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Hire Dr. Emanuele P.

United Kingdom

USD 100 /hr

Research Associate at University of Bristol | Innovating Soft Exosuits for Astronaut Health and Performance in Space | A

Profile Summary

I am a Research Associate at the University of Bristol with a PhD in soft robotics, completed in December 2024. My work specialises in soft robotics, wearable robotic systems, biomechanics and human–robot interaction, with a particular focus on technologies for mobility assistance, rehabilitation and space applications. I have experience developing soft robotic exosuits, pneumatic artificial muscles, wearable sensing systems and textile-integrated robotic devices. My technical expertise includes soft actuator design, mechanical prototyping, embedded sensing and control, Arduino-based systems, MATLAB and Python data analysis, EMG and gait analysis, biomechanics, experimental design and human-subject testing. My research has involved multidisciplinary collaborations with academic, clinical and engineering partners in the UK and internationally, including projects related to rehabilitation robotics, hypogravity countermeasures and wearable systems for space exploration. I have experience taking concepts from early-stage design through prototyping, benchtop testing and human evaluation. I can support projects involving wearable and soft robotics, rehabilitation technology, medical and assistive devices, biomechanics, actuator selection and sizing, sensor integration, experimental protocol development, signal processing, data analysis, prototype evaluation and technical R&D. I am particularly interested in projects at the intersection of engineering design, human movement and emerging wearable technologies, and I can contribute both hands-on technical expertise and research-driven analysis.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Biomechanics
• ★ Robotics Engineering
• ★ Product Design
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Mechanical Engineering
• ☆ Data Analysis
• ☆ Data Processing
• ☆ Data Visualization
• ☆ Product Prototyping
• ☆ CAD & 3D Modeling
• ☆ 2D Drawing
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Manuscript & Journal Article Writing
• ☆ Experimental Protocols
• ☆ White Papers
• ☆ Science Communication

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing, Translation

Research Fact Checking, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Data Processing

Product Development Formulation, Product Evaluation, Concept Development

Work Experience

Academic , Research Associate

The University of Bristol

December 2024 - Present

Research Associate (Wearable robotics)

University of Bristol

November 2024 - Present

Bristol Robotics Laboratory

September 2020 - Present

Junior Research and Development Engineer

Jaguar Land Rover

November 2019 - September 2020

Education

PhD Robotics and Autonomous systems

University of Bristol

June 2021 - December 2024

PhD Robotics and autonomous systems (School of engineering mathematics and technology )

University of Bristol

June 2021 - September 2024

MSc Robotics and autonomous systems (School of engineering mathematics and technology )

University of Bristol

September 2020 - June 2021

MSc Robotics and Autonomous Systems

University of Bristol

September 2020 - June 2021

MEng Aerospace Engineering

University of Bristol

September 2015 - June 2019

MEng in Aerospace engineering (Aerospace engineering)

University of Bristol

September 2015 - June 2019

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Emanuele Pulvirenti, Mohammad Naghavi Zadeh, Yu Cheng Huang, Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Jonathan Rossiter (2026). Corrigendum: Soft inflatable kirigami actuators for wearable applications (2025 Smart Mater. Struct. 34 085019) . Smart Materials and Structures.

A Resistive Soft Robotic Exosuit for Dynamic Body Loading in Hypogravity @article{2eac608a2485453fb20772f8c8d79404, title = "A Resistive Soft Robotic Exosuit for Dynamic Body Loading in Hypogravity", abstract = "Prolonged exposure to reduced gravity in space leads to bone demineralization and muscle atrophy, which current countermeasures of simple body loading can partially address. To address this aetiology, we propose a resistive hypogravity exosuit (R-HEXsuit) for dynamic body loading in low gravity. R-HEXsuit is a lightweight (1.4 kg) soft wearable exosuit that uses pneumatic artificial muscles to provide programmed bilateral resistance during walking, stimulating primary leg muscles. Tests on healthy subjects in Earth gravity and simulated Moon gravity revealed that the suit increased metabolic cost by 29.3\% in Moon gravity, aligning it with Earth-like metabolic cost. Muscle activation in key knee joint muscles also increased, matching or exceeding Earth levels, without altering natural gait patterns. These results highlight the R-HEXsuit as a promising tool for replicating Earth-like physical demands during low-gravity missions, offering a potential solution for mitigating musculoskeletal degradation in space.", keywords = "Soft Exosuits, Health in Space, Hypogravity, Soft robotics, Human spaceflight, Muscle activation", author = "Emanuele Pulvirenti and Diteesawat, \{Richard Suphapol\} and Gaspare Pavei and Valentina Natalucci and Helmut Hauser and Alberto Minetti and Rossiter, \{Jonathan M\}", note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.", year = "2025", month = dec, day = "18", doi = "10.1002/advs.202506057", language = "English", volume = "12", journal = "Advanced Science", issn = "2198-3844", publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag", number = "47", } . Advanced Science.

Advancing space health @article{6a4aaffab2314b5a8f40c16e44e73232, title = "Advancing space health: Towards a soft wearable hypogravity exosuit for enhanced mobility in Martian conditions", abstract = "As space exploration advances and human travel to Mars becomes reality, addressing the adverse effects of prolonged spaceflight on the human body is critical. Long-term exposure to hypogravity (gravity lower than Earth's) during space missions leads to muscle and bone loss, posing significant health degeneration for astronauts. Current countermeasures, such as exercise routines and rigid body-assisting exoskeletons, do not fully address the issue. Moreover, astronauts may encounter injuries associated with extended spaceflight, particularly from wearing Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs). To tackle these challenges, the development of a soft wearable hypogravity exosuit is proposed. It utilises Bubble Artificial Muscles (BAMs), soft lightweight pneumatic actuators that offer a high strength-to-weight ratio. For this study, three parallel BAMs were used to create a wearable device to assist leg flexion during walking in extraterrestrial gravity. An experimental rig emulating knee swing during walking was used to evaluate assistive performance. The device was tested across a range of torques and angular displacements, while exploring the effect of different proportional-integral control parameters. It was found that the device can effectively deliver timely assistance, increasing the maximum flexion angle and angular velocity during walking in simulated Martian gravity. The integration of BAMs in wearable devices holds potential benefits not only for space exploration but also for terrestrial applications for individuals with mobility challenges.", keywords = "Artificial muscle, Exoskeleton, Exosuit, Hypogravity, Pneumatic, Soft robotics", author = "Emanuele Pulvirenti and Diteesawat, \{Richard S.\} and Andrew Stinchcombe and Helmut Hauser and Jonathan Rossiter", note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors", year = "2025", month = oct, day = "1", doi = "10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.06.001", language = "English", volume = "235", pages = "83--89", journal = "Acta Astronautica", issn = "0094-5765", publisher = "Elsevier Limited", } . Acta Astronautica.

Emanuele Pulvirenti, Richard S. Diteesawat, Andrew Stinchcombe, Helmut Hauser, Jonathan Rossiter (2025). Advancing space health: Towards a soft wearable hypogravity exosuit for enhanced mobility in Martian conditions . Acta Astronautica.

E. Pulvirenti, R. S. Diteesawat, G. Pavei, et al. “ A Resistive Soft Robotic Exosuit for Dynamic Body Loading in Hypogravity.” Adv. Sci. (2025): e06057. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202506057 .

Emanuele Pulvirenti, Mohammad Naghavi Zadeh, Yu Cheng Huang, Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Jonathan Rossiter (2025). Soft inflatable kirigami actuators for wearable applications . Smart Materials and Structures.

Emanuele Pulvirenti, Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Helmut Hauser, Jonathan Rossiter (2025). Atomic-like packing for scalable and efficient spheroid pneumatic artificial muscles . Materials & Design.

CONFERENCE PAPER

Advancing ICEE.Space I-S1 Analogue Space Suit Technology @inproceedings{9e15ebbad6c44ef78ba51a02c4ef5e6b, title = "Advancing ICEE.Space I-S1 Analogue Space Suit Technology", abstract = "Analogue astronaut missions provide critical insights into human space exploration while remaining cost-effective and accessible alternatives to actual missions. However, current analogue space suits are often limited by affordability and reliability. The development of the ICEE.Space Suit (I-S1) aims to overcome these challenges, enhancing the quality and research potential of analogue missions. Designed within a New Space framework, the I-S1 leverages off-the-shelf components and 3D-printed elements to reduce costs, enable rapid repairs, and allow for customization. A core principle of its design is inclusivity, adhering to NASA's 3000 standard to accommodate a wide range of body types and physical abilities while mitigating health risks. The 2025 update of the I-S1 introduces several advancements. A custom Augmented Reality (AR) Heads-In Display (HID) will provide procedural guidance and real-time communication with Mission Control. The integration of a lightweight soft exosuit, developed by the University of Bristol, enhances mobility for analogue astronauts by applying forces at key joints using fabric-based artificial muscles. The objective of the exosuit is to reduce energy expenditure and mitigate fatigue during long-duration EVAs. A biometric undergarment enables continuous health monitoring, while improved lighting systems support operational efficiency. To address a common issue in space suit design, an advanced anti-fog mechanism has been incorporated. The suit also features a long-range mesh communication network, enabling subsurface communication inside lava tubes. Future iterations will include the capability for full pressurization, allowing for testing in buoyancy pools. Developed in collaboration with ESA BIC CZ and SMITH garments, the I-S1 will be field-tested during the ICEE.Space World's Biggest Analog mission, a global analogue astronaut mission set to take place in October 2025, following the International Astronautical Congress (IAC). This unprecedented initiative, by WBA, will involve multiple analogue space missions conducted simultaneously at various locations around the world, creating a large-scale, coordinated research effort. The key objective is to validate technologies, procedures, and human factors research under diverse environmental conditions, enhancing mission design for future lunar and Martian exploration. The I-S1 will play a crucial role in this upcoming mission, allowing for real-world testing of its new functionalities in different analogue settings. Beyond its research applications, the I-S1 also serves as an educational tool for STEM outreach. By redefining analogue space suit standards, the I-S1 represents a paradigm shift in space exploration simulation and accessibility, further advancing human spaceflight capabilities.", keywords = "Analogue Astronaut missions, Exoskeleton, Explorers Club, ICEE.Space, Space Suit", author = "Charlotte Pouwels and Marc Heemskerk and Lucie Rackova and Aditi Sathe and Rebollo, \{Lucas Garcia\} and Punitha Devaraja and Emanuele Pulvirenti", note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2025 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). All rights reserved.; 2025 IAF Space Exploration Symposium at the 76th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2025 ; Conference date: 29-09-2025 Through 03-10-2025", year = "2026", month = jan, day = "1", doi = "10.52202/083076-0028", language = "English", series = "Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC", publisher = "International Astronautical Federation (IAF)", number = "1", pages = "215--221", booktitle = "Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC", edition = "1", } . Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC.

Advancing Space Health @inproceedings{51fd4ed2add140f5bc52879303e4886d, title = "Advancing Space Health: Towards a Soft Wearable Hypogravity Exosuit for Enhanced Mobility in Martian Conditions", abstract = "As space exploration advances and human travel to Mars becomes reality, addressing the adverse effects of prolonged spaceflight on the human body is critical. Long-term exposure to hypogravity (gravity lower than Earth's) during space missions leads to muscle and bone loss, posing significant health degeneration for astronauts. Current countermeasures, such as exercise routines and rigid body-assisting exoskeletons, do not fully address the issue. Moreover, astronauts may encounter injuries associated with extended spaceflight, particularly from wearing Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs).To tackle these challenges, the development of a soft wearable hypogravity exosuit, the HEXsuit, is proposed, utilising Bubble Artificial Muscles (BAMs). BAMs are soft lightweight pneumatic actuators that offer a high strength-to-weight ratio. For this study, three parallel BAMs were used to create a wearable device to assist leg flexion during walking in extraterrestrial gravity. An experimental rig emulating knee swing during walking was used to evaluate assistive performance. The device was tested across a range of torques and angular displacements, while exploring the effect of different proportional-integral control parameters. It was found that the device can effectively deliver timely assistance, increasing the maximum flexion angle and angular velocity during walking in simulated Martian gravity. The integration of BAMs in wearable devices holds potential benefits not only for space exploration but also for terrestrial applications for individuals with mobility challenges.", keywords = "artificial muscle, exoskeleton, exosuit, hypogravity, pneumatic, Soft Robotics", author = "Emanuele Pulvirenti and Diteesawat, \{Richard S.\} and Andrew Stinchcombe and Helmut Hauser and Jonathan Rossiter", note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 International Astronautical Federation, IAF. All rights reserved.; 2024 IAF Human Spaceflight Symposium at the 75th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2024 ; Conference date: 14-10-2024 Through 18-10-2024", year = "2025", month = jan, day = "1", doi = "10.52202/078364-0065", language = "English", series = "Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC", publisher = "International Astronautical Federation, IAF", pages = "574--582", booktitle = "IAF Human Spaceflight Symposium - Held at the 75th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2024", address = "France", } . IAF Human Spaceflight Symposium - Held at the 75th International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2024.

Emanuele Pulvirenti(2024). Advancing Space Health: Towards a Soft Wearable Hypogravity Exosuit (hexsuit) for Enhanced Mobility in Martian Conditions . IAF Human Spaceflight Symposium. International Astronautical Federation (IAF)

A Soft Fabric-based Shrink-to-fit Pneumatic Sleeve for Comfortable Limb Assistance @inproceedings{f17af14e42eb4da08f9dfc8f79414122, title = "A Soft Fabric-based Shrink-to-fit Pneumatic Sleeve for Comfortable Limb Assistance", abstract = "Upper limb impairments and weakness are com- mon post-stroke and with advanced aging. Rigid exoskeletons have been developed as a potential solution, but have had limited impact. In addition to user concerns about safety, their weight and appearance, the rigid attachment and typical anchoring methods can result in skin damage. In this paper, we present a soft, fabric-based pneumatic sleeve, which can shrink from a loose fit to a tight fit in order to anchor to the limbs temporarily, thereby enabling the application of mechanical assistance only when needed. The sleeve is comfortable, ergonomic and can be embedded unobtrusively with clothing. A mathematical model is built to simulate and design sleeves with different geometric parameters. The best sleeve was capable of generating a friction force of 98 N on the limb when inflated to 25 kPa. This sleeve was used to create a wearable assistive device, integrated with a cable-driven actuator. This device was able to lift a 1.44 kg forearm rig up to 95 degree at low pressure of 20 kPa. The device was tested with six healthy participants, in terms of fit, comfort and assistive functionality. The average acceptable sleeve pressure was found to be 33±4.7 kPa. All participants liked the appearance of the sleeve, with a high average perceived assistance score of 7.33±1.6 (out of 10). The shrink-to-fit sleeve is expected to significantly increase the development and adoption of soft robotic assistive devices and emerging powered clothing. ", keywords = "pneumatic artificial muscle, wearable technologies, assistance", author = "Diteesawat, \{Richard Suphapol\} and Hoh, \{Chiu Mun S\} and Emanuele Pulvirenti and Nahian Rahman and Leah Morris and Ailie Turton and Mary Cramp and Rossiter, \{Jonathan M\}", note = "Funding Information: *This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) through grants EP/S026096/1. 1RSD, SH, EP, NR and JR are with Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, and Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL), Bristol, UK richard.diteesawat@bristol.ac.uk 2LM, AT and MC are with School of Health and Social Wellbeing, University of the West of England, and BRL, Bristol, UK Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.", year = "2022", month = dec, day = "26", doi = "10.1109/IROS47612.2022.9981265", language = "English", isbn = "9781665479288", series = "IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems", publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)", pages = "9766--9773", booktitle = "IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, IROS 2022", address = "United States", } . IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, IROS 2022.

Emanuele Pulvirenti, Richard Suphapol Diteesawat, Sam Hoh, Nahian Rahman, Leah Morris, Ailie Turton, Mary Cramp, Jonathan Rossiter(2022). A Soft Fabric-based Shrink-to-fit Pneumatic Sleeve for Comfortable Limb Assistance . 2022 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). {IEEE}

ReRobot @inproceedings{150a15d655884bf99a92c2293a8b2c7d, title = "ReRobot: Recycled Materials for Trustworthy Soft Robots", abstract = "The ethical sourcing and disposal of materials has become ubiquitous and necessary across society. However, this trend towards increased sustainability has yet to find parallels in robotics research. Within the field of soft robotics, large quantities of silicones, rubbers and other elastomers are used to construct the various soft bodies and actuators. As the field grows, this will have a large negative impact on the environment. In this work we propose the effective recycling of elastomeric materials, thereby reducing the amount of new material needed, lowering costs and reducing the amount of harmful waste. We present a non-chemical process of elastomer recycle-and-reuse, where elastomeric material from old and broken soft actuators is ground into granules ranging from ≤1 mm in diameter to 3 mm in diameter and used to create new soft actuators without loss of function. Characterisation tests show that although ultimate yield strain and stress reduce with the percentage of recycled material, the silicone composites exhibit very comparable elastic properties to the pristine silicone. This suggests an effective recycling pipeline where materials are recycled into different, lower-risk, applications at each iteration. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this process in a high strain recycled bladder actuator and a soft gripper.", author = "Partridge, \{Alixander J\} and Hsing-Yu Chen and Anthony Le and Ciqun Xu and Hendrik Eichhorn and Emanuele Pulvirenti and Arianna Manzini and Conn, \{Andrew T\} and Rossiter, \{Jonathan M\}", note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.", year = "2022", month = apr, day = "28", doi = "10.1109/RoboSoft54090.2022.9762170", language = "English", isbn = "9781665408295", series = "IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)", publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)", pages = "148--153", booktitle = "2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2022", address = "United States", } . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2022.

Emanuele Pulvirenti and Richard S. Diteesawat and Helmut Hauser and Jonathan Rossiter(2022). Towards a Soft Exosuit for Hypogravity Adaptation: Design and Control of Lightweight Bubble Artificial Muscles . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). {IEEE}

Alix J. Partridge and Hsing-Yu Chen and Nguyen Hao Le and Ciqun Xu and Hendrik Eichorn and Emanuele Pulvirenti and Arianna Manzini and Andrew T. Conn and Jonathan Rossiter(2022). ReRobot: Recycled Materials for Trustworthy Soft Robots . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft). {IEEE}

Partridge, A.J., Chen, H.-Y., Le, N.H., Xu, C., Eichorn, H., Pulvirenti, E., Manzini, A., Conn, A.T., Rossiter, J.(2022). ReRobot: Recycled Materials for Trustworthy Soft Robots . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2022. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 148-153.

Diteesawat, R.S., Hoh, S., Pulvirenti, E., Rahman, N., Morris, L., Turton, A., Cramp, M., Rossiter, J.(2022). A Soft Fabric-based Shrink-to-fit Pneumatic Sleeve for Comfortable Limb Assistance . IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. 2022-October. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 9766-9773.

Pulvirenti, E., Diteesawat, R.S., Hauser, H., Rossiter, J.(2022). Towards a Soft Exosuit for Hypogravity Adaptation: Design and Control of Lightweight Bubble Artificial Muscles . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft Robotics, RoboSoft 2022. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 651-656.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

Towards a Soft Exosuit for Hypogravity Adaptation: Design and Control of Lightweight Bubble Artificial Muscles @conference{55e923154abf4980983fd35a8d99c37d, title = "Towards a Soft Exosuit for Hypogravity Adaptation: Design and Control of Lightweight Bubble Artificial Muscles", abstract = "Lower body soft exosuits have been shown to improve the capabilities of humans in a wide range of applications, from rehabilitation to worker enhancement. Their light weight and ability to be easily sewn into fabrics make them attractive for both terrestrial and space exploration applications. One unaddressed challenge in space exploration is the prevalence of low (hypo) gravity conditions, which can have a serious deleterious effect on the human body. To address this challenge we propose the hypogravity exosuit (or HEXsuit), which can help maintain the physical fitness and health of inter-planetary travellers. A core component of the HEXsuit is compliant, comfortable and efficient soft robotic artificial muscles. A recently proposed pneumatic actuator, the Bubble Artificial Muscle (BAM), is particularly suited for integration into hypogravity exosuits. In this work we explore the design and control of lightweight BAM actuators. Characterisation results show that a thin actuator is capable of high contraction, while a thicker actuator can be used for high load applications. Two control modes were implemented: displacement control and force control. Both controllers achieve low steady state error and show high accuracy. The displacement controller is also shown to be capable of maintaining the required displacement while actively changing external loads, a typical use case within the proposed hypogravity HEXsuit.", keywords = "soft robotics, Bubble Artificial Muscles, Pneumatic, Artificial muscle, Exoskeleton, exosuit, space application", author = "Emanuele Pulvirenti and Diteesawat, \{Richard Suphapol\} and Helmut Hauser and Rossiter, \{Jonathan M\}", note = "Funding Information: EP and HH were funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant EP/S021795/1. RSD was supported by EPSRC grant EP/S026096/1. JR was supported by EPSRC grants EP/L015293/1, EP/R02961X/1, EP/V026518/1, and EP/T020792/1, and the Royal Academy of Engineering through the Chair in Emerging Technologies scheme. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.; 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft robotics, RoboSoft ; Conference date: 04-04-2022 Through 08-04-2022", year = "2022", month = apr, day = "4", doi = "10.1109/RoboSoft54090.2022.9762121", language = "English", pages = "651--656", } . 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Soft robotics, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 4/04/22.