Maria Paterna

Papers

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About

Maria Paterna is a researcher whose work sits at the intersection of soft robotics and human biomechanics, with a particular focus on pneumatic actuation systems. Her key contributions lie in advancing soft pneumatic actuators—compliant, flexible devices designed for safe human-robot interaction and bio-inspired locomotion in challenging environments. In her highly cited 2022 work, *"The Research on Soft Pneumatic Actuators in Italy: Design Solutions and Applications"* (16 citations), Paterna provides a comprehensive survey of Italian innovations in this rapidly growing field, highlighting design strategies that prioritize safety and adaptability. She also developed the *"Pneumo-tronic Perturbator for the Study of Human Postural Responses"* (2019, 7 citations), a novel device that applies controlled pneumatic perturbations to investigate how humans maintain balance—a tool with direct implications for rehabilitation robotics and fall prevention. By bridging soft actuator design with real-world biomechanical testing, Paterna’s work demonstrates how pneumatic technologies can both mimic natural movement and enhance our understanding of human motor control. Her research is foundational for engineers seeking to create safer, more responsive robotic systems that interact seamlessly with people.