Tommaso Federighi
Tommaso Federighi
PhD cycle: XLI
PhD project:
"AI-powered autonomous robotic mowers for precision maintenance of turfgrass and technical greening."
Supervisor
Prof. Marco Volterrani - Prof. Marco Fontanelli
Emails
tommaso.federighi@unifi.it
Office address
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), Via del Borgetto 80, 56124 Pisa
Office phone
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Profile
Tommaso Federighi is a Ph.D. student (XLI cycle) in Advanced and Sustainable Agricultural and Forestry Systemsat the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI). His research is conducted within the curriculum of Precision Agriculture and Sustainability of Agri-Food Systems, focusing on technological integration for landscape management.
His academic background was established at the University of Pisa, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences (L-25) in 2021 with a thesis on robotic automation. in 2024, he completed his Master’s degree in Urban Greenery and Landscape Design and Management (LM-69), graduating summa cum laude (110/110 with honors). His experimental thesis investigated overseeding techniques of bermudagrass hybrids with cultivars of the genus Lolium.
Federighi’s research activity has been consistently supported by multiple appointments at the University of Pisa, consolidating high-level scientific expertise in green-tech applications. Between 2023 and 2025, he was awarded several research fellowships dedicated to the study of systematic robotic mowing, analyzing its performance on both sports turf and surfaces oriented toward environmental sustainability. Of particular scientific significance is his investigation into the morphological and physiological responses of Festuca arundinacea and Cynodon dactylon in relation to mowing frequencies. This research preceded a research grant focused on the role of autonomous mowers within the framework of urban ecological transition. His current doctoral commitment represents the evolutionary synthesis of this path, aimed at implementing advanced systems for the resilient and sustainable management of complex plant matrices.
CV: Precision Agriculture and Sustainability of Agri-Food Systems
Research interests and PhD project:
This doctoral project aims to investigate the morpho-physiological response of Zoysia matrella to different robotic maintenance and nutritional regimes. The research seeks to transform the robotic mower into a genuine digital monitoring platform, capable of combining the operational efficiency of autonomous mowing with the precision management of next-generation (C4) turfgrasses. Ultimately, this approach addresses the challenges posed by the urban ecological transition.
Main Papers
- Research paper: Gagliardi, L., Fontanelli, M., Luglio, S.M., Frasconi, C., Raffaelli, M., Peruzzi, A., Caturegli, L., Sciusco, G., Federighi, T., Magni, S. and Volterrani, M., Assessment of the Effects of Autonomous Mowers on Plant Biodiversity in Urban Lawns. Rivista: Horticulturae Editore: MDPI www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/10/4/355
- Research paper: Sciusco, G., Caturegli, L., Magni, S., Federighi, T., Fontanelli, M., Robert, N., Alderton, S.R. and Volterrani, M., Performance of Different Cool-Season Species and Cultivars Overseeded on Bermudagrass and Managed with Autonomous Mower. Rivista: Agronomy Editore: MDPI www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/11/2611
- Research paper:: Magni, S., Sciusco, G., Caturegli, L., Sportelli, M., Federighi, T., Fontanelli, M., ... & Volterrani, M., A New Method for Hybrid Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon× C. transvaalensis Burtt.-Davy) Vegetative Propagation. Rivista: Grasses Editore: MDPI www.mdpi.com/2813-3463/3/1/1
Seminars and conference
Certificate of Attendance – Robotics, automation, digitalization, and precision systems applied to agriculture: research experiences at the University of Pisa – 05/20/2023, Pisa
Certificate of Attendance – “Academic and Business Perspectives on the Autonomous Mower Industry in the US” held at the University of Pisa – 10/02/2023, Pisa
Certificate of Attendance – Kress Technical Training Course – Bologna, 02/13/2024
Awards
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Personal Links, Blogs, Websites
Last update
12.02.2026