Simon Voelker

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Simon Voelker is a leading researcher in the emerging field of soft robotics, with a focus on human-robot interaction and accessible design. His work centers on developing tools and frameworks that make soft robotic systems more intuitive and user-friendly. Voelker’s major contribution is the creation of **SoRoCAD**, a pioneering design tool for the building blocks of pneumatic soft robotics, which lowers the barrier to entry for researchers and engineers by enabling rapid prototyping with affordable materials. This work, his most cited with 11 citations, is foundational for democratizing soft robot fabrication. He also explores the critical intersection of **shape design and user perception**, investigating how the organic, flexible forms of soft robots influence human trust and emotional response. His 2023 study on users’ associations with soft robot shapes reveals that these designs can foster higher acceptance and engagement, a key insight for developing safer, more collaborative human-machine systems. By combining practical design tools with deep user research, Voelker is shaping a future where robots are not only softer and safer, but also more intuitively understood by the people they assist.