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About

Debora Botturi is a leading researcher in robotics and automation, with a focus on teleoperation, surgical robotics, and robotics education. Her work bridges the gap between complex control systems and practical applications, particularly in minimally invasive robotic surgery (MIRS). Botturi’s most cited paper, "Hybrid HMM/SVM model for the analysis and segmentation of teleoperation tasks" (33 citations), introduces a novel approach to decomposing complex tasks into simpler sub-tasks by identifying underlying mental models—a key contribution to autonomous task execution. She has also made significant strides in surgical robotics, contributing to the Mirosurge system with features for motion compensation and soft tissue modeling, enhancing safety and precision in beating-heart surgery. Beyond research, Botturi is a pioneer in robotics education, using LEGO sets to make the discipline accessible and engaging in universities and high schools (27 citations). Her work on virtual laboratories for robotics and automation (21 citations) has helped integrate these subjects into computer science curricula. With over 140 total citations, Botturi’s impact is felt both in advancing telerobotic control architectures and in shaping the next generation of roboticists through innovative teaching tools.