Background
My name is Nicola, and I’m from Bassano del Grappa, Italy. I hold a Bachelor’s in Information Engineering and two Master’s degrees from the University of Padova: one in Control Systems Engineering, focusing on control, statistics, and mathematical optimization, and another in Computer Engineering, specializing in computer vision, deep learning, and operational research. As an R&D Computer Vision Engineer for over three years, I’ve developed algorithms for customized vision systems across various industries, gaining proficiency in multiple programming languages. Additionally, I co-own Miscelacreativa, an artistic project that combines diffusion models and GANs to create unique visual art and live performances, showcasing my multifaceted approach to problem-solving and innovation.
Motivation
My motivation for pursuing this Ph.D. through the DC6 – ROBOTS project, focusing on robots like Boston Dynamics SPOT, stems from my desire to explore the intersection of large-scale vision models and their optimization for real-world applications. Large vision models often require significant computational resources, limiting their practical deployment, especially in edge computing scenarios. Through this research, I aim to simplify these models, maintaining high accuracy while reducing hardware demands and energy consumption. By developing efficient AI algorithms for edge devices, I hope to make robotic inspections more accessible, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable. This Ph.D. will contribute to more sustainable AI models that balance performance with efficiency, driving advancements in autonomous inspections and beyond.