Marco De Corato

Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia

Papers

Total Citations

150

H-Index

About

Marco De Corato is a leading researcher at the intersection of soft robotics and bioinspired engineering, with a primary focus on developing next-generation biohybrid systems. His most impactful work centers on integrating living biological components with synthetic materials to create self-stimulating robotic platforms. In his highly cited 2021 paper (144 citations), De Corato pioneered the concept of "biohybrid soft robots with self-stimulating skeletons," demonstrating how the fusion of living actuation with artificial structures can produce advanced swimmers, crawlers, and walkers with unprecedented adaptability. This work represents a major contribution to the emerging field of biohybrid robotics, where biological tissues provide unique properties—such as self-healing, sensitivity, and efficient energy conversion—that purely synthetic systems cannot achieve. De Corato's research addresses fundamental challenges in creating robots that can operate autonomously in complex environments, leveraging the inherent capabilities of biological components to overcome limitations of traditional rigid robotics. His innovative approach has established new paradigms for developing soft actuators and robotic platforms, positioning him as a key figure in advancing the frontier of bioinspired engineering and hybrid living-artificial systems.