Stefano Bonato

Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

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About

Stefano Bonato is a leading researcher at the intersection of ultra-low-power robotics and deep learning, with a primary focus on enabling autonomous intelligence for sub-40g nano-drones. His work centers on solving the critical challenge of precise relative localization in swarm robotics, where computational and energy budgets are extremely constrained. In his highly cited 2023 paper, Bonato pioneered an end-to-end system that leverages deep neural networks (DNNs) for monocular relative localization between peer nano-drones, achieving autonomous operation with under 100mW of processing power—a breakthrough for lightweight aerial swarms. His 2024 work on vision-state fusion further advances the field by improving DNN robustness for control-oriented perception in demanding scenarios, from acrobatic UAV maneuvers to robot-assisted surgery. With over 24 citations across his key publications, Bonato’s contributions are shaping the future of autonomous robotics by proving that complex perception tasks can be executed on resource-starved platforms. His research not only pushes the boundaries of embedded AI but also lays the groundwork for practical, scalable swarm applications in exploration, surveillance, and precision agriculture.