Luca Ascari Academic and Professional Curriculum Vitae

Luca Ascari
Academic and Professional Curriculum Vitae
Electrical Engineer
Ph.D. in Bioengineering
Current affiliation
HENESIS srl: co-founder and president
Spin-off company of Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
Contact information
mail
via Sofia 1
43123 Parma (PR)
Italy
@
[email protected]
[email protected]
URL www.ascariluca.eu
www.henesis.eu
Professional section
Current Position
from May 2007: co-founder, president and CEO of HENESIS srl, a Spin Off company of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna,
Pisa, Italy, operating in the fields of wireless sensor networks, artificial perception systems, human machine interfaces and
machine vision.
Patents
• Italian Patent ITPI2009A000147 (pend): “METODO DI IMAGING SPETTRALE IN PROFONDITÁ, E ATTREZZATURA CHE ATTUA TALE METODO”
• World Patent WO2008152062: Biomimetic sensor and processing method
• World Patent WO2009027486 (pend): Methods and systems for data processing and their applications
• European Patent EP2031427 (pend): Optical terminal
Professional and Research experience
• from 2009: Coordination of Henesis Activity in the framework of the EU FP7 project MIBISOC: “Medical
Imaging Using Bio-inspired and Soft Computing” (FP7-PEOPLE- ITN-2008). Henesis srl is full partner
in the project and Dr. Ascari will coordinate the research activity of two PhD students in the field of medical image
analysis.
• from 2007 Scientific and Technical coordination of Industrial Research Projects granted to Henesis srl from TOYOTA
Motor Europe. Duties incude the coordination of research activities as well as of small teams.
• 2007: Temporary Professor of Electronics and Computer Science at Secondary School (Istituto Tecnico
Industriale Berenini (Fidenza, PR, Italy).
• from december 2007: collaboration with CEIIC Centre of Excellence for Information and Communication
Engineering (CEIIC), Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna for the development of a Time-resolved diffuse optical
tomograph with ultra-short pulsed lasers for cardiac applications;
• from march 2005 to may 2006: co-founder of HENESIS S.A.;
• from Sept 2004: collaboration with CRIM and ARTS Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna: technical responsibility of the design and development of a flexible tactile skin and processing system in the framework of an industrial
project;
• Febr - March 2005: collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, for the development of
the micro-control unit for tactile feedback generation in the framework of MICRON European Project (N. IST
2001-33567).
• Apr - Sept 2003: collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna for the design of an optical
subsystem in the framework of the european project IVP - ”Intracorporeal Video Probe” (EU/IST-2001-35169);
• 2003: Collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, for the development of Real-time Image
processing and Vision-driven endoscopic navigation strategies in the framework of the european project Mi.N.O.S.C.
- ”Microneuroendoscopy of the Spinal Cord” (EU/QLG5-CT-2001-02150);
• June - July 2003: collaboration with ARTS Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna for the development of a neural
classificator for EMG control signals on a VLSI neural processor, in the framework of european project Cyberhand
- ”Development of a cybernetic hand prosthesis” (EU/IST-2001-35094);
• 2002: Teaching E-Communication module and Intermediate Word and Excel module (38 hours
courses) in a course of Basic Computer Science organized by Peccioli city, Italy;
• 2002: Collaboration with CRIM Lab, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, for the Design and development of a
multi-processor control board for a robotic neuro-endoscopic system; development of the electronics, firmware and
communication SW, in the framework of the european project Mi.N.O.S.C. - ”Microneuroendoscopy of the Spinal
Cord” (EU/QLG5-CT-2001-02150);
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• Apr. 01 – Jan. 02: Research activity at MARCONI COMMUNICATIONS, PHOTONICS Research &
Development Laboratory, Genova, Italy. Work field: analog electronics and optoelectronics for Raman optical
amplification (design, controls, safety systems and improvements);
• April 01: Design and implementation of a complete wireless communication system for Protezione Civile del
comune di Boretto (Local Civil Protection System);
• May 00 – Apr. 01: Collaboration with “Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione”, University of
Parma, Italy, for the Low Power design of CMOS digital circuits for implantable pace-maker;
• Jul 99 – Apr 00: Collaboration with PHILIPS RESEARCH Laboratories (Monza, Italy) for the development
of an automatic perceived quality measurement system for processed images, based on the human visual perception;
• Oct. 98 – Feb. 99: Collaboration with IXL Laboratory (Laboratoire d’Etude de l’Intégration des Composants et Systèmes Electroniques) in Bordeaux, France for the set-up of a real-time DSP-based digital
signal filtering system;
• Jan. 99 – Apr. 99: Research project in Electronic Component Reliability, at IXL Laboratory, for reliability
measures on integrated electronic components.
Other Research and professional experiences
• from 2010: expert reviewer for the European Commission within FP7;
• Experience in writing, submitting and coordinating international industrial research projects;
• Research activity in International Research projects;
• Coordination of technical teams in international research projects.
Languages
• Italian (mother tongue);
• English: fluent;
• French: fluent;
• German: certificate from VHS, Karlsruhe: level Grundstufe 3 Teil 1.
Competences in Computer Science and computing architectures
• Deep knowledge of the following OSs: MacOS-X, Linux, Unix, Windows;
• Image processing libraries: MVTec Halcon, Open CV, InstantVision, Matrox Imaging libraries;
• Graphical libraries: QT libraries;
• 2D and 3D modeling: Autodesk Autocad and Inventor;
• Scientific and Simulation packages: Matlab, OrCAD, Simulink, FEMLAB (Finite Element Method simulations),
Khoros;
• Office packages: OpenOffice, MS-Office;
• Graphical Packages: Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, Gimp;
• Programming languages: C/C++, Matlab, Java, Microchip micro-controller Assembly, LaTex, 80x86 Assembly;
• Knowledge and experience in parallel computing using CNN (cellular non-linear network) visual micro-processor;
• Knowledge of Memory Prediction Framework theory and Hierarchical Temporal Memories;
• Knowledge and experience in programming boards with neural VLSI chips, DSPs, microcontrollers.
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Competences in Technologies
• Knowledge and experience in Surface Deposition Manufacturing and other techniques of Rapid Prototyping, such
as 3D printing;
• Flexible circuits design and fabrication;
• Experience in Clean Room facilities and processes: stage in “Asic Fabrication”, AIME (Atelier Interuniversitaire de
Micro-Electronique), Tolose, France, June 1999.
• Knowledge and experience in polyurethane-based prototyping.
Competences in Electronics
Analog and Digital electronics; embedded systems (Microchip PIC and DS-PIC core).
Prototypes: multiple fluidic on-off valves driver; multiple stepper motor driver; main control board of a robotic neuroendoscopy system, miniaturized optoelectronic conditioning and control units for tactile skin applications, wireless sensor
network core element and protocol...
Technical Societies and other activities
• Member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers);
• Member of “Ordine degli Ingegneri della provincia di Reggio Emilia”;
• Licensed Radio-Amateur;
• Member of the Italian National Board of Boy-Scout Association.
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Academic section
Scientific Publications
Papers on International Journals
1. Ascari, L.; Stefanini, C.; Bertocchi, U., Dario, P. “Robot-assisted endoscopic exploration of the spinal cord”,Proceedings
of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 2010, 224, 1515-1529
2. Ascari, L., Bertocchi, U., Corradi, P., Laschi, C., “Bio-inspired grasp control in a robotic hand with massive
sensorial input”, Biological Cybernetics, 100:2, 109 (2009)
3. Corradi, P., Ascari, L., Menciassi, A., Laschi, C., “A Micro-optical transducer for sensing applications’, International Journal of Optomechatronics, 2008 (2)
4. L. Ascari, P. Corradi, L. Beccai and C. Laschi, “A miniaturized and flexible optoelectronic sensing system for a
tactile skin”, International Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 17 (2007) 1-11.
5. Edin, B., Ascari, L., Beccai, L., Roccella, S., Cabibihan, J., and Carrozza, M., “Bio-inspired sensorization of
a biomechatronic robot hand for the grasp-and-lift task”, Brain Research Bulletin, Special Issue: Robotics and
Neuroscience, 2008, 75, 785-795.
6. L. Beccai, S. Roccella, L. Ascari, P. Valdastri, A. Sieber, M. Carrozza, and P. Dario, “Development and experimental analysis of a Soft Compliant Tactile Microsensor for anthropomorphic artificial hands,” IEEE/ASME
Transactions on Mechatronics, 2008, 13, 158-168.
Papers on Proceedings of peer-reviewed International Conferences
7. ASCARI L., G. BERRETTINI, M. GIACALONE, L. POTI’ (2010), Wavelength and Space Code Division Multiplexing in Optical Tomography. In: EOS 2010
8. ASCARI L., POTÃ L, TRIVELLA M.G, CONTINI D, SPINELLI L, TORRICELLI A, PIFFERI A, CUBEDDU
R, LABBATE A (2010). Monitoring Myocardial Tissue Hemodynamics during Ischemia and Reperfusion in Pig by
Time-Resolved NIRS. In: FOTONICA2010. Pisa
9. L. SPINELLI, A. FARINA, A. PIFFERI, A. TORRICELLI, D. CONTINI, R. CUBEDDU, ASCARI L., L. POTÃ,
M.G. TRIVELLA, A. L’ABBATE, S. PUZZOLI (2010). Time-resolved diffuse optical spectroscopy for Invivo
characterization of myocardial tissue in open chest pig. In: Proceedings of Fotonica 2010. Pisa
10. CONTINI D, SPINELLI L, TORRICELLI A, PIFFERI A, CUBEDDU R, ASCARI L., POTÃ L, TRIVELLA
M.G, LABBATE A (2009). Monitoring Myocardial Tissue Hemodynamics During Open Chest Surgery in Pig by
Time-Resolved NIRS. In: BIOMED2009
11. FARINA A, PIFFERI A, TORRICELLI A, SPINELLI L, CONTINI D, CUBEDDU R, ASCARI L., TRIVELLA
M.G, LABBATE A (2009). In-vivo characterization of myocardial by Time-resolved di?use optical spectroscopy in
open chest pig. In: OSA2009
12. F. Sassi, L. Ascari and S. Cagnoni, “Classifying human body acceleration patterns using a Hierarchical Temporal Memory”, XI Conference of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence (accepted), Reggio Emilia, Italy,
December 9-12, 2009.
13. S. Cagnoni, G. Matrella, F. Sassi, M. Mordonini and L. Ascari , “Sensor Fusion-oriented Fall Detection for Assistive Technologies Applications”, International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications (ISDA)
(accepted), Pisa, Nov.30 - Dec.2, 2009.
14. P. Corradi, L. Ascari, A. Menciassi and C. Laschi , “Micro-optical components assembly for the fabrication of a
miniaturized optoelectronic transducer”, International Symposium on Optomechatronics Technologies ISOT 2007,
Lausanne, Switzerland, 8-10 October 2007.
15. L. Ascari, M. Ziegenmeyer, P. Corradi, B. Gaflmann, M. Zöllner, R. Dillmann and P. Dario, “Can Statistics
help Walking Robots in Assessing Terrain Roughness? Platform Description and Preliminary considerations”, in
Prooceedings of the 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation ASTRA2006,
ESTEC, Noordwijk The Netherlands, 2006.
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16. L. Beccai, S. Roccella, L. Ascari, P. Valdastri, A. Sieber, M. Carrozza, and P. Dario, “Experimental analysis of a
soft compliant tactile microsensor to be integrated in an antropomorphic artificial hand,” in Proceedings of ESDA
2006, 8th Biennal ASME Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, 2006.
17. B. Edin, L. Beccai, L. Ascari, S. Roccella, J. Cabibihan, and M. Carrozza, “Bio-inspired approach for the design
and characterization of a tactile sensory system for a cybernetic prosthetic hand,” in Robotics and Automation,
2006. ICRA 2006. Proceedings 2006 IEEE International Conference on, pp. 1354–1358, May 15-19, 2006.
18. U. Bertocchi, L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, C. Laschi, and P. Dario, “Sensory feedback exploitation for robot-assisted exploration of the spinal cord,” in Robotics and Automation, 2006. ICRA 2006. Proceedings 2006 IEEE International
Conference on, pp. 601–606, May 15-19, 2006.
19. U. Bertocchi, L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, C. Laschi, and P. Dario, “Human-robot shared control for robot-assisted
endoscopy of the spinal cord,” in The first IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics
and Biomechatronics, BioRob, 2006.
20. L. Ascari, E. Cavallaro, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, “A novel biomimetic micro-inclinometer: modeling and preliminary prototypes,” in The first IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, BioRob, 2006.
21. C. Laschi, E. S. Maini, F. Patane’, L. Ascari, G. Ciaravella, U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, “A vestibular
interface for natural control of steering locomotion of robotic artifacts: preliminary experiments with a robotic
endoscope,” in 12th International Symposium of Robotics Research, San Francisco, October 2005.
22. L. Ascari, E. Cavallaro, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario, “Design and fabrication of a biomimetic inclinometer,” in
Proceedings of the XIX Eurosensors conference, 2005.
23. L. Ascari, U. Bertocchi, C. Laschi, C. Stefanini, A. Starita, and P. Dario, “A segmentation algorithm for a robotic
micro-endoscope for exploration of the spinal cord,” in Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on
Robotics and Automation (ICRA), (New Orleans), 2004.
24. L. Ascari, C. Stefanini, A. Menciassi, S. Sahoo, P. Rabischong, and P. Dario, “A new active microendoscope
for exploring the sub-arachnoid space in the spinal cord,” in Proceedings of the 2003 International Conference on
Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2003.
25. L. Ascari, A. Pierazzi, and C. Morandi, “Low power implementation of a sigma delta decimation filter for cardiac
applications,” in IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Budapest, Proceedings of, may
21-23 2001.
Papers on Proceedings of National Conferences
26. U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, L. Ascari, and P. Dario, “Optical-based pressure monitoring system for robot-assisted
spinal endoscopy,” in Proceedings of AISEM 2005, 2005.
Chapters on Books
27. C. Laschi, E. S. Maini, F. Patané, L. Ascari, G. Ciaravella, U. Bertocchi, C. Stefanini, and P. Dario and A. Berthoz,
A vestibular interface for natural control of steering locomotion of robotic artifacts: preliminary experiments, in
Robotics Research, Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics series, Springer Berlin / Heidelberg. DOI: 10.1007/9783-540-48113-3 46. ISBN: 978-3-540-48110-2.
Past affiliation
• 2008-2010: Research Scientist at CEIICP (Centre of Excellence for Information, Communication and Perception
Engineering), in the area of time-resolved diffuse optical tomography (TR-DOT) and Spectroscopy.
• 2005-2007: Research fellow at Biorobotics Research Group, IMT Alti Studi Lucca, Lucca, Italy
• 2002-2005: PhD student at CRIM and ARTS Labs, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
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Teaching and tutoring activity
• June 2005: Tutoring PhD. students of BioRobotic Science and Engineering program (Lucca, Italy) in the courses of
Prof. Cutkosky and Prof. Takanishi.
• 2005: Seminars on Outdoor Legged Robot Locomotion, Modular Controller Architecture for complex robots, Visiondriven robotic endoscopy; Vision-driven robot locomotion to PhD. students of BioRobotic Science and Engineering
program (Lucca, Italy);
• Sept 2003 - June 2004: Tutoring of a Master Thesis student of Computer Science, University of Pisa. Thesis
title: “Theoretical and experimental study of innovative robotic techniques for spinal neuroendoscopy.”;
• 2003: Tutoring students of the Mechatronics course of Prof. Dario, at Mechanical Engineering Faculty, University
of Pisa.
Education
• 12 July 2005: Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa. Marks: 100/100 cum laude;
Thesis title: “A novel robotic system for the exploration of the spinal cord”. Advisors: Prof. Paolo Dario, Prof.
Maria Chiara Carrozza, Prof. Arianna Menciassi;
• June - December 2004: Visiting scientist at Forschungszentrum Informatik (FZI), University of Karlsruhe, Germany
(design and implementation of a biologically inspired artificial vision system for autonomous walking robots);
• December 2003: Visiting student at “Analogic and Neural Computing Systems Laboratory”, Pazmany University,
Budapest, Hungary. Topic: use of CNNs computing architecture for parallel processing of tactile signals;
• May 2000 - November 2001: Post-Degree Scholarship at Parma University for the design of a analog sigma-delta
converter for a pace-maker;
• October 2000 - April 2001: Post-Degree Master in Telecommunications and Networking (I.F.O.A. - Reggio Emilia)
(not completed: joined Marconi corp. 1 month before the ending of the Master);
• May 2000 - State exam for the italian engineering profession qualification;
• April 2000: Laurea degree in Electronic Engineering (MscEE). Marks: 109/110, University of Parma, Italy. Thesis
in Biologically inspired Image Processing field by the title ”Study of a quality evaluation system for scaled images
containing textures”, with Prof. Carlo Morandi;
• October 1998 - April 1999: visiting student at ENSEIRB, Bordeaux, France, within the European Project “SOCRATES
– ERASMUS”.
• September 1994: Award of Mantova Industrial Association;
• July 1994: Scientific Lycee Diploma. Marks: 60/60. Liceo Scientifico Statale P.A. Maggi, Viadana, MN, Italy.
Additional courses and stages
• Participation to the XXV Annual School on ‘Neural Robotics’, Bressanone (Italy), 25-29 Sept. 2006;
• Participation to the Ph.D. course on ‘Visual servoing and its applications to Robotics, Computer Vision and Augmented Reality’, University of Siena and IEEE RAS, June 20-23, 2006
• Participation to the ‘third Optoelectronic and Photonic winter School’ in Trento, Italy from February 27th to March
4th 2005;
• Participation to ‘Minimally invasive therapeutics and technologies’ course, organized by University of Pisa, February
2004;
• Participation to the XXII Annual School on ‘Bioengineering of Posture and Movement’, Bressanone (Italy), 22-25
Sept. 2003;
• Participation to ‘First European School on NeuroEngineering, Massimo Grattarola’, Venice (I), 16-20 june 2003;
• Participation to the Course of Excellence ‘Neural and Nonlinear Information Processing’, held by Prof. Leon O.
Chua and Prof. Tamàs Roska, Torino Polytechnic (I), 23-25 june 2003;
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• Participation to more than 10 PhD thematic courses in the fields of Sensory-motor coordination, Robotic systems,
Perception, organized by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa (2002-2004);
• June 1999 - ‘Asic Fabrication’, AIME (Atelier Interuniversitaire de Micro-Electronique), Tolose, France.
Participation in International Conferences and Workshops
• 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation (ASTRA2006), ESTEC, ESA,
Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2006
• IEEE / RAS-EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, BioRob, Pisa, 2006.
• IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Barcelona, April 18 - 22, 2005;
• Technical Session Chair at ICRA2004 (Session: Robot Vision 1);
• IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, New Orleans, April 28 - May 1, 2004, partially funded
by RAS (Robotics and Automation Society);
• IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, Budapest, May 21-23, 2001;
Other scientific activities
• Member of the “Network Supervisory Board” of the FP7 MIBISOC “Medical Imaging Using Bio-inspired and Soft
Computing” (FP7-PEOPLE- ITN-2008), 2009-2013.
• Member of IEEE;
• Member of the Program Committee of the “1st International Workshop on Performance Methodologies and Tools
for Wireless Sensor Networks”, 2009 October 23, Pisa, Italy
• Ad hoc reviewer for Journal of Robotics and Automation, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, Proceedings of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H, Journal of Engineering in Medicine, Journal of Micromechanics and
Microengineering, Smart Materials and Structures;
• Part of the teaching staff for the preparation of a team of young Lyceum students for a micro-robot competition in
Japan (August 2005).
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Referring to the Italian law 196/2003 on personal data protection, I explicitly authorize the use of any information herein
contained for selection purposes.
Referring to the Italian law “art. 46 del D.P.R. 445 del 28 dicembre 2000”, on penal consequences of false data communication, I undersigned Luca Ascari, born on 1975 February 2nd in Brescello (RE), living 1 via Sofia, Parma (PR) Europe
DECLARE
that all information contained in this document corresponds to reality.
February 28, 2011
Luca Ascari
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