Human-Centred Design methods: design and development of human-centred design methods for industrial products, processes and systems. The focus is on integrating users’ needs, capabilities and limitations from the early stages of design, with the aim of improving usability, accessibility, safety, comfort and overall user experience. This includes the definition of methods and protocols to support requirement analysis, user involvement, ergonomic evaluation, inclusive design and design-for-all approaches in industrial contexts.
Virtual Prototyping and Digital Simulation: use of virtual prototyping and digital simulation as enabling tools for product and process design, exploring how digital models, simulation environments and interactive prototypes can support concept generation, design validation, assembly analysis, maintenance planning and decision-making before the development of physical prototypes. Particular attention is devoted to the integration of CAD, 3D models and simulation tools within industrial workflows, enabling more efficient, sustainable and human-aware design processes.
Human Factors and Human Digital Twin: research investigates the role of human factors in industrial engineering, with specific attention to ergonomics, cognitive and physical workload, operator safety, performance and well-being. It includes modelling and simulation of human behaviour and human–system interaction, also through Human Digital Twin approaches. These methods aim to create digital representations of operators, their tasks and their interaction with products, machines and workplaces, supporting ergonomic assessment, risk prevention, process optimisation and human-centric manufacturing.
eXtended Reality technologies: application of eXtended Reality technologies, including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality, to industrial design and engineering. Use of immersive and interactive environments for design review, ergonomic assessment, virtual assembly, maintenance support, training and human–machine interaction. XR technologies are investigated as tools to improve design quality, support collaboration, enhance user involvement and enable realistic evaluation of industrial products and processes in virtual environments.
Virtual Training and skills development: design and development of virtual training systems for industrial applications, particularly for assembly, maintenance, safety procedures and operator training. Through immersive simulations and interactive learning environments, virtual training allows users to acquire procedural, technical and operational skills in a safe, repeatable and measurable way. This research line addresses the design of effective training protocols, the evaluation of learning outcomes, and the integration of XR-based training into industrial processes, with the aim of improving operator preparedness, reducing errors and supporting knowledge transfer.
