The Minds Behind ZEFIRO

Meet the passionate students who are shaping the future of urban air mobility.

Leadership

The Executive Board

The coordination team that guides ZEFIRO's strategic vision and engineering excellence.

Alessandro Donina

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Simone Vella

TEAM LEADER

Alfonso Del Zingaro

PROJECT MANAGER

Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics

Aerodynamic efficiency is the cornerstone of ZEFIRO's Aerodynamics & Aeroacoustics department. The team is responsible for selecting wing profiles and propellers, as well as defining the shape of the fuselage and all aerodynamic appendages, with the aim of maximizing performance and minimizing interference between aircraft components. In the preliminary design phase, analyses are carried out using low-fidelity methods, which allow for the exploration of numerous configurations and the isolation of optimal solutions through optimization algorithms. Subsequently, the obtained geometries are analyzed through high-fidelity CFD simulations, in order to validate the results and identify potential criticalities. This analysis is finally integrated with aeroacoustic studies to mitigate the sound impact of propulsion, translating the study of flows into a design capable of ensuring efficient and quiet flight.

Matteo Ferrero

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Marco Basciano

VICE-CTO

Niccolò Fratamico

CO-FOUNDER

Matteo Russo

MEMBER

Asia Poeta

MEMBER

Lorenzo De Simone

MEMBER

Vittorio Baldari

MEMBER

Noah Giaquinto

MEMBER

Aurora Bisone

MEMBER

Luca De Bonis

MEMBER

Domenico Inchingolo

MEMBER

Gabriele Dorati

MEMBER

Giacomo Aghemo

MEMBER

Vittorio Rossi

MEMBER

Matteo Uberto

MEMBER

Gabriel Cialdini

MEMBER

Michela Di Leonardo

MEMBER

Luca Tinarelli

MEMBER

Fortunato Gianluca Mele

MEMBER

Federico Goso

MEMBER

Flight Mechanics & Flight Simulation

Aircraft safety, precision, and governability are at the heart of the Flight Mechanics & Flight Simulation section. This department integrally analyzes the dynamic behavior of the aircraft, creating a direct link between theoretical modeling, numerical validation, and the development of control logics. Through flight simulators, software dedicated to estimating aerodynamic derivatives, and the construction of comprehensive aerodynamic databases, the team evaluates the aircraft's stability, maneuverability, and controllability, ensuring safe and effective performance in every operational phase. This activity then extends to determining the aircraft's transfer functions, which are fundamental for controller tuning and refining the system's dynamic response. In parallel, the section addresses the most critical aspects of the mission through risk analysis and mitigation strategies, defining mission management, navigation, and preparing necessary failsafes, transforming flight complexity into concrete engineering reliability.

Primiano D'Addetta

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Luigi Vele

DEPUTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Gianluca Giuseppe Tunzi

DEPUTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Francesca Vaccaro

MEMBER

Francesca Bianco

MEMBER

Tania Giannuzzi

MEMBER

Guido Di Lorenzo

MEMBER

Aurora Guerriero

MEMBER

Michele Dona

MEMBER

Greta Vitale

MEMBER

Luigi Di Francesco

MEMBER

Filippo Casali

MEMBER

Giulia Cerato

MEMBER

Matteo Foti

MEMBER

Marco Marini

MEMBER

Federico Pighetti

MEMBER

Francesco Maria Corsonello

MEMBER

Maximiliano Yaya

MEMBER

FEM & Materials

Lightness, performance, and structural optimization represent the pulsating heart of ZEFIRO Team's FEM & Materials division. This department integrally manages the entire aircraft development cycle, creating a direct bridge between virtual design and physical realization. Through rigorous finite element analyses (FEM), the team validates the resistance of structures to complex aerodynamic loads, ensuring maximum reliability. This analytical phase then merges with the most advanced production technologies: members acquire practical skills of excellence, transitioning from meticulous lamination of carbon fiber composites to the use of additive manufacturing for realizing the most extreme geometries, transforming theory into tangible engineering innovation.

Zakaria Parola

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Alfonso Del Zingaro

CONSULTANT

Fabio Morena

MEMBER

Flavia D'Avino

MEMBER

Francesca Tomasicchio

MEMBER

Marco D'Addato

MEMBER

Elena Difrenza

MEMBER

Fabrizio Pellegrino

MEMBER

Luca Di Mauro

MEMBER

Domenico Nicosia

MEMBER

Chiara Perugino

MEMBER

Beatrice Sollini

MEMBER

CAD & Mechanical Design

We translate aerodynamic and structural requirements into 3D models. Leveraging SolidWorks' capabilities for modeling and Python for process automation, we oversee the entire development of components, from concept to production, ensuring their constructive feasibility and perfect integration into the final aircraft.

Jacopo Vetrano

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Marco Antonio Cannarsa

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Davide Alban

MEMBER

Ismaele Gravili

MEMBER

Lapo Cortopassi

MEMBER

Andrea Polizzi

MEMBER

Fatma Dilan Akca

MEMBER

Zhandos Abilov

MEMBER

Martina Vetrugno

MEMBER

Yigit Efe Dagli

MEMBER

Teodoro Colavita

MEMBER

Christian Cascone

MEMBER

Francesco Carboni

MEMBER

Avionics & Electronics

The Avionics & Electronics department handles the "nervous system" of our aircraft. Our task is to design, integrate, and test the entire hardware and software architecture that allows an aircraft to hover, perform aerodynamic transition to forward flight, and complete high-precision autonomous missions. We operate at the intersection of electronic, computer science, and aerospace engineering, applying the most rigorous standards of aerospace Systems Engineering. Electronics Laboratory: Soldering stations, multimeters, logic analyzers, CAD for circuit design (KiCad), and 3D printers for rapid prototyping of insulating supports.

Simone Vella

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Keven Abad

CONSULTANT

Ionut Covaci

CONSULTANT

Hasan Abdullah

CONSULTANT

Marcello Iacampo

MEMBER

Vincenzo Faugiana

MEMBER

Luca Amedeo Iannuzzi

MEMBER

Francesco Cuttitta

MEMBER

Enrico Cesarano

MEMBER

Samuele Olivieri

MEMBER

Hugo Santiago Mengoa Paredes

MEMBER

Manfredi Barbaro

MEMBER

Software Development

The Software Development department develops the software systems that allow the aircraft to perceive its surroundings and operate autonomously. By integrating high-performance companion computers, advanced sensors, and intelligent navigation algorithms, the team works on visual odometry, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous mission management, transforming data and perception into concrete operational capabilities.

Antonio Pio Evangelista

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Michele Pio Lasalvia

MEMBER

Cornel Secrieri

MEMBER

Samuele Caruso

MEMBER

Emre Kavalci

MEMBER

Management

The Management section of Team ZEFIRO at Politecnico di Torino is responsible for the planning, coordination, and management of organizational and economic activities supporting the eVTOL project. Our goal is to ensure clear and efficient resource management, guaranteeing the correct use of funds, building relationships with sponsors and external partners, and organizing representation activities. We define and monitor the team's budget, collaborating with technical sections to estimate costs and project needs. In parallel, we develop relationships with companies and partners to support project growth through economic, material, and technical contributions. Finally, we coordinate participation in events and competitions, managing logistical aspects and promoting the project's visibility in the academic sphere.

Camille Baldi

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Giorgia Lo Russo

MEMBER

Giulia Guida

MEMBER

Vito Licari

MEMBER

Lorenzo Delogu

MEMBER

Francesco Curti

MEMBER

Emanuele Ronchetti

MEMBER

Tommaso Fratamico

MEMBER

Advisors

The Team Advisors represent the bridge between student initiative and the academic rigor of Politecnico. As industry experts, they support the Team in validating engineering processes and managing institutional relationships. Their supervision ensures project continuity and the scientific quality of our research and development activities.

Angelo Lerro

PROFESSOR

Francesco Avallone

PROFESSOR

PhD Students

The PhD students of Politecnico di Torino represent a strategic asset for Team ZEFIRO, establishing a direct and continuous link between cutting-edge academic research and applied engineering. This structured synergy generates a high-level bidirectional exchange: researchers provide the Team with methodological rigor, specialized support, and technical seminars on fundamental tools. At the same time, ZEFIRO offers the opportunity to apply research to real engineering problems related to the development of VTOL aircraft and drones, transforming practical design challenges into solid thesis topics and academic papers.

Riccardo Fornari

PHD

Want to be part of the team?

We recruit new members every semester. Check our open positions or send a spontaneous application.

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