Di Nuovo, AlessandroView profile
Professor
Alessandro Di Nuovo is a Professor in the Department of Computing and Mathematics at Sheffield Hallam University, within the College of Business, Technology and Engineering. He is a leading researcher in cognitive and developmental robotics, with a focus on human-robot interaction, assistive technologies, and neuromorphic computing. His work bridges AI, robotics, and healthcare, particularly in applications for autism therapy and active ageing. His research spans cognitive robotics , neuromorphic computing , assistive robotics , and human-robot interaction , with a strong emphasis on embodied cognition, numerical cognition in robots, and privacy-aware systems. He has pioneered the use of spiking neural networks and event-based vision for real-time robotic perception and learning. His work often integrates cloud computing and multimodal interfaces to enhance robotic services for elderly care and children with developmental disorders. The recent publications highlight a consistent trend in personalized, interactive learning systems , where robots learn from human feedback using reinforcement learning, natural language, and sleep-inspired consolidation. There is also a growing focus on privacy and cybersecurity in social robotics, reflecting ethical considerations in assistive technologies. Applications are strongly oriented toward healthcare , including stroke rehabilitation, ASD screening, and in-home monitoring for older adults. He has been involved in numerous collaborative projects, often as a principal investigator or senior researcher, working with institutions across Europe. His contributions to major conferences and journals underscore his leadership in the field of cognitive and developmental systems. Di Nuovo has supervised and collaborated with a wide range of students and researchers, including Simone Varrasi, Roberto Vagnetti, Muhammad Aitsam, and Daniela Conti. His work has been supported by grants from EPSRC and other UK research councils, particularly in the domain of robotics for healthcare and social good. He is actively involved in research groups focusing on assistive robotics , cognitive systems , and cybersecurity in healthcare robotics , contributing to both theoretical models and real-world implementations of socially intelligent robots.









