PRIN CALL PROGRAM - D.D. 104 OF 2 FEBRUARY 2022 (PRIN 2022)

PROJECT TITLE: A metamaterial-based device for attenuating surface gravity waves (META)

PE3_14 sector - code 2022WKRYNL_002 - Measure M4C2 – Investment 1.1 “Projects of National Interest Research (PRIN)”

CUP CODE: D53D23002420006

Budget: € 84.894

P.I. or U.R. Coordinator

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units

Prof. Miguel ONORATO, University of Turin (P.I.)

Prof. Michele MOSSA, Polytechnic University of Bari, Vice PI and head of the Poliba UO

Dr. Paolo PEZZUTTO, National Research Council, head of the CNR UO

Brief project description

The PRIN 2022 project “A metamaterial-based device for attenuating surface gravity waves” aims to develop innovative devices for wave motion control and attenuation based on metamaterial concepts applied to hydrodynamics. The idea consists in the use of arrays of submerged floating elements, made up of hollow spheres tethered to the seabed by cables, which behave as oscillating systems. By interacting with incident waves, these elements modify propagation through reflection, transmission, and energy dissipation, with mechanisms analogous to metamaterials based on local resonance. The project was developed using an integrated experimental–numerical approach. Tests were carried out in a 45.20 m wave flume with spheres of 7.2 cm diameter, testing different density configurations. In parallel, a three-dimensional SPH numerical model (DualSPHysics) was implemented, capable of simulating free surfaces and fluid–structure interactions, including turbulence (SPS) and wave generation/absorption systems (AWAS).

Purpose

The main objective is to demonstrate the possibility of controlling wave propagation through metamaterial-inspired devices, achieving efficient attenuation of wave energy for coastal protection applications. A central aspect is the understanding of the physical mechanisms governing wave–oscillating system interaction, in particular resonance and dynamic coupling, which are essential to enhance reflection and dissipation. The project also aims to identify optimal configurations (geometry, density, wave conditions) and to develop reliable numerical models, supported by high-resolution experimental datasets.

Expected results

Among the expected results was the demonstration of the effectiveness of metamaterial configurations in modifying wave propagation and attenuating its energy. The identification of optimal operating conditions and the highlighting of resonance phenomena, with a consequent increase in reflection, were also anticipated. In addition, the project aimed to quantify reflection and transmission coefficients and to collect detailed experimental datasets. From a numerical standpoint, the objective was to validate a three-dimensional SPH model capable of reproducing waves and fluid–structure interactions, providing useful tools for design.

Achieved results

An extensive experimental campaign was carried out with different array configurations and regular waves (heights 2–4 cm, frequencies 0.6–2.0 Hz). The results showed a strong dependence of attenuation on frequency and configuration, with reflection peaks around 1.1 Hz and 1.6 Hz, associated with resonance phenomena. The measurements (resistive probes and ADV) provided high-resolution datasets, including vertical velocity profiles, useful for detailed analysis of the flow fields. The SPH model (up to ~22 million particles) reproduced the free surface and velocities with good agreement, confirming its ability to simulate the observed phenomena. Overall, it was demonstrated that the sphere arrays behave as effective hydrodynamic metamaterials, capable of significantly reducing wave energy, with resonance as the key mechanism. The integrated experimental–numerical approach proved robust and promising for future coastal protection applications.

Some papers already published (others are in the process of being published)

• De Padova, Diana, Barbato, Giuliana, Lapietra, Isabella, Lisco, Stefania Nunzia, Mastronuzzi, Giuseppe, Mercogliano, Paola, Mossa, Michele, Rizzo, Angela (in press). Beneath the Surface: How Climate Change Intensifies Erosion and Suspended Sediment Loads. EARTH SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENT, ISSN: 2509-9426, doi: 10.1007/s41748-025-00871-0

• Calvo, L., De Padova, D., Onorato, M. et al. SPH modelling of wave attenuation by an array of submerged resonators and vorticity generation mechanism. Environmental Fluid Mechanics 25, 21 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-025-10034-4

• De Serio, Francesca, De Padova, Diana, Ben Meftah, Mouldi, Mossa, Michele (2025). A framework for data analysis from long-term monitoring in anthropized coastal areas. JOURNAL OF ECOHYDRAULICS, vol. 10, pp. 366-388, ISSN: 2470-5357, doi: 10.1080/24705357.2024.2428959

• Mossa, Michele, De Padova, Diana, Onorato, Miguel (2025). Damping of solitons by coastal vegetation.. JOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS, vol. 1002, A45, ISSN: 0022-1120, doi: 10.1017/jfm.2024.1185

• Mossa, Michele, De Padova, Diana (2025). Interaction between waves and vegetation. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 15, 6157, ISSN: 2045-2322, doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-89627-4

• De Padova, Diana, Ben Meftah, Mouldi, Mossa, Michele (2025). Theoretical and numerical investigation of wave attenuation on vegetated seabeds. EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, vol. 50, e70054, ISSN: 0197-9337, doi: 10.1002/esp.70054

• Mossa, Michele; Pezzutto, Paolo; Onorato, Miguel. TESTING THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL RESPONSE OF A METAMATERIAL-BASED DEVICE FOR ATTENUATING SURFACE GRAVITY WAVES - (2024). 38th International Conference on Coastal Engineering Rome September 8-14, 2024).

• by serio, mossa, de padova, ben meftah (2024). PLUNGING WAVES IN THE INNER SURF ZONE AND BURGERS-LIKE TURBULENCE. In: Proceedings of 38th International Conference on Coastal Engineering. Rome, Italy, September 8–14 2024

• De Padova, Diana, Mossa, Michele (2020). Hydrodynamics of Regular Breaking Waves. In: Geophysics and Ocean Waves Studies. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.94449

PRIN 2022 PROGRAMME - PRIN2022 CALL FOR PROPOSALS D.D. No.104 OF 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: Quantitative Imaging of Vascular Dysregulation as a Functional Basis for Autoimmune Disorders and Tumors (AI-VASCUES)

CUP CODE: D53D23003480006

Budget: € 55.045

P.I. or U.R. Manager: Vitoantonio Bevilacqua

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units
Polytechnic University of Turin
University of Turin
University of Bari

Brief project description

The AI-VASCUES project investigated vascular dysregulation as a shared functional biomarker across autoimmune/inflammatory conditions and tumors, leveraging quantitative photoacoustic (PA) imaging to visualize and analyze vascular networks non-invasively. The project’s main technological direction was to enable volumetric and functional PA imaging using a conventional linear ultrasound probe and multi-angle illumination, supported by artificial intelligence methods for reconstruction, artifact reduction, and automated analysis.

Purpose

The project aimed to develop an imaging and analysis pipeline capable of extracting quantitative vascular parameters (and, where possible, metabolic parameters) correlatable with clinically relevant endpoints. In the original plan, clinical translation focused on two reference use cases, Achilles tendinopathy and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, using vascular information derived from PA imaging as the main indicator, with the long-term goal of supporting clinically usable biomarkers of dysregulation.

Expected results

The expected results included: (i) a robust PA/US acquisition system, with optimized multi-angle illumination and compatibility with linear probes; (ii) artificial intelligence-based methods for PA image reconstruction and enhancement/analysis (including strategies specifically designed for limited-view geometries); and (iii) progressive validation, from simulations and phantom studies to preclinical/clinical studies, aimed at enabling the quantitative assessment of vascular signatures associated with inflammatory and tumour processes.

Achieved results

AI-VASCUES produced enabling results to support subsequent clinical translation: an experimental 3D PA/US imaging system based on a linear probe; extensive safety engineering and system characterization activities; two ethical approvals; preliminary in vivo feasibility studies in healthy volunteers; artificial intelligence-based methods for image enhancement and automated analysis; as well as benchmarking activities, supported by simulations and phantoms, of volumetric reconstruction strategies for limited-view acquisitions. In parallel, clinical progress was maintained through complementary developments in tendon analysis (3D imaging/quantitative ultrasound) and dermatological studies using biomedical optical imaging techniques, such as LC-OCT.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: LOREN - LOw-delay congestion control for REal-time applications over the iNternet

CODICE CUP D53D23000960006

Budget: € 135.200

P.I. or U.R. Manager: Prof. Eng. Saverio Mascolo

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units: Sapienza University of Rome

Brief project description

Congestion control in packet networks has historically been aimed at preventing overload while ensuring high network utilization, and has been implemented through congestion control in TCP. 

Today, the growing spread of real-time applications - such as videoconferencing, virtual reality, remote control even from LEO satellites - also requires latency control. In this context, the project aims to develop an algorithm capable of controlling both congestion and transmission delays.

The proposed approach is based on control theory to design solutions with formally provable stability and efficiency properties. The algorithm is applicable both to wired networks and to 5G scenarios characterized by high variability and intermittent connectivity, where traditional TCP protocols are less effective. While respecting the end-to-end principle, advanced network functionalities such as SDN, cross-layer optimizations, and in-band telemetry are also considered.  

Purpose

The purpose of the project is to overcome the limitations of traditional TCP by using control theory for a new low-delay protocol. The project also aims to integrate control at different levels of the network stack, from transport to the application layer, addressing issues such as synchronization in distributed systems, dynamic resource adaptation, and congestion control in vehicular communications.

Expected results

The expected results include the development of a rigorous theoretical framework for modeling and analyzing congestion and latency control systems for real-time traffic. Advanced simulations and tests on real networks, including production networks and 5G testbeds, are expected to demonstrate superior performance in terms of congestion, channel utilization, and latency.

From an application perspective, the project aims to significantly improve the quality and reliability of communications for time-sensitive applications, with important scientific, technological, and socio-economic impacts.

Achieved results  

The QUIC-DC (QUIC delay control) algorithm has been designed and implemented, capable of exploiting one-way delay variation to anticipate congestion events and thereby control queuing delay. Experimental evaluations, in controlled and real environments (including LEO satellite networks), show a significant reduction in latency and losses, while maintaining efficiency and fairness.

Relevant results have also been achieved in streaming: a distributed playback synchronization strategy based on consensus and event-triggered control, with reduced communication overhead, and a low-complexity Adaptive Bitrate algorithm based on Model Predictive Control, with improvements in Quality of Experience. In the 5G NR-V2X context, models and algorithms for congestion control oriented toward the Age of Information have been developed, improving data freshness and reliability. 

PRIN 2022 PROGRAM - PRIN 2022 CALL Ministerial Decree D.D. 104 of 2 February 2022

PROJECT TITLE: RE3WORK – REsilient REtrofitting and REuse of Water Heritage and built environments: multi-objective Optimization for RisK mitigation and cultural enhancement

CUP CODE: D53D23015460006

Budget: € 114.972

P.I.: Prof. Fabio Fatiguso

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units involved in the project: 
University of Rome “La Sapienza”
University of Bologna “Alma Mater”

1. Brief description of the project

The project addresses the recovery and reuse of water-related built heritage, with particular reference to architectures, infrastructures, and industrial systems located in ports, arsenals, and river plants. These contexts, often characterized by physical and functional obsolescence and vulnerability to natural and human-induced risks, represent a complex heritage in which tangible values (materials, construction techniques, morphologies, environmental relationships) and intangible values (productive history, organizational models, memory of labor, and management processes) must be analyzed in an integrated manner. Within this framework, the research explores the potential of multidisciplinary methodological approaches and enabling digital technologies for structured cataloguing, cultural enhancement, and resilient mitigation within a framework of regeneration and reintegration into the relevant social and economic contexts. 

2. Purpose

The objectives concern: the identification and classification of representative types of built water environments; the assessment of resilience with respect to natural and anthropogenic risk scenarios; the analysis of the potential for sustainable reuse and transformability; the selection of meta-design strategies for recovery, reuse and enhancement; the validation of technical, management, and economic-institutional solutions; and the creation of digital environments for collaborative consultation and user training/information.

3. Expected results

The expected results refer to the development of an integrated system of knowledge, assessment, and decision support for cultural enhancement and resilient mitigation of water-related built environments. For this purpose, systematic catalogues of case studies, GIS/BIM models for multi-scale analysis, multi-criteria metrics for assessing vulnerability and reuse potential, atlases of meta-design strategies, technical and economic-managerial feasibility schemes, VR/AR demonstrators, and an operational tech-kit for control and intervention are envisaged. 

4. Achieved results 

• development of a digital WebGIS catalogue for the organization, consultation, and dissemination of multi-level cataloguing data on the water-related built heritage, integrating spatial and descriptive information in an interoperable and accessible georeferenced database 

• implementation of a WebGIS platform for the analysis of site risk and vulnerabilities, through the integration of data relating to natural hazards, anthropogenic pressures, infrastructure, and asset characteristics, also via institutional geospatial services.

• creation of a digital atlas of risk-oriented mitigation strategies, structured to support the identification, selection, and comparison of structural and non-structural measures in relation to specific hazard scenarios and typological configurations.

• development of a GIS model for the rapid and spatially explicit assessment of explosion risk in port environments and on critical buildings, with generation of unsafe indoor and outdoor areas and calculation of synthetic KPI indicators to support safety planning and management

• definition of a digital tech-kit for the reuse, recovery, and risk management of sites and assets of the water heritage, integrating information systems, inventories of meta-design strategies, atlases of mitigation solutions, and virtual environments for technical consultation, dissemination, and user training.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE All-dielectric resonant metasurfaces enhancing Photon emission phenomena (ALPHA)

CUP CODE D53D23001060006

Budget: € 150.400

P.I. or U.R. Manager: Prof. Francesco Dell'Olio, Polytechnic University of Bari

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units: CNR - Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM), Rome - U.R. Manager: Dr. Dimitrios C. Zografopoulos; sub-unit: Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genoa.

Brief project description

The PRIN 2022 ALPHA project (MUR code 202288M84C), coordinated by the Politecnico di Bari with the participation of the CNR - Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM), concerned the design, nanofabrication, and characterization of resonant dielectric metasurfaces based on bound states in the continuum (BIC) and quasi-BIC for enhancing photon emission phenomena. The project received financial support from the Ministry of University and Research under the PRIN 2022 Call (D.D. no. 104 of 02/02/2022), Mission 4 "Education and Research", Component 2, Investment 1.1, funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU. The activities were carried out from 28/09/2023 to 28/02/2026.

Purpose

To develop all-dielectric metasurface platforms with a high quality factor and strong field confinement, optimized for light-matter interaction and for two application directions: fluorescence microscopy/fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and electron-beam-induced photon generation. The project also aimed to integrate modeling, experimental validation, and HW/SW tools supporting analysis.

Expected results

Definition of project specifications and electromagnetic design; fabrication of optimized samples; optical characterization with validation of resonant modes; identification of an optimized metasurface for both application lines; feasibility studies with external partners; dissemination of results through deliverables and scientific publications.

Achieved results

The project developed and validated high-Q metasurfaces, in particular GaP platforms supporting qBIC resonances in the visible range and square-slot silicon metasurfaces with multiple BIC/qBIC states experimentally verified. Feasibility studies toward fluorescence microscopy and electron-induced photon generation were completed, also in interaction with IIT Genoa, and the software workflow for image reconstruction was prepared. All planned milestones and deliverables, including hardware and software ones, were completed; the results were disseminated through final reports and publications in international peer-reviewed journals.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE Smart Communities for Resilient Energy Transition – SCORET 

CUP CODE D53D23001600006 

Budget: €  88.876

P.I. or U.R. Coordinator  Prof. Massimo La Scala (Principal Investigator) 

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units

UR: Politecnico di BARI – UR Coordinator: LA SCALA Massimo

UR: Università degli Studi di CAGLIARI – UR Coordinator: GHIANI Emilio

UR: Università degli Studi di ROMA "La Sapienza" – UR Coordinator: MARTIRANO Luigi

UR: Università degli Studi di SALERNO – UR Coordinator: GALDI Vincenzo

UR: Politecnico di MILANO – UR Coordinator: CABIDDU Maria Agostina

Brief project description

The Smart Communities for Resilient Energy Transition - SCORET project was developed with the aim of promoting the energy transition through the design and implementation of Energy Communities based on decentralized, resilient, and sustainable models. The project proposed advanced energy management solutions, combining microgrid and storage technologies with digital technologies and blockchain-based platforms, proposing an innovative network architecture called Grid-Connected Community of Microgrids.

Purpose

The main purpose of the project was to develop models, tools, and methodologies for the design, control, and optimal management of Energy Communities, improving the integration of renewable sources, energy efficiency, and the resilience of distribution networks. The project also aimed to encourage active user participation, the provision of flexibility services, and the adoption of new decentralized energy market models. 

Expected results

The expected results included:

• the development of advanced tools for the planning and optimization of Energy Communities; 

• the definition of innovative architectures of interconnected and collaborative microgrids; 

• the implementation of real-time control strategies for safety and resilience; 

• the integration of digital technologies (e.g. blockchain) to enable energy exchange among prosumers according to the Transactive Energy paradigm; this allows producers and consumers (“prosumers”) to exchange energy directly in real time, also through peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, improving efficiency and promoting the integration of renewable sources

• the analysis of regulatory, economic, and social aspects to promote the large-scale adoption of Energy Communities.

Achieved results 

The project fully achieved the set objectives, producing significant results at both scientific and technological levels.

Advanced models for the management and control of Energy Communities were developed and validated through case studies and real experiments, also using Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) technologies.

Solutions were proposed to improve network resilience, including black-start services and coordinated microgrid management strategies. These results appear particularly promising not only for managing emergency conditions in distribution networks of modern electrical systems, but also in relation to isolated or weakly interconnected networks, such as in areas in developing countries or in areas that have experienced critical natural or war-related events. 

In addition, tools for economic and energy optimization, digital platforms for energy trading, and regulatory analyses supporting their implementation in the real context were developed, identifying barriers and opportunities.

The project demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of Energy Communities as key elements for the creation of more sustainable, resilient, and decentralized energy systems, with positive impacts also at the social and economic levels. 

All scientific publications produced within the project, as well as the reports and guidelines intended for regulators and users, are available on the project’s dedicated website, accessible at the following link: https://portale-prin.vercel.app/

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE METAWAVE - Nuova finestra in metamateriale for simultaneous Acoustic, Ventilation and Energy performance

CODICE CUP D53D23003950006

Budget: € 97,380.00 (including staff), net funding € 66,152.00

U.R. Coordinator Francesco MARTELLOTTA

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units 
University of Bologna (PI) 
CNR-ITC (UR)

Purpose

The project aims to develop innovative windows capable of reconciling energy efficiency, acoustic comfort, natural lighting, ventilation, and overheating control. The research proposes a window based on acoustic metamaterials integrated into the window structure and capable of controlling noise over a sufficiently wide bandwidth, ensuring good natural ventilation and maintaining good energy performance. 

Expected results

The project is structured into several work packages, aimed at exploring specific aspects:

WP2 aims to build a shared knowledge base on the state of the art regarding acoustic metamaterials, innovative windows, ventilation, and thermo-fluid dynamic aspects. The expected output is a literature review published in a journal.

WP3 provides for the concept and preliminary design of the system, integrating acoustic, energy, and ventilation requirements. Reports and scientific publications are expected on the overall design and on the predicted performance, combining experimental results and numerical models. 

WP4 provides for the fabrication and experimental validation of laboratory-scale meta-material units. The expected results include the development of a laboratory measurement protocol, on small-size samples for acoustic characterization and air permeability, and the subsequent collection of experimental measurements to characterize the system. 

WP5 provides for the realization and verification of the full-scale AMW prototype. The expected results include the assessment of acoustic performance and air permeability both in the laboratory and in situ. 

WP1 and WP6 provide respectively for management and dissemination activities of the results

Achieved results 

The Politecnico di Bari unit, within WP2, coordinated the bibliographic survey on the use of metamaterials in windows, which resulted in the review article published in Building and Environment in 2025. With reference to WP3, the POLIBA unit developed the CFD analysis of the ventilation performance of the units, providing essential indications for evaluating and improving the fluid-dynamic behavior of the system. Within WP4, the POLIBA unit played a central role in the development of experimental tests on the metamaterial units, enhancing the laboratory instrumentation for transmission loss measurements and developing a methodology, based on ISO 9053-1, to characterize the ventilation of the units in a standardized way, published in Building and Environment. Finally, measurements were carried out on a 1:10 scale model, intended to provide a complement to the surveys conducted in situ within WP5 by the other project units.

Publications:

C. Rubino, S. Liuzzi, G. Fusaro, F. Martellotta, C. Scrosati, M. Garai. Balancing ventilation and sound insulation in windows by means of metamaterials: A review of the state of the art. Building and Environment 275 (2025) 112780. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112780

C. Rubino, S. Liuzzi, F. Martellotta. Assessing airflow performance of ventilated acoustic metamaterials: a methodology to enhance comparability of results. Building and Environment 288 (2026) 114001. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.114001

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: Improving Nature-Smart Policies through Innovative Resilient Evaluations (INSPIRE)

CODICE CUP: D53D23011200006

Local Unit Budget: Total € 75.042 euro 

U.R. Coordinator Pierluigi Morano

Other Research Units: 

Roma Sapienza
University of Basilicata
University of Naples Federico II

Brief project description

The INSPIRE project – Improving Nature-Smart Policies Through Innovative Resilient Evaluations, funded under the PRIN 2022 program, aims to strengthen analytical models and operational tools supporting decision-making for the assessment of territorial policies oriented toward the sustainability and resilience of urban systems.

The project is set within a scientific context characterized by the growing complexity of urban and territorial transformations, involving environmental, economic, social, and institutional factors. In this framework, evaluation disciplines make it possible to integrate quantitative information, sustainability indicators, and analytical models useful for comparing alternative scenarios and reducing the uncertainty associated with planning and investment choices.

Purpose

The general objective is to develop integrated methodologies to improve public and private decision-making processes, promoting sustainable, resilient and financially sustainable urban development models. In particular, the project aims to: integrate economic, environmental and social dimensions into assessments; develop tools for nature-smart policies and urban regeneration; include the assessment of environmental risks in decision-making processes; analyse the role of ESG indicators in territorial governance and investments; create digital platforms for the management and analysis of territorial data.

Expected results

The expected results include the development of an interdisciplinary methodological framework integrating urban economics, planning, real estate valuation, and environmental sciences. The main outputs include assessment models for urban policies, systems of indicators for sustainability and resilience, applications of MCDA methods, econometric models and GIS tools, as well as an integrated digital platform (INSPIRE) for territorial monitoring and analysis.

Achieved results

The activities carried out have produced significant results both in scientific and applied terms. Models have been developed for the analysis of environmental risk, urban decay, and real estate dynamics, highlighting the link between environmental conditions and socio-economic vulnerability. In addition, GIS tools and multicriteria methods have been implemented to support urban planning and investment decisions.

A significant contribution also concerns the integration of ESG indicators into decision-making processes and the development of impact assessment models, with attention to Nature-Based Solutions for urban resilience. Among the applied results, the INSPIRE platform stands out, designed as an integrated information environment for the collection and analysis of territorial data.

Finally, the results have been disseminated through scientific publications and participation in international conferences, including ICCSA and New Metropolitan Perspectives, as well as through the organization of the INSPIRE conference (2025), contributing to the scientific debate on urban and territorial sustainability.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: Accurate Simulation of Bio-hybrid Soft Swimmers (ABYSS)

CODICE CUP: D53D23003410006

Budget: € 106.888

P.I.: Marco Donato de Tullio (Polytechnic University of Bari)

Other Research Units: 
Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and University Specialization (VAT No.: Antonio De Simone)
University of Calabria (P.I.: Leonardo Leonetti)

The ABYSS research project is dedicated to the numerical simulation of bio-hybrid soft swimmers inspired by jellyfish. The project is based on the assumption that a holistic digital representation of soft robot locomotion cannot be achieved by isolating individual physical phenomena. On the contrary, swimming behavior emerges from the complex interaction between the excitation waves propagating through the active tissue, the deformation of soft structures, and the dynamics of the surrounding fluid. Consequently, the project has been aimed at the progressive integration of these interacting mechanisms within a unified computational framework. 

The main expected outcome of this research is a flexible and accurate computational tool that enables the study of fluid-structure-electrophysiology interaction, capable of providing high-fidelity predictions of the coupling between actuation and locomotion in pulsating swimmer models. In particular, by focusing on the study of jellyfish-inspired propulsion, the tool must make it possible to gain an in-depth understanding of the relationship between activation dynamics and swimming performance. Moreover, it must allow the systematic exploration of design parameters for bio-hybrid medusoids, supporting the identification of efficient configurations and reducing dependence on extensive experimental campaigns.

The overall objectives of the project were achieved. An efficient computational platform was developed for high-fidelity multiphysics simulations of active soft swimmers, obtained by coupling advanced methods for fluid-structure-electrophysiology interaction. The framework enabled high-accuracy simulations of jellyfish locomotion, making it possible to characterize the entire neuro-mechanical chain, from electrophysiological activation to muscle contraction and fluid-structure interaction, and clarifying the role of different neuro-muscular architectures. The numerical tool was used to simulate swimming behavior under different conditions, while maintaining a level of abstraction that ensures its general applicability beyond the single biological organism. A systematic analysis was conducted to assess the influence of the main physiological and control parameters. In-depth analyses of body-vortex interaction made it possible to clarify the mechanisms underlying thrust generation, including the case of asymmetric actuation, typical of turning and maneuvering strategies that enable motion control. The simulation campaigns also led to the identification of scaling laws linking electrophysiological actuation parameters to locomotion performance, providing quantitative guidelines for the design and control of artificial systems. Finally, the study was extended to the simulation and design of bio-inspired soft robotic systems, evaluating key performance metrics such as propulsive efficiency and transport cost. Based on the knowledge acquired from the analysis of natural jellyfish locomotion, the simulations made it possible to identify optimal design solutions in the field of bio-hybrid robotics.

In conclusion, the ABYSS project has demonstrated that high-fidelity multiphysics simulations can provide operational insights and guide the rational design of bio-inspired soft swimmers. By combining expertise in fluid dynamics, thin-structure mechanics, electrophysiology, and numerical analysis, the consortium has built a computational framework that can be readily extended to broader classes of active swimmers and deformable aquatic robots, justifying the continuation of research activities along the directions opened up by the project.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE 

Going beyond recycling: Reshaping of End-of LIFE components through advanced sheet metal forming processes (RELIFE)

CUP CODE D53C24004610001

Budget: € 64000

U.R. Coordinator 

Antonio Piccininni

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units

1. University of Palermo

2. Polytechnic University of Marche

Project description

The RELIFE project (“Going beyond recycling: Reshaping of End-of-Life components through advanced sheet metal forming processes”) aims to develop an innovative circular economy approach for End-of-Life (EoL) metal components, based on their direct reuse through advanced sheet metal plastic deformation processes. In particular, the project analyses the potential of certain flexible processes (Flexible Sheet Metal Forming, FSMF), such as: a) Hydroforming (HF, both hot and cold), in which the sheet metal component is deformed under the action of a pressurised liquid; b) Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF), in which the sheet metal component is locally and incrementally deformed by the action of a rotating punch following a predefined trajectory; c) Hot Gas Metal Forming (HGMF), in which the sheet metal component, once heated to a temperature above half the alloy’s melting temperature, is deformed under the action of pressurised gas. Regardless of the choice of the specific technological solution, the objective is to transform discarded components into new products without resorting to traditional recycling based on remelting. The approach integrates numerical modelling, characterisation of the alloys under study, environmental analysis (LCA) and the development of decision-support tools (decision-making tools) to efficiently design reshaping operations

Purpose

The main objective of the project is to overcome the limits of conventional recycling, reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions associated with metal production, through direct reuse strategies for end-of-life components. RELIFE aims to demonstrate the technical and environmental feasibility of reshaping as a sustainable alternative, developing design methodologies and tools that make it possible to select and optimize the most suitable forming processes according to the characteristics of the initial component and the desired final product. In this way, the project contributes to the transition toward more sustainable production models, in line with the principles of the circular economy. 

Expected results

The project includes several key outcomes: (i) the definition of methodologies for inspecting and assessing the re-formability of end-of-life components; (ii) the development and validation of advanced numerical models to simulate reshaping processes; (iii) the identification of process windows and optimal parameters for the various FSMF processes; (iv) the quantification of environmental benefits compared with conventional recycling through LCA; and (v) the development of guidelines and decision-support tools for the industrial implementation of reshaping. Overall, RELIFE aims to provide a scientific basis and operational tools to promote the industrial adoption of advanced reuse strategies for end-of-life (EoL) metal components.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE Evolution problems involving interacting scales

CODICE CUP D53D23005880006

Budget: € 141.712

P.I. Giuseppe Maria Coclite

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units

University of Palermo (Maria Carmela Lombardo)

Today it is widely recognized that the behavior of any physical system at a given space-time scale is profoundly governed by laws involving other, often different, scales, and that such laws remain largely unknown. The paradigmatic problem of turbulence in fluids constitutes one of the most tangible manifestations of this reality; however, many other phenomena that are still not fully explained also appear to depend on the cross-scale interaction of the laws governing them. These issues concern both biological and geophysical materials. Understanding these phenomena requires a collective effort from numerous scientific fields, and mathematics plays a fundamental role in identifying the appropriate conceptual framework to advance knowledge.

The research activities were organized into the following work packages:

• WP: Energy transfer in nonlocal evolution equations
• WP: Singularity formation in nonlocal evolution equations
• WP: Local limit of peridynamic theories
• WP: Computational methods for peridynamics
• WP: Stacking faults and partial dislocations in the HCP lattice
• WP: Antiferromagnetic XY model on the triangular lattice
• WP: Frustrated three-dimensional spin systems
• WP: Transition layers for nonlinear RD systems
• WP: Localized solutions for chemotaxis models
• WP: Stability of vortex layers
• WP: Stability and convection in fluid and porous layers

The main tools used to achieve the research objectives were developed starting from classical methods of harmonic analysis, potential theory, analytical fluid dynamics, and computational fluid dynamics.

The two research units organized 11 international workshops and 31 seminars delivered by internationally renowned experts, held 20 seminars at national and international institutions, presented 54 communications at international workshops, and published 61 articles in international journals and 6 preprints.

The Palermo Research Unit organized the intermediate international conference “Multiscale and Nonlocal Problems in PDEs”, held on 20 and 21 June 2024, with the aim of giving the research group the opportunity to present the intermediate results achieved and to discuss the project’s subsequent developments. The Polytechnic University of Bari Research Unit organized the final international conference “Second Workshop on Multiscale and Nonlocal Problems in PDEs”, held on 19 and 20 June 2025, in order to present the results obtained to scholars external to the project.

The Palermo Research Unit entered into a legal agreement concerning the awarding of a type B research fellowship, lasting 12 months and subsequently extended for a further 4 months, to Dr. Alessandra Rizzo, for the performance of research activities within the project entitled “Coherent structures and hydrodynamic and parabolic asymptotic limits”, under the scientific responsibility of Prof. Maria Carmela Lombardo.

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE TARAS – Tarantine Ancient Archaeology and Architecture: Restoration and Sustainability. From the morphological study of an architectural heritage to a sustainable proposal with innovative methods for its restoration and enhancement codice 202238L4HZ ; 

Single Booking Center D53D23014740006

Budget: € 152,328

P.I. prof.ssa Roberta Belli

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units: UR2 CNR-Institute of Cultural Heritage Sciences; Sub-Unit: National Superintendency for Underwater Cultural Heritage, Taranto; Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto.

Brief project description

Developed in collaboration with the National Superintendency of Taranto and the CNR ISPC of Lecce The project studies and enhances the funerary architecture of ancient Taranto through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates material analysis, historical-architectural research, and digital technologies. It focuses in particular on funerary monuments, such as the female student, developing sustainable restoration methodologies and 3D reconstructions to improve understanding and accessibility of the heritage. It also includes innovative solutions, such as the use of so-called smart materials, namely non-ferrous shape memory alloys (SMA), with the ultimate aim of creating reversible and replicable conservation systems, compatible with the Tarentine monuments and potentially applicable to similar conservation and enhancement contexts.

Purpose:

• Study and enhance Tarentine funerary architecture and its context: naiskoi and necropolises.
• Integrate archaeology, architecture, materials science, and digital technologies.
• Develop sustainable, reversible, and compatible restoration methodologies.
• Improve historical and construction-related knowledge of funerary monuments.
• Promote accessibility and multisensory enjoyment of the heritage.  
• Create digital tools for research, protection, and management.

Expected results: 

• Cataloguing and analysis of archaeological and architectural data.
• Develop an integrated knowledge system: database and GIS.
• 3D reconstructions and digital anastylosis.
• Physical prototypes and accessible models (including tactile ones).
• Sustainable and reversible restoration methodologies.
• Innovative systems with smart materials (SMA).
• Scientific analysis of lithic materials and finishes.  
• Scientific and outreach dissemination of the results.

Results achieved: 

• Achieved the scientific and applied objectives of the project.  
• Catalogued a significant number of architectural materials preserved in the superintendency's storage facilities.
• Expanded and systematized knowledge of Tarentine funerary architecture.
• Created an integrated database and GIS platform.
• Developed 3D models, digital twins, and anastylosis protocols.
• Produced physical models (including tactile ones) and full-scale prototypes.
• Tested innovative restoration systems with SMA alloys.
• Identified materials, pigments, and degradation processes.
• Improved accessibility of the heritage.
• Activated dissemination activities, publications, and territorial collaborations. 

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: PRIN_SOFTNESS

CUP CODE _CUP D53D2300101000

Budget: € 73.477

P.I. or U.R. Coordinator 
Prof. Gianluca Percoco

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units 
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, University of Genoa

Brief project description

Proprioception is the sense that lets us perceive the location, movement, and action of parts of the body. Thanks to proprioception, for example, we can drink a glass of water with closed eyes. Any stimulus coming from outside the body is sensed owing to exteroception, including, among others, touch and pressure. Human beings can take these senses for granted, but this is not the case for robots, especially if they are "soft” to ensure safe human-robot interaction.  

Research on soft robotics is becoming increasingly important worldwide, but how soft robots can sense their bodies and interact with the external environment remains an open question and a challenge, due to their continuously deformable structure, which imposes the use of flexible and light sensors.  

Stretchable strain sensors based on smart textiles or electrically conductive polymers are good candidates, being non-invasive, flexible, easy to use, and inexpensive. Common devices are piezoresistive strain sensors, whose electrical resistance changes in response to an applied mechanical stretching. The main drawbacks of these soft materials are their remarkable electromechanical hysteresis and nonlinear relaxation dynamics, which must be accurately compensated to properly exploit them as sensors. 

Additionally, in general, soft robots are still produced with high manual effort: the higher the complexity of the robot, the higher the skill needed by human operators, together with the increase in time and costs for fabricating and assembling. As a consequence, a further research challenge is the automatization and production standardization of these robots. In this context, 3D printing is very promising, having the potential of fabricating soft structures with embedded actuators and sensors. This will pave the way for fully automated manufacturing of sensorized and custom-made soft robots. 

SOFTNESS aims to design a 3D-printed, sensorized soft robotic arm, able to sense its spatial configuration (proprioception) and detect contact with external objects (exteroception). Both already available stretchable sensors (e.g., made of conductive textiles) and custom 3D-printed sensors, made of conductive composite materials based on a polymeric matrix, will be used. Model-based and data-driven approaches will be used to compensate for the intrinsic nonlinearity of these sensing materials, allowing for proper exploitation as strain and contact sensors. Signals provided by several sensors installed on the arm will be elaborated through an embedded device, to reconstruct the spatial configuration of the arm and the contact location of external stimuli, in real-time. 

SOFTNESS will then provide a custom 3D-printed soft robotic arm with proprioception and exteroception capabilities that will enable its accurate control, which is now possible only by resorting to invasive and bulky external optical sensors that can limit the movements of the arm. 

Purpose

SOFTNESS aims at developing a new generation of soft robotic arms, which rely on the latest advancements in fabrication technologies and modeling approaches for the development of integrated sensors and actuators. Examples of suitable actuation approaches are already available in the literature, and they constitute a solid wealth of knowledge that can be fully exploited through advanced fabrication technologies. On the other side, sensing still requires fundamental efforts, for the lack of suitable technological solutions that guarantee the necessary level of reliability, without affecting the arm performance

Expected results

During the project development, all partners will acquire new knowledge and data and make them available to the international scientific community through open-access publications and participation in international conferences. The impact will primarily concern researchers working in robotics, AI, nonlinear modeling, machine learning, ergonomics, control, and materials. 

The partners understand that an integrated and coordinated strategy for disseminating and using the results and outcomes will be key to the project’s overall success. Therefore, dissemination, exploitation, and communication activities will serve as the driving force to achieve the expected impacts. 

Providing information to the identified stakeholder groups will ensure that SOFTNESS is known by the relevant stakeholders, end-users, scientific community, and policymakers. This will also strengthen collaboration links and help to establish and reinforce a wider networking activity. 

results achieved (this section will not be completed for the PRIN 2022 projects subject to scrolling, as they are still ongoing)

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: RUSH_University_residences_responsive: innovative solutions for the socio-economic and urban regeneration of neighborhoods in Southern Italy. 

CODICE CUP D53D23004210006. 

Budget: € 121.035

P.I. or U.R. Coordinator 

prof. Nicola Martinelli, Polytechnic University of Bari 

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units 

prof. Claudio Piferi, University of Florence 

prof. Oscar Eugenio Bellini, Polytechnic University of Milan 

Brief project description 

The RUSH project investigates University Residences in an innovative key as activators of urban and socio-economic regeneration processes in degraded contexts, identifying the city of Taranto as a representative case study of Southern Italy. Starting from the structural shortage of student housing in Italy and the challenges posed by the PNRR, the research proposes rethinking student living as an urban ecosystem capable of combining temporary hospitality and city regeneration. 

The objective is to develop a “responsive” university housing model that can be replicated in other contexts in Southern Italy, through a multiscalar approach integrating the urban, neighborhood, and building dimensions. 

Purpose

The research aims to define a responsive decision-support model capable of triggering urban and socio-economic regeneration processes in Southern Italy. 

Starting from the case study of Taranto, a post-industrial city emblematic of the challenges affecting Southern Italy, the model investigates the potential and limits that University Housing can generate in terms of urban renewal, and aims to support the various stakeholders in strategic choices, in order to increase the student housing supply and activate virtuous circuits of economic, social, and environmental resilience. 

Specifically, the project pursues the following objectives: 

• provide a methodological framework that, starting from the recovery of the existing building stock, elevates temporary housing to a driver of urban regeneration;
• define the optimal conditions for universities in Southern Italy to train and retain new human capital and increase the competitiveness of the five university cities in Apulia; 

• encourage the retention of local students, counteracting intellectual migration phenomena, and enhance the inflow of international students. 

   

Expected results 

The expected results of the research are closely related to the Work Package (WP) that structure its methodological architecture. The outputs are developed according to an integrated and progressive logic: 

• Consolidation of a systematic documentary base at international, national, and regional scales on the topic of University Housing (WP1);
• definition of a detailed analytical framework for the Apulian regional context, through a survey addressed to university students and a SWOT analysis. This phase provides a definition of hospitality models based on the actual needs identified (WP2);
• analysis of the dynamics and hospitality models for students identified and experimentation in a complex urban context such as Taranto (WP3);
• Definition of the RUSH model, as the synthetic and operational output of the entire research path, namely a multiscalar and interdisciplinary responsive decision-support tool useful for transforming temporary housing into a driver of urban and social regeneration (WP4); 

• research dissemination (WP5). 

   

Achieved results 

The research activity produced results structured according to the logical progression of the planned Work Packages (WP), consolidating knowledge and operational advancement on the topic of university housing in Southern Italy. The descriptions are reported below: 

• The research led to the systematization of a comprehensive multiscalar knowledge framework (national, macro-regional, and local) integrating the most recent scientific literature with the evolution of the current regulatory framework. The main result is the definition of a solid theoretical basis highlighting the specificities and gaps of student housing in Southern Italy (WP1).
• The activity produced a detailed territorial diagnosis of the Apulia region, focusing on the five university cities of Bari, Taranto, Brindisi, Lecce and Foggia. The results include: The mapping of ten-year trends in the student population and related flows;
• the statistical processing of a digital survey extended to the regional territory;
• a multiscalar SWOT analysis identifying the critical issues and potential of the educational, housing, and service offer for university students in Apulia;
• the definition of the users’ needs framework and of the most suitable hospitality models to respond to the actual needs of university city users (WP2).
• The research involved an analysis of the city of Taranto. The results achieved include: The identification of the Old Town as a priority area for intervention;
• the production of co-design laboratories (Summer School, focus groups, and workshops) and structured dialogue with stakeholders and managers (WP3).
• The main scientific result of the research is the formalization of the RUSH responsive model, closely connected to the preceding results. This operational output is distinguished by the translation of identified needs into requirement classes, technical requirements, and performance criteria articulated at the urban, neighborhood, and building scales according to a requirements-performance approach;
• the creation of an open and replicable model, capable of supporting public administrations and managing bodies in planning student housing interventions as drivers of socio-economic regeneration (WP4).
• The dissemination activity transformed the research results into shared knowledge and a scientific network. The achievements include: The ongoing dissemination of results through seminars, international conferences and scientific publications in the field;
• the activation of digital communication channels (website and social media);
• the consolidation of a permanent interuniversity network that serves as a reference hub in the debate on university housing, maximizing the impact of the design proposals on territorial stakeholders (WP5). 

PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE: Control, cOoperation, and Resilience in Rural Energy CommuniTies (CORRECT)

CUP CODE: D53D23000970006

Budget: € 172.016

P.I. and U.R. Coordinator Politecnico di Bari: Prof. Mariagrazia Dotoli

Other U.R.: University of Genoa (coordinator: Prof. Roberto Sacile)

Brief project description

The CORRECT project is situated within the context of the energy and digital transition, with particular reference to rural areas, which present specific characteristics in terms of resource availability, infrastructure, and energy demand. In these contexts, the integration of renewable sources, storage systems, agricultural electrical loads, and digital technologies generates complex and distributed systems, whose management requires advanced approaches to modeling, control, and optimization.

The project addressed these challenges by proposing a systemic approach to the study of Rural Energy Communities (RECs), understood as multi-actor and multi-energy-vector systems in which production, consumption, and storage are strongly interconnected. Within this framework, innovative methodologies were developed for the modeling, control, and optimal management of such systems, with particular attention to the integration between energy and agriculture (e.g., agrivoltaics, smart greenhouses, precision agriculture).

Project objectives

The main objective of the project was to design advanced control architectures and decision-support tools for the efficient, sustainable, and resilient operation of RECs.

In particular, the project pursued the following objectives:

• to develop advanced models to describe the dynamic behavior of rural energy systems and agricultural infrastructures;

• to design distributed and data-driven control strategies for the coordinated management of energy resources;

• to enable cooperation mechanisms among the system actors, also through distributed optimization approaches and game theory;

• to improve self-consumption and energy efficiency, reducing dependence on the traditional power grid;

• to increase the resilience of the systems with respect to demand variations, environmental conditions, and market dynamics;

• to validate the proposed solutions through advanced simulation environments and digital twin technologies.

Expected project results

The expected results of the project concerned both methodological and application aspects. In particular, the following were envisaged:

• the development of multi-level models for representing rural energy systems and agricultural loads;

• the definition of advanced control architectures for the integrated management of production, consumption, and storage;

• the introduction of optimization tools for balancing energy production and agricultural activities;

• the design of strategies to increase flexibility, self-consumption, and system resilience;

• the creation of validation environments based on digital twins and realistic case studies;

• the production of scientific results of high impact and their dissemination within the international scientific community.

Achieved project results

The results achieved are fully consistent with the project objectives and, in several cases, exceed initial expectations. The project has in fact led to the development of significant methodological and applied contributions in the following areas, as demonstrated by the publications obtained:

• modeling and control of energy and agricultural systems, with particular reference to smart greenhouses and agrivoltaic systems, through the integration of physical models and data-driven approaches;

• development of predictive and robust control algorithms capable of managing uncertainty and ensuring high performance in variable operational contexts;

• definition of distributed and game-theory-based frameworks for energy resource management in multi-stakeholder contexts;

• design of solutions for the resilience and electrification of rural areas, including storage infrastructure and distributed energy systems;

• validation of the proposed methodologies through advanced simulation environments and digital twin platforms based on real data.

From a scientific perspective, the project results have been disseminated in high-level international journals and presented at major scientific conferences. For brevity, only journal publications are reported below.

Main international journal publications resulting from the project

Below are some of the main journal publications resulting from the project:

1. Mignoni, N.; Zero, E.; Scarabaggio, P.; Carli, R.; Sacile, R.; Dotoli, M. (2026) “A Robust Data-driven MPC for Greenhouses Temperature Control”, Control Engineering Practice, 173, 106983. doi: 10.1016/j.conengprac.2026.106983. In press.

2. Mignoni, N.; Scarabaggio, P.; Carli, R.; Dotoli M. (2026) “Controlling PV Panels Tilt Orientation for Optimal Crop Shading and Power Generation in Agrivoltaics,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology. doi: 10.1109/TCST.2026.3675731. In press.

3. Soussi, A.; Zero, E.; Herrera, C. D. C.; Zahmoun, S.; Bozzi, A.; Sacile, R. (2026) “Integrating Digital Twins and MPC for Sustainable Greenhouse Management in Smart Agriculture,” in IEEE Transactions on AgriFood Electronics, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 39-55. doi: 10.1109/TAFE.2025.3572808.

4. Zhukovskii, K.; Scarabaggio, P.; Ovsiannikova, P.; Jhunjhunwala, P.; Carli, R.; Dotoli, M.; and Vyatkin, V. (2025) “Decentralized Control of Crop Growth Conditions in Vertical Farms under Dynamic Energy Markets” IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, vol. 22, pp. 21498-21511. doi: 10.1109/TASE.2025.3609694.

5. Soussi, A., Zero, E., Bozzi, A., Sacile, R. (2024). Enhancing energy systems and rural communities through a system of systems approach: A comprehensive review. Energies, 17(19), 4988. doi: 10.3390/en17194988.

6. Soussi, A., Zero, E., Sacile, R., Trinchero, D., Fossa, M. (2024). Smart sensors and smart data for precision agriculture: a review. Sensors, 24(8), 2647. doi: 10.3390/s24082647.

Fig. 1 - Plant shading in agrivoltaic systems
 

Fig. 2 – Prototype of a module with trays for vertical farming

Fig. 3 - Mini greenhouse used in validation activities