Gundula Runge

About

Gundula Runge is a prominent researcher specializing in soft robotics, with particular expertise in soft actuator design, kinematic modeling, and the automated development of compliant robotic systems. Her most influential contribution, a 2018 systematic survey on novel actuators for soft robotics, has garnered over 200 citations, establishing her as a key voice in cataloguing and evaluating the rapidly expanding landscape of non-conventional actuation technologies. Alongside a complementary overview of soft actuators published the same year, her work provides researchers with structured frameworks for assessing actuator performance and guiding practical applications. Runge has also made significant strides in computational approaches to soft robot design. Her 2017 papers on finite element analysis combined with piecewise constant curvature kinematics, automated design and modeling frameworks, and FEM-based neural network training collectively reflect a sophisticated, interdisciplinary methodology that bridges simulation, machine learning, and physical robotics. Her SpineMan project — a spine-inspired soft manipulator designed for safe human-robot interaction — exemplifies her commitment to translating theoretical advances into meaningful real-world applications. With a body of work accumulating nearly 500 citations, Runge's research continues to shape foundational tools and perspectives in the field of soft and human-friendly robotics.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   An Overview of Novel Actuators for Soft Robotics

   202 citations · 2018
2. 2
   A framework for the kinematic modeling of soft material robots combining finite element analysis and piecewise constant curvature kinematics

   69 citations · 2017
3. 3
   A framework for the automated design and modelling of soft robotic systems

   51 citations · 2017
4. 4
   FEM-based training of artificial neural networks for modular soft robots

   47 citations · 2017
5. 5
   A Systematic Overview of Soft Actuators for Robotics

   40 citations · 2018
6. 6
   Design optimization of soft pneumatic actuators using genetic algorithms

   27 citations · 2017
7. 7
   Analysis of the mass distribution of a functionally extended delta robot

   23 citations · 2014
8. 8
   Particle-reinforced and functionalized hydrogels for SpineMan, a soft robotics application

   14 citations · 2018
9. 9
   SpineMan: Design of a soft robotic spine-like manipulator for safe human-robot interaction

   12 citations · 2015
10. 10
    Design and Testing of a 2-DOF Ball Drive

    9 citations · 2015

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links