Davide Zappetti

Davide Zappetti is a robotics researcher at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) within the Institute of Microengineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. His work focuses on developing innovative structural solutions for collision-resilient robotics.

Dr. Zappetti's research centers on tensegrity structures and dual stiffness mechanisms that enable robots to withstand impacts while maintaining operational rigidity. His work bridges mechanical engineering, materials science, and robotics to create more robust systems for unstructured environments.

His notable publication on dual stiffness tensegrity platforms demonstrates how buckling struts can create passive transition between rigid and soft states in robotic structures. This research has been successfully implemented in practical applications including drones that survive 2-meter falls and rovers that withstand 5-meter drops, with energy absorption rates reaching 92.5%.

Dr. Zappetti's research has potential applications across multiple scales, from large infrastructure to surgical devices, where passive load-triggered softening could enhance safety and functionality.

His research has been supported by significant initiatives including the Swiss National Science Foundation's NCCR Robotics program and the European Project H2020 Aerial Core.