Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Diego Marini’s research lies at the intersection of structural health monitoring, robotics, and micro-opto-mechanical systems (MEMS), with a focus on the automated inspection of concrete infrastructure. His major contributions center on developing novel sensors and robotic platforms for assessing surface cracks in concrete—a critical need for maintaining aging bridges, buildings, and dams. Marini pioneered the use of semi-autonomous aerial robots for ultrasonic assessment, enabling non-contact measurement of crack depth and surface velocity (2025, 6 citations). He also introduced Micro-Opto-Mechanical (MOM) sensors for tactile crack width measurement (2017, 4 citations) and later advanced this concept with acoustic MOM transducers deployable from aerial robots (2019, 3 citations). These works demonstrate a clear trajectory from laboratory sensor fabrication to field-deployable robotic inspection systems. Though early in his career, Marini’s work is notable for integrating precision optical sensing with autonomous aerial platforms—a promising approach that could make routine structural inspections safer, faster, and more reliable. His research is particularly relevant for students and engineers interested in smart infrastructure, sensor design, and robotics for civil engineering applications.