Michael DeFilippo

MIT Sea Grant, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Total Citations

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About

Michael DeFilippo is a leading researcher in marine autonomy, specializing in perception systems for autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs). His work centers on integrating multi-sensor data—including monocular cameras, LIDAR, and marine RADAR—to enable robust maritime object detection and tracking. DeFilippo’s most influential contribution is his development of a comprehensive perception system that fuses these sensors to identify obstacles in challenging marine environments, a foundational approach that has garnered 42 citations. This system addresses critical challenges in real-time situational awareness for unmanned vessels. Additionally, DeFilippo led the creation of the RoboWhaler, a modified Boston Whaler serving as a mobile marine autonomy laboratory capable of both manual and fully autonomous operation. This platform, detailed in his 2021 paper (12 citations), provides a vital testbed for algorithmic development and dataset collection, accelerating progress in the field. Through these contributions, DeFilippo has established himself as a key figure in advancing practical, sensor-rich autonomy for maritime applications, bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world deployment.