Aline Lefebvre-Lepot

Laboratoire de Mathématiques, École Polytechnique

Papers

Total Citations

220

H-Index

About

Aline Lefebvre-Lepot is a leading figure in the mathematical modeling of micro-robotics, specializing in the control and locomotion of swimmers at low Reynolds numbers. Her work is foundational to understanding how tiny, artificial devices can navigate viscous fluids—a regime where inertia is negligible and motion is governed by the Stokes equations. Her most influential contribution, the 2007 paper "Optimal Strokes for Low Reynolds Number Swimmers: An Example" (165 citations), provides a rigorous framework for identifying the most efficient deformation sequences for self-propulsion. She further advanced the field with her 2013 study on "Optimally swimming stokesian robots" (50 citations), where she proved the controllability of robots made from linked spheres, demonstrating that such simple assemblies can precisely control their position and orientation in both 2D and 3D. This proof, leveraging Chow's theorem, is a cornerstone for designing practical micro- and nano-robots. Her 2009 work on the "Stokesian submarine" (5 citations) also explores a three-ball model, highlighting the minimal degrees of freedom needed for directed swimming. Lefebvre-Lepot’s research elegantly bridges pure mathematics and applied physics, offering essential tools for the future of targeted drug delivery and minimally invasive surgery.