David Cappelleri

David Cappelleri is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Assistant Vice President for Research Innovation at Purdue University's West Lafayette School of Mechanical Engineering. He holds a B.S. from Villanova University, an M.S. from Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on multi-scale robotic manipulation, mobile micro/nano robotics, micro/nano aerial vehicles, micro-bio robotics, and automation for life sciences. He leads the Multi-Scale Robotics & Automation Lab.

Notable achievements include the NSF CAREER Award (2012) and the John J. Gallen Memorial Award (2013). His work spans biomedical robotics, adaptive microsystems, and agricultural automation. He has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications and patents in microrobotics, magnetic actuation, and automation systems. His lab develops innovative solutions for precision agriculture (e.g., P-AgBot robots) and medical applications (e.g., drug delivery microrobots).

Academic contributions include pioneering project-based robotics education methods. He is actively involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating robotics with material science, bioengineering, and environmental monitoring systems.