Profile
Dr. Paoli has been a Senior Lecturer in Robotics and Automation at Loughborough University, since 2023. With over twenty years of experience in research and teaching, he is an accomplished scholar in robotics, mechatronics and automation. His work focuses on the innovative application of these technologies to smart manufacturing, bridging the gap between academic research and real-world industrial needs.
Throughout his career, Dr. Paoli has led interdisciplinary research teams and large-scale projects, integrating cutting-edge technologies like autonomous systems, AI, and robotics to solve complex, real-world problems. A champion of research-driven education, Dr. Paoli has also developed and validated research-informed curricula, ensuring his students not only learn the theories behind automation and robotics but also gain hands-on experience in tackling the industry's pressing issues.
From 2014 to 2018, Dr. Paoli served as Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln’s School of Engineering, where he developed the university’s robotics and automation research and teaching agenda, securing considerable fundings from UKRI and launching both a BEng and an apprenticeship programme. His focus shifted from foundational to applied research as he became an Associate Professor at the UK National Centre for Food Manufacturing from 2018 to 2020, advancing robotics and automation engineering within the agri-food sector.
His academic career also includes valuable international experience, with visiting appointments at the University of Michigan’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department and Tongji University in Shanghai. Notably, at Tongji University, Dr. Paoli spent three semesters (2010-2012) teaching Automatic Control Systems as part of the inter-governmental AlmaTong double-degree programme, a collaboration between China and Italy.
Dr. Paoli is a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Senior Member of the IEEE.
Research
Manufacturing is rapidly becoming one of the most transformative areas driven by advancements in autonomous systems. The shift from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0 marks a key turning point, where the integration of AI, big data, advanced robotics, and human-centred design redefines the foundation of smart production systems. While Industry 4.0 has revolutionised manufacturing through automation and digitisation to optimise efficiency, it has overlooked the ‘human factor’, including worker well-being and environmental sustainability. With the transition to Industry 5.0, the focus now extends beyond operational efficiency to emphasise process sustainability, worker ergonomics, and seamless collaboration between humans and machines.
Dr. Paoli’s current research sits at the intersection of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, investigating the evolution of manufacturing systems as they shift from efficiency-driven automation to human-centric, sustainable, and adaptive models that prioritise both technological innovation and human factors. His work leverages the transformative potential of AI to redefine manufacturing, developing intelligent robotic systems that not only enhance efficiency but also promote sustainability, improve worker well-being and adapt to market demands. His research goal is to contribute to paving the way for a future where AI optimises production, while seamlessly aligning with ethical, environmentally responsible, and people-first principles.
Dr. Paoli secondary and past research areas include:
- Agri-food robotics and precision agriculture
- Formal methods for software validation in industrial automation (cybersecurity, opacity, diagnosability, fault-tolerance, etc.)
- Supervisory control of mobile robot fleets in search-and-rescue operations
- Formal methods for functional safety in manufacturing
- Human-behaviour estimation in safety-critical manufacturing
- Modelling and control of traffic networks
Teaching
Dr. Paoli teaching career spans over twenty years, during which he has designed and delivered a wide portfolio of university modules on control, mechatronics, robotics and intelligent automation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
His teaching philosophy is founded on the belief that, to effectively tackle real-world problems and adapt swiftly to change, students require an education that combines a strong mathematical and theoretical foundation with engineering skills and practical insights derived from industrial best practices and lessons learned from past challenges. This approach has consistently shaped the design and delivery of modules and programmes throughout his career, with the ultimate goal of developing well-rounded engineers who are highly employable from day one after graduation.
The key pillars of his teaching philosophy can be summarized as follows:
- First and foremost, he always strives to engage students with real-world problems, which not only deepens their understanding of theoretical concepts but also enables them to apply these principles in practical contexts.
- Secondly, he prioritises exposing students to the most advanced technologies and diverse industrial practices, fostering their development through ongoing interaction and engagement with strategic industrial ecosystems.
- Lastly, as a passionate and dedicated researcher, he actively involves students in my research, thus enriching their learning experience through research-led teaching.
Currently Dr. Paoli teaching responsibilities include:
- WSB141 Introduction to Robotics (Module Leader)
- WSB009 Robotics Planning and Control (Module Leader)
- WSB600 Manufacturing Process Technology
- WSC356 Digital Control
- WSC104 Robotics and Control (Module Leader)
- WSC361 Manufacturing Automation and Control (Module Leader)
- WSP080 Robotic Applications in Sport and Healthcare