Filippo Spina

Papers

Total Citations

268

H-Index

About

Filippo Spina is a leading researcher at the intersection of soft robotics, flexible electronics, and advanced materials. His work focuses on developing novel sensors and actuators that can seamlessly integrate with soft, irregular surfaces—from human skin to textile fabrics. Spina’s most-cited paper, “Flexible Sensors—From Materials to Applications” (2019, 215 citations), provides a comprehensive overview of the field, highlighting how these sensors enable transformative applications like smart tattoos, artificial skins, and soft robotics. In a landmark 2019 study (31 citations), he demonstrated the first directly 3D-printed monolithic soft robotic gripper with integrated liquid metal microchannels for tactile sensing—a breakthrough that marries fabrication simplicity with functional sophistication. More recently, his “Coco Stretch” sensor (2020, 22 citations) introduced a biocompatible, inexpensive strain sensor made from natural coconut oil and carbon black, pushing the boundaries of sustainable materials in wearable technology. Spina’s work is distinguished by its emphasis on practical, scalable solutions that bring soft robotics closer to safe human interaction, earning him recognition as a pioneer in creating materials that bend, stretch, and sense like living tissue.