Green Co-Driver: when sustainable driving meets drivers’ expectations
The Green Co-Driver project developed a driving assistance system that balances energy efficiency and user acceptance. Tests with 72 participants showed up to 34% lower energy consumption and over 50% greater vehicle range.
Designing Hybrid Interfaces to Enhance Heat Transport in Nanocomposites
Discover how LPSQ-based polymer nanocomposites containing functionalized alumina nanoparticles enhance heat transport in thermal interface materials (TIMs). The study highlights the role of interfacial interactions in designing flexible, highly thermally conductive materials for advanced thermal management of high-performance electronic devices.
Empowering Future Particle Physics Experiments and Far Beyond with Advanced 3D Silicon Sensors
The research group led by Ye Jixing, Gian-Franco Dalla Betta, and Lucio Pancheri develops advanced 3D silicon sensors with exceptional radiation hardness for particle physics experiments. From the LHC to the future FCC, these technologies aim to enhance detector precision, timing performance, and reliability under extreme radiation conditions.
Controlling autonomy: the mathematics behind the robots of the future
The project develops control algorithms for autonomous robots capable of navigating without GPS, avoiding obstacles, and preventing dangerous operating configurations. Using hybrid dynamical systems and relative measurements, the research provides mathematically rigorous, computationally efficient solutions applicable to ground, marine, and aerial autonomous robots.
Optimal Control and Numerical Analysis: How Mathematics Guides Engineering Decisions
Optimal control defines time-dependent decision strategies for dynamic systems subject to objectives and physical constraints. Since analytical solutions are rarely available, numerical analysis provides reliable computational solutions through simulations and algorithms, supporting applications ranging from vehicles and chemical processes to robotics and energy systems.
Bio-composite Materials for Sustainable Agriculture and Reforestation
Research within the European H2020 ONEforest project developed xanthan gum and wood fiber bio-composites for biodegradable mulching films and soil amendments. These materials enhance water retention, reduce irrigation needs, and support plant growth, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics for agriculture and reforestation.
Ozone: an ally for fruit preservation
Ozone is a promising postharvest technology for fruit preservation. Through its oxidative properties, it can delay ripening, maintain quality, and enhance antioxidant compounds. This research aims to clarify the mechanisms underlying ozone action and support the technology’s implementation on an industrial scale.
Decision Analysis and Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is not only a technological challenge but also a decision-making one. The article explores how multi-criteria and multi-objective decision analysis tools help companies manage complexity, uncertainty, and trade-offs in selecting and using 3D printing technologies.
Quadruped robots for forest conservation and animal behavior research
The Department in collaboration with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is developing quadruped robots and drones for automated alpine forest mapping using SLAM algorithms and AI. The Digiforest and FORMA projects integrate advanced sensors to monitor forest health and biodiversity, while new research applies robotics to the study of animal behavior.
From Discovery to Advanced Design: PDC Technology in the Glass and Ceramics Laboratory of the DII
Let’s trace the evolution of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs), from Yajima’s breakthrough to advanced applications developed at DII. By controlling precursor chemistry, researchers obtain innovative materials such as transparent silicon oxycarbides, ultralight aerogels, and high-performance composites, opening new frontiers in materials design.
