roccella, J.-J. Cabibihan, and M. C. Carrozza, Bio-inspired sensorization of a biomechatronic robot hand for the grasp-and-lift tasks, Brain Research Bulletin, Special Issue on Robotics and Neuroscience (in press),

3 4. L. Beccai, S. Roccella, L. Ascari, P. Valdastri, A. Sieber, M. Carrozza, and P. Dario, Experimental analysis of a soft compliant tactile microsensor to be integrated in an antropomorphic artificial hand, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (submitted), O. Salomon, G. Kosa, M. Shoham, C. Stefanini, L. Ascari, P. Dario, and M. Zaaroor, Enhancing endoscopic image perception using a magnetic localization system, Computer Assisted Surgery (submitted), Papers on Proceedings of peer-reviewed International Conferences 6. P. Corradi, L. Ascari, A. Menciassi and C. Laschi, Micro-optical components assembly for the fabrication of a miniaturized optoelectronic transducer, International Symposium on Optomechatronics Technologies ISOT 2007 (accepted), Lausanne, Switzerland, 8-10 October L. Ascari, M. Ziegenmeyer, P. Corradi, B. Gaflmann, M. Zöllner, R. Dillmann and P. Dario, Can Statistics help Walking Robots in Assessing Terrain Roughness? Platform Description and Preliminary considerations, in Prooceedings of the 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation ASTRA2006, ESTEC, Noordwijk The Netherlands, L. Beccai, S. Roccella, L. Ascari, P. Valdastri, A. Sieber, M. Carrozza, and P. Dario, Experimental analysis of a soft compliant tactile microsensor to be integrated in an antropomorphic artificial hand, in Proceedings of ESDA 2006, 8th Biennal ASME Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, B. Edin, L. Beccai, L. Ascari, S. Roccella, J. Cabibihan, and M. Carrozza, Bio-inspired approach for the design and characterization of a tactile sensory system for a cybernetic prosthetic hand, in Robotics and Automation, ICRA Proceedings 2006 IEEE International Conference on, pp , May 15-19, U. Bertocchi, L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, C. Laschi, and P. Dario, Sensory feedback exploitation for robot-assisted exploration of the spinal cord, in Robotics and Automation, ICRA Proceedings 2006 IEEE International Conference on, pp , May 15-19, U. Bertocchi, L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, C. Laschi, and P. Dario, Human-robot shared control for robot-assisted endoscopy of the spinal cord, in The first IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, BioRob, L. Ascari, E. Cavallaro, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, A novel biomimetic micro-inclinometer: modeling and preliminary prototypes, in The first IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, BioRob, C. Laschi, E. S. Maini, F. Patane, L. Ascari, G. Ciaravella, U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, A vestibular interface for natural control of steering locomotion of robotic artifacts: preliminary experiments with a robotic endoscope, in 12th International Symposium of Robotics Research, San Francisco, October L. Ascari, E. Cavallaro, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, Design and fabrication of a biomimetic inclinometer, in Proceedings of the XIX Eurosensors conference, L. Ascari, U. Bertocchi, C. Laschi, C. Stefanini, A. Starita, and P. Dario, A segmentation algorithm for a robotic micro-endoscope for exploration of the spinal cord, in Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), (New Orleans), L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, A. Menciassi, S. Sahoo, P. Rabischong, and P. Dario, A new active microendoscope for exploring the sub-arachnoid space in the spinal cord, in Proceedings of the 2003 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), L. Ascari, A. Pierazzi, and C. Morandi, Low power implementation of a sigma delta decimation filter for cardiac applications, in IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Budapest, Proceedings of, may Papers on Proceedings of National Conferences 18. U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, L. Ascari, and P. Dario, Optical-based pressure monitoring system for robot-assisted spinal endoscopy, in Proceedings of AISEM 2005,

4 Chapters on Books 19. C. Laschi, E. S. Maini, F. Patané, L. Ascari, G. Ciaravella, U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario and A. Berthoz, A vestibular interface for natural control of steering locomotion of robotic artifacts: preliminary experiments, in Robotics Research, Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics series, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg. DOI: / ISBN: Teaching and tutoring activity June 2005: Tutoring PhD. students of BioRobotic Science and Engineering program (Lucca, Italy) in the courses of Prof. Cutkosky and Prof. Takanishi. 2005: Seminars on Outdoor Legged Robot Locomotion, Modular Controller Architecture for complex robots, Visiondriven robotic endoscopy; Vision-driven robot locomotion to PhD. students of BioRobotic Science and Engineering program (Lucca, Italy); Sept June 2004: Tutoring of a Master Thesis student of Computer Science, University of Pisa. Thesis title: Theoretical and experimental study of innovative robotic techniques for spinal neuroendoscopy. ; 2003: Tutoring students of the Mechatronics course of Prof. Dario, at Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University of Pisa. Additional courses and stages Participation to the XXV Annual School on Neural Robotics, Bressanone (Italy), Sept. 2006; Participation to the Ph.D. course on Visual servoing and its applications to Robotics, Computer Vision and Augmented Reality, University of Siena and IEEE RAS, June 20-23, 2006 Participation to the third Optoelectronic and Photonic winter School in Trento, Italy from February 27th to March 4th 2005; Participation to Minimally invasive therapeutics and technologies course, organized by University of Pisa, February 2004; Participation to the XXII Annual School on Bioengineering of Posture and Movement, Bressanone (Italy), Sept. 2003; Participation to First European School on NeuroEngineering, Massimo Grattarola, Venice (I), june 2003; Participation to the Course of Excellence Neural and Nonlinear Information Processing, held by Prof. Leon O. Chua and Prof. Tamàs Roska, Torino Polytechnic (I), june 2003; Participation to more than 10 PhD thematic courses in the fields of Sensory-motor coordination, Robotic systems, Perception, organized by Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa ( ); June Asic Fabrication, AIME (Atelier Interuniversitaire de Micro-Electronique), Tolose, France. Participation in International Conferences and Workshops 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation (ASTRA2006), ESTEC, ESA, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2006 IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, BioRob, Pisa, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Barcelona, April 18-22, 2005; Technical Session Chair at ICRA2004 (Session: Robot Vision 1); IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, New Orleans, April 28 - May 1, 2004, partially funded by RAS (Robotics and Automation Society); IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Budapest, May 21-23, 2001; 3

5 Other scientific activities Member of IEEE; Member of IEEE-RAS (Robotics and Automation Society); Ad hoc reviewer for Journal of Robotics and Automation; Part of the teaching staff for the preparation of a team of young Lyceum students for a micro-robot competition in Japan (August 2005)( Piano/Scienze e Tecnologie/2005/08 Agosto/14/bimbo.shtml). 4

6 Professional section Current Position from March 2005: co-founder and president of HENESIS srl, a small company operating in the fields of sensor networks, robotic perception and machine vision. Professional and Research experience from Sept 2004: Collaboration with CRIM and ARTS Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna: technical responsibility of the design and development of a flexible tactile skin and processing system in the framework of an industrial project; Febr - March 2005: Collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, for the development of the micro-control unit for tactile feedback generation in the framework of MICRON European Project (N. IST ). Apr - Sept 2003: collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna for the design of an optical subsystem in the framework of the european project IVP - Intracorporeal Video Probe (EU/IST ); 2003: Collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, for the development of Real-time Image processing and Vision-driven endoscopic navigation strategies in the framework of the european project Mi.N.O.S.C. - Microneuroendoscopy of the Spinal Cord (EU/QLG5-CT ); June - July 2003: collaboration with ARTS Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna for the development of a neural classificator for EMG control signals on a VLSI neural processor, in the framework of european project Cyberhand - Development of a cybernetic hand prosthesis (EU/IST ); 2002: Teaching E-Communication module and Intermediate Word and Excel module (38 hours courses) in a course of Basic Computer Science organized by Peccioli city, Italy; 2002: Collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, for the Design and development of a multi-processor control board for a robotic neuro-endoscopic system; development of the electronics, firmware and communication SW, in the framework of the european project Mi.N.O.S.C. - Microneuroendoscopy of the Spinal Cord (EU/QLG5-CT ); Apr. 01 Jan. 02: Research activity at MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS, PHOTONICS Research & Development Laboratory, Genova, Italy. Work field: analog electronics and optoelectronics for Raman optical amplification (design, controls, safety systems and improvements); April 01: Design and implementation of a complete wireless communication system for Protezione Civile del comune di Boretto (Local Civil Protection System); May 00 Apr. 01: Collaboration with Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell Informazione, University of Parma, Italy, for the Low Power design of CMOS digital circuits for implantable pace-maker; Jul 99 Apr 00: Collaboration with PHILIPS RESEARCH Laboratories (Monza, Italy) for the development of an automatic perceived quality measurement system for processed images, based on the human visual perception; Oct. 98 Feb. 99: Collaboration with IXL Laboratory (Laboratoire d Etude de l Intégration des Composants et Systèmes Electroniques) in Bordeaux, France for the set-up of a real-time DSP-based digital signal filtering system; Jan. 99 Apr. 99: Research project in Electronic Component Reliability, at IXL Laboratory, for reliability measures on integrated electronic components. Other Research and professional experiences Experience in writing, submitting and coordinating international industrial research projects; Research activity in International Research projects; Coordination of technical teams in international research projects. 5

7 Languages Italian (mother tongue); English: fluent; French: fluent; German: certificate from VHS, Karlsruhe: level Grundstufe 3 Teil 1. Competences in Computer Science and computing architectures Deep knowledge of the following OSs: MacOS-X, Linux, Unix, Windows; Basic knowledge of RT-Linux; Image processing libraries: MVTec Halcon, Open CV, InstantVision, Matrox Imaging libraries; Graphical libraries: QT libraries; 2D and 3D modeling: Autodesk Autocad and Inventor; Scientific and Simulation packages: Matlab, OrCAD, Simulink, FEMLAB (Finite Element Method simulations), Khoros; Office packages: OpenOffice, MS-Office; Graphical Packages: Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Gimp; Programming languages: C/C++, Matlab, Java, Microchip micro-controller Assembly, LaTex, 80x86 Assembly; Knowledge and experience in parallel computing using CNN (cellular non-linear network) visual micro-processor; Knowledge and experience in programming boards with neural VLSI chips, DSPs, microcontrollers. Competences in Technologies Knowledge and experience in Surface Deposition Manufacturing and other techniques of Rapid Prototyping, such as 3D printing; Flexible circuits design and fabrication; Experience in Clean Room facilities and processes: stage in Asic Fabrication, AIME (Atelier Interuniversitaire de Micro-Electronique), Tolose, France, June Knowledge and experience in polyurethane-based prototyping. Competences in Electronics Knowledge of Analog and Digital electronics; knowledge of embedded systems (Microchip PIC and DS-PIC core). Prototypes: multiple fluidic on-off valves driver; multiple stepper motor driver; main control board of a robotic neuroendoscopy system, miniaturized conditioning and control units for tactile skin applications, wireless sensor network core element. Technical Societies and other activities Member of Ordine degli Ingegneri della provincia di Reggio Emilia ; Licensed Radio-Amateur. Leisures Boy-Scout Leader; Organisation and direction of summer holiday camps for children; I enjoy playing the trumpet (orchestra and smaller formations); licensed Radio-amateur; Travelling; Sport: kayak, ski, tennis, volleyball; Arts and literature of 19th and 20th centuries; Photography; Computer Science. 6

8 Referring to the Italian law 196/2003 on personal data protection, I explicitly authorize the use of any information herein contained for selection purposes. Referring to the Italian law art. 76 del D.P.R. 445 del 28 dicembre 2000, on penal consequences of false data communication, I undersigned Luca Ascari, born on 1975 February 2 nd in Brescello (RE), living 7 Via Roma, Pontedera (PI, Italy) DECLARE that every information contained in this document corresponds to reality. September 14, 2007 Luca Ascari 7

ADVANCED CABLE-DRIVEN SENSING ARTIFICIAL HANDS FOR EXTRA VEHICULAR AND EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES

In Proceedings of the 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation 'ASTRA 2006' ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, November 28-30, 2006 ADVANCED CABLE-DRIVEN SENSING ARTIFICIAL