Ryan R. Kohlmeyer
Papers
3
Total Citations
313
H-Index
3
About
Ryan R. Kohlmeyer is a leading researcher in the fields of soft robotics, stimuli-responsive materials, and advanced micro-energy storage. His most impactful work centers on the development of wavelength-selective, infrared light-driven liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) composites, which serve as powerful, reversible hinges for soft robots. With a landmark 2013 paper garnering 237 citations, Kohlmeyer demonstrated how these hinges can power remarkable bio-inspired machines, including foldable origami structures, Venus flytrap-inspired grippers capable of delicately handling objects, and inchworm walkers that can crawl up a 50° incline. This work established a new paradigm for remote-controlled, untethered soft actuators. More recently, Kohlmeyer has pioneered a nearly packaging-free design for primary microbatteries, achieving unprecedented power and energy density for tiny devices. This 2021 contribution, with 37 citations, addresses a critical bottleneck in powering the billions of internet-connected medical, wearable, and robotic devices. By tackling both actuation and power at the microscale, Kohlmeyer’s research is foundational to the next generation of autonomous, agile soft robots.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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