Guy Van Assche
Papers
32
Total Citations
1,698
H-Index
18
About
Guy Van Assche is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of polymer chemistry and soft robotics, whose work has fundamentally advanced the durability and sustainability of next-generation robotic systems. He is best known for his contributions to self-healing polymers — particularly Diels-Alder (DA) networks — and their transformative applications in soft pneumatic robots. His landmark 2017 paper, "Self-Healing Soft Pneumatic Robots," has accumulated over 530 citations, establishing a foundational framework for robots capable of recovering from macroscopic damage, dramatically extending their operational lifetimes. Van Assche's research spans the full development pipeline, from polymer processing and additive manufacturing to multi-material actuator design and integrated sensing, as reflected in his comprehensive 2021 review on self-healing polymers for soft robotics (295 citations). His more recent work broadens these principles toward sustainability, exploring biodegradable and recyclable castor oil-based elastomers, and toward autonomous functionality through self-healing sensorized systems. With a cumulative citation count exceeding 1,400 across his top publications, Van Assche's research has profoundly shaped how engineers and scientists approach resilience, safety, and longevity in compliant robotic systems.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Self-healing soft pneumatic robots531 citations · 2017
- 2A review on self-healing polymers for soft robotics295 citations · 2021
- 3Processing of Self‐Healing Polymers for Soft Robotics170 citations · 2021
- 4Additive Manufacturing for Self-Healing Soft Robots85 citations · 2020
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10Self-healing sensorized soft robots40 citations · 2022