Raffaello D’Andrea

The Engineer Who Turned Robots into Gold

Raffaello D’Andrea, or Raff as he is known to his friends and colleagues, is a man of many talents and achievements. He is a professor, an artist, an entrepreneur, and a visionary who has revolutionized the field of robotics and automation.

Born in Italy, raised in Canada, and educated in the US, Raff has always been fascinated by science and engineering. He graduated from the University of Toronto with the Wilson Medal as the top student in 1991, and then earned his PhD from the California Institute of Technology in 1997. He joined the Cornell faculty as an assistant professor, where he founded the Cornell Robot Soccer Team and led them to four world championships at international RoboCup competitions.

But Raff’s talent for engineering also had a practical and profitable side. In 2003, he co-founded Kiva Systems, a robotics company that specialized in warehouse automation. Kiva Systems developed and deployed intelligent automated warehouse systems that used fleets of mobile robots to move inventory around. Kiva Systems revolutionized the e-commerce industry by reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving customer satisfaction. In 2012, Amazon acquired Kiva Systems for almost $800 million, making Raff a very wealthy man.

Raffaello D’Andrea – Dynamic Works – April 2018

Raff did not stop there. He continued to pursue his passion for robotics and automation, both in academia and in business. He became a professor of dynamic systems and control at ETH Zurich in 2007, where he established a research program that redefines what autonomous systems are capable of. He is also the founder of Verity, a self-flying drone systems company and provider of drone failsafe technology. Verity’s drones are used for entertainment, inspection, and security purposes, and have performed at events such as Cirque du Soleil, Metallica concerts, and the NBA All-Star Game.

Raff is also a new media artist, whose works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale and are part of the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Canada and France’s FRAC Centre. His artworks explore the dynamic and interactive aspects of physical systems, such as The Table, the Robotic Chair, and Flight Assembled Architecture.

Instinct banner art — Instinct – A Futuristic Thriller – Natalie Pen | ChatGPT.

Raffaello D’Andrea is a rare example of someone who can bridge theory and practice, art and science, and innovation and entrepreneurship. He is an engineer who turned robots into gold, and a visionary who inspires others to follow his footsteps.

Amy H