FEDERICA NENNA

Federica Nenna is an Assistant Professor at the University of Padua, specializing in human-centered technologies within industrial settings. Her research focuses on human-robot collaboration, virtual/augmented reality applications in Industry 5.0, and neurophysiological aspects of human-machine interactions. She investigates how age, cognitive load, and psychological factors influence workers' performance in advanced manufacturing environments.

Her work emphasizes ergonomics and safety in digital innovation, particularly through the use of eye-tracking, cardiac monitoring, and entropy analysis to assess user performance and workload. Key themes include trust dynamics in collaborative robotics, teleoperation systems, and the design of inclusive workstations for senior workers. Nenna’s research bridges neurophysiology, engineering, and occupational health to create safer, more efficient industrial environments.

Publications highlight trends in VR/XR-based digital twins, human-centric risk management in digital transformation, and the physiological correlates of learning in robotic task environments. She advocates for a human-centered approach to Industry 5.0, addressing both technological and psychological barriers to adoption. Current projects explore cross-age usability of teleoperation interfaces and the integration of biometric feedback for real-time safety monitoring.

Notably, she developed the SAFE GYMS IoT system for workplace safety and contributed to the SAFE TALK mobile application for mental health support during isolation. These innovations reflect her commitment to applying cutting-edge technologies to improve both productivity and well-being in rapidly evolving workspaces.