Stefano Paolo Pastorelli

Stefano Paolo Pastorelli is a Full Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS) at the Polytechnic University of Turin. He serves as Operating Project Manager for the Uzbekistan project and is a member of the Interdepartmental Center PIC4SeR (PoliTO Interdepartmental Centre for Service Robotics). His academic career spans over a decade at Politecnico di Torino, where he has been consistently involved in teaching Mechanical Engineering programs since at least the 2010/2011 academic year, and currently participates in doctoral colleges for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at both Politecnico di Torino and the University of Genoa.

Professor Pastorelli's research spans multiple interconnected fields focused on human-centered robotics and biomechanics. His primary research interests include biomechanics, human movement analysis, wearable robotics, industrial robotics, human-machine interaction, mechatronics, adaptive sports, wheelchair technology, cobots, and human body modeling. His work bridges engineering with healthcare applications, particularly in developing assistive technologies for people with mobility limitations. He has extensive expertise in motion tracking systems, exoskeleton development, and wheelchair propulsion assistance technologies.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on applying machine learning and sensor technologies to human-robot interaction problems, particularly in the context of assistive devices. A significant portion of his work addresses wheelchair maneuverability and propulsion assistance, with multiple publications on power-assist devices and their control systems. His research also extends to exoskeletons, gesture recognition for human-robot collaboration, and biomechanical analysis of human movement in various contexts including electric scooter riding.

Professor Pastorelli has supervised numerous PhD students including Francesco Crivellari, Giovanni Lando, Elena Caselli, Michele Polito, and Valerio Cornagliotto. His research is supported by multiple funded projects including EMPATHY (2024-2026), ADD-MATE 2.0 (2024-2025), HESTER (2023-2026), and ALBA (2021-2023), among others spanning from international collaborations to regional and corporate-funded research.

He is actively involved in several research groups, most notably the Mechatronics and Servosystems group within DIMEAS. His work aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), reflecting the societal impact of his research in healthcare, industrial innovation, and urban mobility solutions.