PerSEAve was born from the collaboration between two Italian academic research groups with long-standing experience in marine robotics, multimodal data processing, and advanced software and hardware development for complex operational environments. Driven by the goal of protecting and enabling the sustainable use of our seas, the initiative focuses on bridging cutting-edge research and real-world needs to reduce the gap between raw underwater surveys and decisions that can be trusted, shared, and acted upon.
Years of academic training and applied research have built deep expertise in artificial intelligence, computer vision, data processing, and software–hardware integration, with a strong focus on real-world marine applications.
Managing and processing heterogeneous marine datasets - imagery/video, sonar, bathymetry, navigation data, and additional layers - within unified, geo-referenced workflows.
Developing AI pipelines for anomaly detection, object detection, classification, and seabed segmentation, with a focus on robustness, consistency, and repeatable results.
Building vision-based pipelines for perception and navigation, 2D/3D reconstruction, mapping, and mosaicking to support underwater monitoring and inspection tasks.
Hands-on experience with state-of-the-art sensors and robotic platforms - optical, acoustic, and geophysical systems - used for marine data acquisition.
Integrating software modules across different platforms and stacks (on-board and off-board), ensuring data synchronisation, interoperability, and real-time performance.
Prototyping and developing sensors, embedded modules, and mechatronic components, with testing and validation in operational scenarios.
PerSEAve brings together researchers and engineers driven by a deep passion for the sea - developing solutions that improve ocean understanding and support safer, more sustainable marine operations.
The core team combines expertise in underwater robotics, AI and computer vision, and engineering design - covering every step from data acquisition to processing and validation, all the way to decision-ready deliverables.
Lorenzo Cecchi received the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, curriculum Robotics, from the University of Florence, Italy, in 2022. He is currently a third-year Ph.D. student at the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florence, Italy.
Alessandro Gentili received the M.S. degree in Robotics and Automation Engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 2022. He is currently a third-year Ph.D. student at the Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy.
Guido Lazzerini received the M.S. degree in Electrical and Automation Engineering, curriculum Robotics and Automation, from the University of Florence, Italy, in 2022. He is currently a third-year Ph.D. student at the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Florence, Italy.
Francesco Ruscio received the M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florence, Italy, and the Ph.D. degree in Smart Industry from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 2019 and 2023, respectively. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy.
Simone Tani received the M.S. degree in Robotics and Automation Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Underwater Robotics from the University of Pisa, Italy, in 2020 and 2025, respectively. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher with the Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy.
External advisors provide scientific and technical guidance and connect the initiative with key industry and research stakeholders - helping refine the product around real customer needs and operational requirements.
Riccardo Costanzi received the Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florence, Italy, in 2015. He is currently an Associate Professor in Automatic Control and Underwater Systems with the School of Engineering, Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy.
Alessandro Ridolfi received the Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florence, Italy, in 2014. He is currently an Associate Professor of Machine Theory and Robotics with the School of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Italy.
Alberto Topini received the Ph.D. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florence, Italy, in 2023. He is currently an Assistant Professor and research fellow in robotics and artificial intelligence with the School of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Italy.
Interested in supporting PerSEAve and shaping the next generation of marine data solutions?
