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About

M. Caponero is a leading researcher in fiber optic sensing and smart materials, whose work bridges the gap between advanced photonics and real-world robotic applications. His primary research areas include Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technology, tactile sensing, and 3D-printed embedded sensors. Caponero’s major contributions center on developing novel sensor architectures for challenging environments. His most cited work (35 citations) pioneered a feedforward neural network for force decoding in an MRI-compatible tactile sensor array, a critical innovation for safe human-robot interaction in medical settings. He has also been instrumental in advancing 3D-printed sensing samples that embed FBGs, systematically evaluating materials and coatings to enable smart structures for civil, biomedical, and soft robotics applications (18 citations). Notably, Caponero contributed to the RAS (Robot Antartico di Superficie) project, designing a speckle-velocimeter for autonomous vehicles operating in the extreme Antarctic terrain—a feat requiring precision under slip conditions and in the absence of GPS. His work on 3D-printed patches embedding FBGs further demonstrates his commitment to practical, deployable sensor solutions. With a career spanning from polar robotics to medical devices, Caponero’s research consistently pushes the boundaries of where and how fiber optic sensors can be applied.