Stefano Suman
Papers
8
Total Citations
256
H-Index
5
About
Stefano Suman is a leading figure in polar oceanography and marine robotics, whose work is reshaping how scientists explore the most inaccessible regions of the ocean. His research centers on the intersection of sea ice physics and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology, with a focus on understanding how changing ice conditions impact the Arctic energy budget. Suman’s most influential work, “Influence of ice thickness and surface properties on light transmission through Arctic sea ice” (85 citations), quantifies how thinning ice and increased melt ponds allow more sunlight to reach the upper ocean, a critical feedback mechanism in climate change. On the engineering side, he co-developed the Nereid-UI, a revolutionary remotely operated vehicle designed for under-ice operations, and pioneered ice-relative navigation systems that allow robots to maintain position beneath moving sea ice. His 2012 vision paper on persistent deep-ocean operations (71 citations) laid the groundwork for coordinated autonomous surface and underwater vehicle surveys. Suman’s work at WHOI’s Deep Submergence Laboratory also includes transitioning the Sentry AUV to an open-source ROS architecture, accelerating future innovation. His contributions are essential for understanding polar ecosystems and advancing robotic exploration in extreme environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 7Transitioning to Open Source at 6000m2 citations · 2018
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