David R. Clarke

About

David R. Clarke is a pioneering researcher in soft robotics and dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), with a focus on creating lifelike, electrically powered artificial muscles for next-generation robots. His most significant contribution is the development of soft, high-performance actuators that mimic natural muscle—demonstrated in his landmark 2019 paper on the controlled flight of a microrobot powered by soft artificial muscles (833 citations). Clarke’s work has fundamentally advanced the field by eliminating the need for rigid components and prestretch, enabling fully soft robots with unprecedented capabilities. He introduced innovative approaches such as using aligned fibers to control actuator deformation (473 citations), which led to unique shape-morphing behaviors and practical grippers for soft robotics. His 2019 paper on realizing the potential of dielectric elastomer artificial muscles (422 citations) outlines a roadmap for creating completely soft, muscle-like devices that are as strong as natural muscles and electrically powered for easy integration. Clarke has also demonstrated high-speed crawling robots (147 citations), reconfigurable fiber bundles (127 citations), and modular actuators for underwater vehicles (82 citations). His work on ultra-lightweight, high-power-density lithium-ion batteries (30 citations) further supports untethered micro-robots. With over 2,200 total citations, Clarke’s research is foundational for safe, human-interactive robotics and adaptive systems.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Controlled flight of a microrobot powered by soft artificial muscles

   833 citations · 2019
2. 2
   Dielectric Elastomer Based “Grippers” for Soft Robotics

   473 citations · 2015
3. 3
   Realizing the potential of dielectric elastomer artificial muscles

   422 citations · 2019
4. 4
   A high speed soft robot based on dielectric elastomer actuators

   147 citations · 2017
5. 5
   Printing Reconfigurable Bundles of Dielectric Elastomer Fibers

   127 citations · 2021
6. 6
   A Modular Dielectric Elastomer Actuator to Drive Miniature Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

   82 citations · 2018
7. 7
   Tunable Multi-Modal Locomotion in Soft Dielectric Elastomer Robots

   75 citations · 2020
8. 8
   Use of aligned fibers to enhance the performance of dielectric elastomer inchworm robots

   47 citations · 2015
9. 9
   Electrically-latched compliant jumping mechanism based on a dielectric elastomer actuator

   39 citations · 2019
10. 10
    Ultra‐Lightweight, High Power Density Lithium‐Ion Batteries

    30 citations · 2018

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links