Prensilia is an SME with long experience in research and development of innovative robotic and biomedical devices that was spun off from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (Pisa, Italy) in 2009, by researchers of the ARTS (Advanced Robotics and Technology) Lab. Prensilia has been involved in national and international research projects in the field of robotics, hand prosthetics, and neuroscience, which strongly contributed in building and consolidating its key expertise. 

The company’s ability to translate research and design activities into viable and innovative products allowed it to develop IH2 Azzurra, the first market-available 5-axis, human-sized, anthropomorphic hand with actuation, sensory and control system embedded in the palm.In 2019, Prensilia released Mia Hand, an electric anthropomorphic end-effector for flexible manufacturing plants, social and/or humanoid collaborative robots, bio-automation, ergonomics and prosthetics, to name a few. Mia has been awarded with the Red Dot Design Award 2019, and obtained the honorable mention in The Plan Award 2019. 

Within APRIL, Prensilia is involved in the research and development of a gripper for handling the flexible materials and in the study of human-robot interactions. Prensilia will further participate in the validation and certification process of the APRIL demonstrator.