GEAR Lab - Group of rEsearch in Algorithms for emeRgent models

Research Focus

At GEAR LAB, in the last couple of years, we have concentrated on algorithms for the UAV world: localization algorithms, data collection in agriculture by integrating IoT devices on the ground, power-line maintenance, urban monitoring, and last-mile deliveries. We are also studying an infrastructure of web cameras distributed across urban areas to replace human control and make autonomous UAV flights in cities feasible and safe. Communication aspects are always central in our applications. Our methodology starts from deep structural modeling of each problem and then develops combinatorial algorithms (DP, ILP) with guaranteed performance, validated through experimental simulations. As complexity grows, structural modeling and analysis can become harder than learning. For this reason, we are integrating learning models in specific phases of UAV applications, including computer vision for invasive pest detection in agriculture, crop replication in digital labs, UAV flight monitoring in urban areas, and ground-driven UAV swarm control.