Loredana Zollo was born in Benevento, Italy, on February 1976. She received the Laurea degree in Electric Engineering from the University of Naples in October 2000 (110/110 cum laude) and the Research Doctorate degree in Bioengineering from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa in May 2004. Her PhD thesis was entitled “Interaction control of biomedical robotic systems”.
Since April 2000 she collaborates to the research activity of the ARTS Lab (Advanced Robotics Technology and Systems Laboratory) of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Italy. In January 2004 she was involved in teaching and scientific activity at the Campus Bio-Medico University in Rome, where she is a post-doc fellow in bio-engineering at the Unversità Campus Bio-Medico, in the Laboratory of Biomedical Robotics and Bio-microsystems led by Prof. Eugenio Guglielmelli.
Loredana Zollo spent three months of her PhD in France in the INSERM483 Lab of Pierre et Marie Curie University of Paris. In this period she studied in depth problems of sensory-motor coordination and correlation of sensory information coming from different sources in tasks of grasping and object manipulation in humans.
Research interests
Her research interests are in the fields of rehabilitation robotics, assistive robotics and neuro-robotics on the following research topics: kinematic and dynamic analysis of robot manipulators, design and development of control schemes for robot manipulators with elastic joints and flexible links, design and development of control schemes of interaction robotic machines for rehabilitation robotics, biological motor control and neurophysiological models of sensory-motor coordination, design and development of motor control schemes for bio-inspired robotic systems, multi-sensory integration and sensory-motor coordination of anthropomorphic robotic systems.
She has been involved in many EU-funded projects in her application fields:
- The 3-year SYNERAGH project (SYstems Neuroscience and Engineering Research for Anthropomorphic Grasping and Handling) started in September 2000;
- The PALOMA project (Progressive and adaptive learning for object manipulation: a biologically inspired multi-network architecture) from November 2001 to October 2004;
- The 3-year ALLADIN project (Natural Language Based Decision Support in Neuro-rehabilitation ) started in January 2004;
- The AUXILIA project (for developing a European model of integration of young disabled people in school and university by means of learning aids), from October 2003 to September 2006.
Currently she contributes to the activities of technology transfer between university and industry in the framework of the national project ITINERIS (started in 2004) and collaborates to the following National and European projects:
- NEUROBOTICS (The fusion of Neuroscience and Robotics for augmenting human capabilities): It is a 5-year(2004-2008) EU project which aims at developing three main categories of hybrid bionic systems for human augmentation featuring different levels of hybridness (i.e. mechanical coupling with the human body) and of connectivity (to the human nervous system): (i) biomimetic scalable artefacts to be remotely controlled by a human operator; (ii) intelligent wearable artefacts loosely physically coupled with the human body; (iii) armhand sub-systems tightly physically coupled with the human body. UCBM contribution (coordinated by Prof. P.M. Rossini) regards the design and development of EEG-based brain robot interfaces for the NEUROBOTICS platform for studying cerebral plasticity role in amputees and in the clinical recovery process.
- ROBO-DIDACTICS: it is a 3-year EU project (2007-2009) aiming at aims at creating a European methodology for introducing robotics in didactics in order to advance teaching and learning processes of scientific and ICT-oriented subjects;
- MOTHER (MOtor-THerapy mEdiated By Robotic technology): It is a 2-year project (2006-2007) sponsored by Italian Ministry of Instruction, University and Research to promote a joint research program between UCBM and the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (Cambridge, MA) on clinical application of robot-aided motor therapy, measurement of visco-elastic properties in the human arm, neuro-computational model of motor learning.
- SAFEHAND (Design and Experimental Analysis of a Cybernetic Prosthetic Hand): A 2-year national project (2007-2008) co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Instruction, University and Research. It has the objective of developing a cybernetic prosthesis, which must mimic as much as possible the sensory-motor capabilities of the human hand. The consortium (composed of Scuola Superiore S.Anna di PISA, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, UCBM) has strong expertise in the field of artificial hands for prosthetics and robotics, as well as in the field of bio-inspired control and microelectronics. UCBM is basically involved in hand control and tactile sensor design.
Publications
Loredana Zollo has authored/co-authored 9 papers for international journals, two book chapters and 18 papers for conference proceedings.
Publications on Refereed International Journals
[J1] L. Zollo, E. Gallotta, S. Sterzi, E. Guglielmelli, “Human-centred design and clinical application of robotic systems for neurorehabilitation”, International Nursing Perspectives, 2007, in press.
[J2] L. Zollo, S. Eskiizmirliler, G. Teti, C. Laschi, Y. Burnod, E. Guglielmelli, M.A. Maier, “An Anthropomorphic Robotic Platform for Progressive and Adaptive Sensorimotor Learning”, International Journal of Advanced Robotics - Special Issue on Robotics Platforms for Neuroscience, 2007, in press.
[J3] C. Laschi, F. Patane’, E. S. Maini, L. Manfredi, G. Teti, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “An Anthropomorphic Robotic Head for Investigating Gaze Control”, International Journal of Advanced Robotics - Special Issue on Robotics Platforms for Neuroscience, 2007, in press.
[J4] L.Zollo, S. Roccella, E. Guglielmelli, M.C. Carrozza, P. Dario, “BioMechatronic Design and Control of an Anthropomorphic Artificial Hand for Prosthetic and Robotic Applications”, Transactions on Mechatronics, 2007, vol. 12, pp. 418-429.
[J5] D. Formica, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, “Torque-dependent Compliance Control in the Joint Space of an Operational Robotic Machine for Motor Therapy”, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control - Special Issue in Novel Robotics and Control, 2006, vol. 128, pp. 152–158.
[J6] A. De Luca, B. Siciliano, L. Zollo, “PD control with on-line gravity compensation for robots with elastic joints: Theory and experiments”, Automatica, 2005, vol. 41, pp. 1809–1819.
[J7] L. Zollo, L. Dipietro, B. Siciliano, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “A bio-inspired approach for regulating and measuring visco-elastic properties of a robot arm”, Journal of Robotic Systems, 2005, vol. 22, pp. 397–419.
[J8] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, A. De Luca, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “Compliance control for an anthropomorphic robot with elastic joints: Theory and experiments”, ASME Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Control, 2005, vol. 127, pp. 321–328.
[J9] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, C. Laschi, G. Teti, P. Dario, “An experimental study on compliance control for a redundant personal robot arm”, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 2003, vol. 44, pp. 101--129.
Publications on Books
[B1] L. Zollo, D. Formica, E. Guglielmelli, “Bio-inspired Interaction Control of Robotic Machines for Motor Therapy”, in Rehabilitation Robotics, Advanced Robotic Systems Eds., 2007, pp. 619–638.
[B2] E. Guglielmelli, L. Zollo, D. Accoto, “Criteri di progettazione di sistemi robotici per la neuroriabilitazione”, in Neuro-Robotica, Neuroscienze e robotica per lo sviluppo di macchine intelligenti, by P. Dario, S. Martinoia, G. Rizzolatti, G. Sandini, Pàtron Ed., 2006, pp. 335–379.
Publications on Refereed Conference Proceedings
[C1] L. Zollo, D. Accoto, F. Torchiani, D. Formica, E. Guglielmelli, “Design of a Planar Robotic Machine for Neuro-rehabilitation”, ICRA 2008 – International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Pasadena, CA, 2007, accepted.
[C2] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, A. De Luca, E. Guglielmelli, “PD Control with On-line Gravity Compensation for Robots with Flexible Links”, European Control Conference, Kos, Greece, 2007, pp. 4365–4370.
[C3] L.Zollo, S. Roccella, R. Tucci, B. Siciliano, E. Guglielmelli, M.C. Carrozza, P. Dario, “BioMechatronic Design and Control of an Anthropomorphic Artificial Hand for Prosthetics and Robotic Applications”, BIOROB 2006 - The first IEEE / RASEMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, Pise, Italy, 2006.
[C4] I. Sardellitti, L. Zollo, D. Accoto, S. Silvestri, E. Guglielmelli, “Design Criteria for a Mechatronic Handle for Measuring Visco-elastic Properties of the Human Arm”, ICORR 2005 - IEEE 9th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Chicago, Illinois, 2005.
[C5] D. Formica, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, “Torque-dependent Compliance Control in the Joint Space of an Operational Robotic Machine for Motor Therapy”, ICORR 2005 - IEEE 9th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Chicago, Illinois, 2005.
[C6] L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, E. Guglielmelli, G. Teti, C. Laschi, S. Eskiizmirliler, F. Carenzi, P. Bendahan, P. Gorce, M.A. Maier, Y. Burnod, P. Dario, “A Bio-inspired neuro-controller for an anthropomorphic head-arm robotic system”, ICRA 2005 – International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Barcellona, Spain, 2005, pp. 12–17.
[C7] D. Bacciu, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, F. Leoni, A. Starita, “A RLWPR network for learning the internal model of an anthropomorphic robot arm”, IROS 2004 - IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Sendai, Japan, 2004.
[C8] L. Zollo, A. De Luca, B. Siciliano, “Regulation with on-line gravity compensation for robots with elastic joints”, ICRA 2004 - International Conference on Robotics and Automation, New Orleans, LA, 2004, pp. 2687--2692.
[C9] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “A bio-inspired approach for regulating visco-elastic properties of a robot arm”, ICRA 2003 - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Taipei, Taiwan, 2003, pp. 3576--3581.
[C10] P. Scherillo, B. Siciliano, L. Zollo, M.C. Carrozza, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “Parallel force/position control of a novel biomechatronic hand prosthesis”, AIM 2003 - IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Kobe, Japan, 2003, pp. 920--925.
[C11] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, A. De Luca, “Compliance control for a robot with elastic joints”, ICAR 2003, IEEE International Conference on Autonomous Robots, Coimbra, Portugal, 2003, pp. 1411--1416.
[C12] C. Laschi, P. Gorce, J-L. Coronado, F. Leoni, G. Teti, N. Rezzoug, A. Geurrero-Gonzáles, J.L.P. Molina, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, Y. Burnod, “An anthropomorphic robotic platform for experimental validation of biologically-inspired sensory-motor co-ordination in grasping”, IROS 2002 – IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Lausanne, Switzerland, September 30 - October 4, 2002, pp.2545-2550.
[C13] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, C. Laschi,G. Teti, P. Dario, E. Guglielmelli, “An Impedance-Compliance Control for a Cable-Actuated Robot”, IROS 2002 – IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Lausanne, Switzerland, September 30 - October 4, 2002, pp.2268-2273.
[C14] G. Teti, C. Laschi, L. Zollo, P. Dario, “Experimental validation of functional compliance in an anthropomorphic personal robot”, ICRA 2002 - IEEE-RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Washington, May, 11-15, 2002, pp.1434-1438.
[C15] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, C. Laschi, G. Teti, P. Dario, “Compliant control for a cable-actuated anthropomorphic robot arm: an experimental validation of different solutions”, ICRA 2002 – IEEE-RAS International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Washington, May, 11-15, 2002, pp.1836-1841.
[C16] L. Zollo, B. Siciliano, C. Laschi, G. Teti, P. Dario, “Experimental comparative evaluation of compliant control schemes for an anthropomorphic personal robot”, ACC 2002 – American Control Conference, Anchorage, Alaska, USA, May, 8-10, 2002.
[C17] C. Laschi G. Teti, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “Levels of Interaction between Humans and Humanoid Personal Robots: Experimental Validation of Possible Solutions”, Proc. of the Second IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots - Humanoids 2001, Tokyo, Japan, November 22-24, 2001, pp. 25-32.
[C18] L. Zollo, C. Laschi, G. Teti, B. Siciliano, P. Dario, “Functional Compliance in the Control of a Rehabilitation Robot”, Proc. of IROS 2001 – IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Maui, Hawaii, USA, October 29 - November 3, 2001, pp. 2221-2226.
Publications on Workshops and National Conferences
[W1] L. Zollo, D. Accoto, D. Formica, E. Guglielmelli, “Biomechatronic design of dependable systems for rehabilitation robotics”, 5th IARP - IEEE/RAS - EURON Joint Workshop on Technical Challenge for Dependable Robots in Human Environments, Rome, Italy, 2007.
[W2] E. Gallotta, L. M. Lapenna, G.i Magrone, G. Ronconi, E. Guglielmelli, L. Zollo, D. Formica, S. Sterzi, “Protocolli di neuroriabilitazione dell’arto superiore tramite l’utilizzo di piattaforme robotiche”, XXXV Congresso Nazionale SIMFER, S. Benedetto del Tronto, Italy, 2007.
[W3] G. Magrone, E. Gallotta, A. Romanelli, M. Milazzo, E. Guglielmelli, A. Palese , L. Zollo , S. Sterzi, “Applicazione clinica del sistema KINEVIEW per la valutazione del passo”, XXXV Congresso Nazionale SIMFER, S. Benedetto del Tronto, Italy, 2007.
[W4] D. Formica, L. Zollo, E. Guglielmelli, “Adaptive Compliance for Enhancing Dependability of Rehabilitation Robotic Machines”, 4th IARP - IEEE/RAS – EURON Joint Workshop on Technical Challenge for Dependable Robots in Human Environments, Nagoya, Japan, 2005.
[W5] E. Guglielmelli, L. Zollo, P. Dario, “Interaction Control Schemes for Rehabilitation Robotics”, 3rd IARP - IEEE/RAS - EURON Joint Workshop on Technical Challenge for Dependable Robots in Human Environments, Manchester, England, 2004.
[W6] P. Dario, C. Laschi, A. Menciassi, E. Guglielmelli, M. C. Carrozza, L. Zollo, G. Teti, L. Beccai, F. Vecchi, S. Roccella, “A human-like robotic manipulation system implementing human models of sensory-motor coordination”, The Third IARP International Workshop on Humanoid and Human Friendly Robotics, Tsukuba, Japan, 2002, pp. 97–103.
[W7] L. Zollo, C. Laschi, E. Guglielmelli, P. Dario, “Compliance and dependability in the design of biomedical robots”, 2nd IARP - IEEE/RAS Joint Workshop on Technical Challenge for Dependable Robots in Human Environments, Toulouse, France, 2002, pp. 105–111.
