Erik D. Engeberg
Boca Raton Regional Hospital, University of Akron, Florida Atlantic University
Papers
36
Total Citations
675
H-Index
13
About
Erik D. Engeberg is a pioneering robotics engineer whose research spans soft robotics, smart materials, prosthetics, and haptic feedback systems. Best known for his groundbreaking work on free-swimming soft robotic jellyfish, his 2018 study — garnering 148 citations — demonstrated that pneumatically actuated robots could navigate open ocean environments untethered, steering and squeezing through narrow orifices with remarkable agility. This work exemplifies his broader commitment to biologically inspired design principles. Engeberg has made significant contributions to shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation, developing novel robotic fingers driven by SMA plates and tubes that mimic natural human digit movement, with built-in fluidic cooling mechanisms enhancing durability and control. His 2015 work on 3D-printed tactile sensors (98 citations) advanced the field of compliant sensing, while his research on finger joint synergies informed more dexterous anthropomorphic robotic hands capable of complex manipulation tasks. Perhaps most impactful for human welfare is his 2022 study on multichannel haptic feedback in prosthetic hands, which demonstrated how restoring tactile sensation enables amputees to multitask and reclaim functional dexterity. More recently, his smart exoskeleton for musical rehabilitation highlights his expanding vision — using robotics to restore quality of life after neurotrauma.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Thrust force characterization of free-swimming soft robotic jellyfish148 citations · 2018
- 2
- 3Anthropomorphic finger antagonistically actuated by SMA plates59 citations · 2015
- 4
- 5Multichannel haptic feedback unlocks prosthetic hand dexterity40 citations · 2022
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10