Dario Floreano

Prof. Dario Floreano serves as Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), directing the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems within the School of Engineering's Institute of Microengineering. He maintains additional teaching appointments in Microengineering, Mechanical Engineering, and the Doctoral School, while serving on EPFL's Committee of Academic Evaluation.

His academic credentials include:

• M.A. in Vision
• M.S. in Neural Computation
• PhD in Robotics

Research at the convergence of biology and engineering defines Prof. Floreano's work, with pioneering contributions across multiple robotics domains. His laboratory specializes in bio-inspired approaches that transform theoretical concepts into functional systems:

• Aerial Robotics: Avian-inspired morphing wings/tails for agile drone flight
• Evolutionary Robotics: Algorithmic co-design of morphology and control
• Soft Robotics: Transient edible systems and variable-stiffness mechanisms
• Swarm Intelligence: Emergent control through Hebbian learning
• Medical Robotics: Fiber-jamming catheters for cardiac procedures

Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal three dominant trajectories: (1) biomimetic aerial systems with avian-inspired morphing capabilities for energy-efficient flight, (2) transient edible robotics using biodegradable materials for environmental/medical applications, and (3) advanced variable-stiffness mechanisms enabling new medical interventions. These themes reflect his consistent focus on bio-inspired solutions to engineering challenges.

His scientific impact is recognized through prestigious honors:

• 2000: SNSF Assistant Professorship (Swiss National Science Foundation)
• 2021: Fellow of the ELLIS Society
• 2022: IEEE Fellow (Robotics and Automation Society)
• 2024: Julian Francis Miller Award (The Species International Society)

As mentor to 44+ PhD students and founding director of Switzerland's National Center of Competence in Robotics (2010-2022), Prof. Floreano has shaped robotics education through EPFL's Master's program and Swiss Robotics Day. His research leadership generated 15+ spinoffs (including senseFly and Flyability) and secured major grants from Swiss National Science Foundation and European Commission programs. The Laboratory of Intelligent Systems maintains strong industry partnerships while advancing fundamental research in embodied intelligence, with current projects focusing on edible robotics, swarm autonomy, and bio-hybrid systems for medical applications.