Student Spotlight—Meet Gian-Luca Fenocchi

As kids, many of us built with blocks. Some may have tackled more challenging building block sets or even experimented with gadgets around the house, dreaming that one day the loose pieces of a blender could become a robot. Gian-Luca Fenocchi was one of these kids. A curious creator from a young age, Gian was introduced to the world of electronics by his father. This early exposure ignited a spirit of innovation, problem-solving, and a fascination with technology. Turning his attention from childhood toys to Academia, Gian enrolled at the Imperial College of London and pursued a degree in Electrical and Information Engineering.

While attending university, he was introduced to some extracurricular content offered by IBM SkillsBuild, where he had the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field of robotics. In his first project, Gian and his team created a robotic pet to provide companionship to elderly people. Their goal was to demonstrate how robotics and technology can enhance daily life for people of all ages. This robot could answer simple questions, play music, and provide news updates. “It was rewarding to see how technology can create a bridge for connection, especially for those who may feel lonely,” reflects Gian.

This group project inspired the student. He caught a glimpse of how tech creations could have a social impact and was eager to try more. Gian rolled up his sleeves and got to work on a solo project focusing this time on disaster response. Through daily news on TV, Gian saw footage of disasters and watched as first responders employed every piece of technology available to them. It wasn’t enough. “If we can develop a robot that helps rescue teams on the ground, we can save lives,” he thought.

After some in-depth research, Gian understood that artificial intelligence and cost-effectiveness combined were the real deal breaker when talking about support on disaster relief situations. “By making these robots cost-effective, we can ensure that they are accessible to everyone,” explains Gian. And this is how REX, the rescue and exploration low-cost quadruped, was born.

The vision was a robot that could navigate rough terrain and deliver crucial supplies to those in need. Equipped with advanced sensors and a virtual assistants Gian built from scratch using IBM watsonx, the robot would assess its environment, identify obstacles, have a conversation with people in such areas and send important information back to rescue teams, making it a valuable asset during critical moments. The entire robot can be built with a 3D printer, making it easier and more cost-effective to replicate for groups involved in disaster response.

Beyond the cost-effectiveness and the design, Gian-Luca also ensured that REX could communicate with people in disaster situations and provide them with guidance. They worked on questions related to health symptoms and added information such as the location of the nearest health facility, all using AI and IBM’s watsonx AI and data platform technology. “IBM watsonx’s ability to dynamically extract critical information from conversations allowed it to ask fewer but more relevant questions, which was important for REX’s disaster response context. It balances the flexibility of advanced AI with the ability to define precise conversation flows and constraints,” he says.

Gian-Luca proudly presented REX during his final year at Imperial College London, from which he has now graduated. Just after graduation, he secured a job and is now working as a Lead Software Engineer. What’s next for Gian and REX? We’re excited to see where this young creator applies his knowledge to help drive social impact.