Seminar on To still boldly go, and stay: Soft exosuit for astronaut health maintenance and on-Earth rehabilitation

05 Dec 2025 11.00 AM - 11.30 AM LHN-LT (The Arc, LHN-B1-15) Current Students, Public

 Emanuele Pulvirenti

University of Bristol, UK

This seminar will be chaired by Prof Domenico Campolo.

Seminar Abstract

Soft exosuits represent a new frontier in wearable robotics. They are safe, lightweight, and adaptable technologies that can enhance musculoskeletal health in both extraterrestrial and terrestrial settings. This talk explores the development of a soft exosuit designed to counteract muscle and bone loss during long-duration missions in reduced gravity, while offering new possibilities for rehabilitation and performance enhancement on Earth. By integrating compliant actuation, textile engineering, and human biomechanics, these systems aim to preserve natural movement and physiological function. In the future, such wearable technologies could enable humans not only to boldly go into space but also to stay strong, healthy, and capable wherever gravity may lead.

Speaker's Biography 

Emanuele Pulvirenti is a Research Associate at the University of Bristol, working within the Soft Robotics Lab. He holds an MEng in Aerospace Engineering, an MSc in Robotics, and a PhD in Robotics and Autonomous Systems, all from the University of Bristol. His research focuses on preserving muscular and bone health in astronauts and terrestrial users through the use of soft exosuits and functional garments. Emanuele has collaborated with various industrial and academic partners, including Foster + Partners, the University of Milan, and the European Space Agency. He is currently exploring the integration of soft exosuits within future spacesuits, as well as the translation of this technology to revolutionise rehabilitation for patients, athletes, and individuals recovering from injury on Earth.

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