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About

Jan Vanfleteren is a researcher whose work spans flexible and stretchable electronics, tactile sensing, and human-robot interaction. His most recognized contributions lie in the development of innovative flexible sensor technologies, particularly optical tactile shear stress sensors designed for medical and robotics applications. His 2011 paper on a flexible shear sensor based on embedded optoelectronic components, garnering 51 citations, demonstrated how changing optical power coupling could enable unobtrusive sensors capable of conforming to curved surfaces and moving body parts — a significant advance toward "artificial skin" solutions. This work was complemented by follow-up research on two-axis tactile shear sensing and ultra-thin optical configurations, further refining the sensing paradigm. Vanfleteren also contributed to the foundational challenge of stretchable electronics, exploring elastic interconnects using Moulded Interconnect Device technology as early as 2006, helping establish practical pathways for conformable circuit design. More recently, his 2025 work on conveying emotions to robots through touch and sound signals an expansion into affective human-robot interaction. Collectively, his research has shaped how flexible sensing systems are designed and integrated, with clear implications for wearable technology, prosthetics, and next-generation robotics.