Maicol Laurenza

Sapienza University of Rome, University Niccolò Cusano

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About

Maicol Laurenza is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of locomotion optimization, motion planning, and advanced robot control. His research focuses primarily on quadrupedal robots and unconventional robotic platforms, with a particular emphasis on developing intelligent algorithms to improve how robots move through complex and unpredictable environments. Laurenza's most influential contribution — "Quadrupedal Robots' Gaits Identification via Contact Forces Optimization" (2021, 9 citations) — introduced a genetic algorithm-based framework for identifying optimal gait trajectories by analyzing ground contact forces and torques, notably without imposing constraints on leg kinematics. This flexible approach opened new pathways for efficient and adaptive locomotion planning. He has continued refining this methodology through subsequent work on trotting gait optimization, demonstrating a sustained commitment to solving one of robotics' most persistent challenges. Beyond quadrupedal systems, Laurenza has expanded his research to spherical rolling robots, exploring how angular momentum conservation through rotating flywheels can enable stable navigation across slippery terrain — a particularly compelling problem for real-world deployment. With a growing body of work accumulating citations across multiple robotics subfields, Laurenza represents an emerging voice in the optimization-driven design of next-generation robotic locomotion systems.