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About

Fabrizio Putzu is a pioneering researcher in soft robotics, with a particular focus on pneumatic eversion robots and their real-world applications. His work sits at the intersection of bio-inspired design, control systems, and compliant robotic structures, drawing inspiration from plant growth mechanisms to develop robots capable of navigating confined and hard-to-reach spaces. Putzu's most influential contribution is his development and characterization of inflatable eversion robots — soft, tip-growing systems that extend longitudinally through internal pressure rather than conventional actuation. His 2020 paper on model-based pose control with variable stiffness (48 citations) represents a landmark achievement, demonstrating precise, controllable movement in these inherently flexible systems. His earlier foundational work introducing the plant-inspired pneumatic eversion robot (38 citations) established the core design principles that subsequent research has built upon. Beyond design, Putzu has systematically addressed practical engineering challenges, including payload capabilities and operational limits (22 citations), observer-based control strategies (10 citations), and manoeuvrability enhancement through structural innovation (24 citations). His investigation into granular jamming for soft particles further demonstrates the breadth of his contributions to compliant robotic technologies. With over 150 cumulative citations, Putzu's research has meaningfully advanced the field of safe, adaptive robotics for medical, exploratory, and human-collaborative applications.