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About

Andrea Cirillo is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of tactile sensing, physical human-robot interaction (HRI), and robotic manipulation. Best known for developing innovative sensorized skin technologies, Cirillo has made substantial contributions to making robots safer and more intuitive partners for human collaborators. His 2015 paper introducing a conformable force/tactile skin for HRI has garnered 161 citations, establishing him as a leading voice in flexible sensing systems designed to detect both intentional and unintentional contact during collaborative tasks. His broader portfolio spans optoelectronic artificial skin, distributed tactile sensors, and proximity/contact-force sensors — a cohesive body of work reflecting a sustained commitment to enriching robots' physical awareness of their environment. Beyond sensing hardware, Cirillo has pushed boundaries in sensor fusion for attitude estimation (70 citations), cross-modal visuo-tactile object recognition, and slippage control for in-hand manipulation. His research has practical industrial reach as well, demonstrated through contributions to hexapod robot design for aeronautics and the WIRES experiment automating switchgear cabling. With a cumulative citation record exceeding 480, Cirillo's interdisciplinary approach — bridging mechanical design, perception, and human-robot collaboration — offers students and researchers a compelling model for translating fundamental sensing research into real-world robotic applications.