Johannes Ehrlich

Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Johannes Ehrlich is a researcher specializing in flexible electronics, soft robotics, and smart materials, with a particular focus on dielectric elastomers (DE) and their applications in sensing and actuation. His work spans the development of innovative capacitive pressure sensor mats and high-performance bending actuators, contributing meaningfully to the emerging field of soft robotic systems. Ehrlich's early contributions include the design of flexible capacitive sensor mats capable of detecting compression loads across both rigid and compliant substrates — a versatile sensing solution with real-world applicability in human-machine interfaces and wearable technology, earning 6 citations since 2015. More recently, his research has advanced the understanding of DE unimorph bending actuators, proposing simplified manufacturing approaches that eliminate the need for pre-stretch while maintaining high actuation performance — a significant step toward practical, scalable soft robotic grippers inspired by human hand mechanics. His 2023 publications on actuator modeling and pre-stretch-free configurations demonstrate a drive to bridge theoretical frameworks with engineering feasibility. Though still building his citation profile, Ehrlich's research addresses critical challenges in making soft actuators more accessible and manufacturable, positioning him as a promising contributor to the next generation of intelligent soft robotic systems.