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Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Netherlands
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

D-Index
62
Citations
15925
World Ranking
599
National Ranking
8

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Netherlands Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Netherlands Leader Award

Overview

Dirk Lefeber is a researcher affiliated with Radboud University in the Netherlands specializing in engineering, with a focus on biomedical engineering. Their work spans multiple interconnected subfields including control and systems engineering, mechanical engineering, rehabilitation, and molecular biology.

The scientist's research emphasizes topics such as prosthetics and rehabilitation robotics, muscle activation and electromyography studies, robot manipulation and learning, stroke rehabilitation and recovery, soft robotics and applications, advanced sensor and energy harvesting materials, and robotic mechanisms and dynamics.

Frequent coauthors in Dirk Lefeber's collaborations include Tom Verstraten, Bram Vanderborght, Joost Geeroms, Carlos Rodriguez-Guerrero, and Pablo López García.

Their research is published most frequently in venues like Mechanism and Machine Theory, IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, SSRN Electronic Journal, Sensors, and IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics.

Recent notable papers include:

  • A Review of Gait Phase Detection Algorithms for Lower Limb Prostheses, 2020, Sensors
  • Compact Gearboxes for Modern Robotics: A Review, 2020, Frontiers in Robotics and AI
  • An Occupational Shoulder Exoskeleton Reduces Muscle Activity and Fatigue During Overhead Work, 2022, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
  • Investigating the Effects of Strapping Pressure on Human-Robot Interface Dynamics Using a Soft Robotic Cuff, 2020, IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics
  • Passive shoulder exoskeleton support partially mitigates fatigue-induced effects in overhead work, 2022, Applied Ergonomics

Best Publications

  • Variable impedance actuators: A review

    B. Vanderborght;A. Albu-Schaeffer;A. Bicchi;A. Bicchi;E. Burdet

  • Compliant actuator designs

    R. Ham;T. Sugar;B. Vanderborght;K. Hollander

  • Pneumatic artificial muscles: actuators for robotics and automation

    Frank Daerden;Dirk Lefeber

  • Self-healing soft pneumatic robots

    Seppe Terryn;Joost Brancart;Dirk Lefeber;Guy Van Assche

  • MACCEPA, the mechanically adjustable compliance and controllable equilibrium position actuator: Design and implementation in a biped robot

    Ronald Van Ham;Bram Vanderborght;Michaël Van Damme;Björn Verrelst

  • Variable Stiffness Actuators: Review on Design and Components

    Sebastian Wolf;Giorgio Grioli;Oliver Eiberger;Werner Friedl

  • A light-weight active orthosis for hip movement assistance

    Francesco Giovacchini;Federica Vannetti;Matteo Fantozzi;Marco Cempini

  • The Concept and Design of Pleated Pneumatic Artificial Muscles

    Frank Daerden;Dirk Lefeber

  • Mechanisms in Protein O-Glycan Biosynthesis and Clinical and Molecular Aspects of Protein O-Glycan Biosynthesis Defects: A Review

    Suzan Wopereis;Dirk J. Lefeber;Éva Morava;Ron A. Wevers

  • Using the social robot probo as a social story telling agent for children with ASD

    Bram Vanderborght;Ramona Simut;Jelle Saldien;Cristina Pop

  • The Pneumatic Biped “Lucy” Actuated with Pleated Pneumatic Artificial Muscles

    Björn Verrelst;Ronald Van Ham;Bram Vanderborght;Frank Daerden

  • Prosthetic feet: State-of-the-art review and the importance of mimicking human ankle–foot biomechanics

    Rino Versluys;Pieter Beyl;Michael Van Damme;Anja Desomer

  • Variable stiffness actuators: The user's point of view

    Giorgio Grioli;Sebastian Wolf;Manolo Garabini;Manuel Catalano

  • Lock Your Robot: A Review of Locking Devices in Robotics

    Michiel Plooij;Glenn Mathijssen;Pierre Cherelle;Dirk Lefeber

  • Exploiting Natural Dynamics to Reduce Energy Consumption by Controlling the Compliance of Soft Actuators

    Bram Vanderborght;Björn Verrelst;Ronald Van Ham;Michaël Van Damme

  • Passive Back Support Exoskeleton Improves Range of Motion Using Flexible Beams.

    Matthias B. Näf;Axel S. Koopman;Saskia Baltrusch;Carlos Rodriguez-Guerrero

  • Design and Validation of the Ankle Mimicking Prosthetic (AMP-) Foot 2.0

    Pierre Cherelle;Victor Grosu;Arnout Matthys;Bram Vanderborght

  • Expressing Emotions with the Social Robot Probo

    Jelle Saldien;Kristof Goris;Bram Vanderborght;Johan Vanderfaeillie

  • Comparison of Mechanical Design and Energy Consumption of Adaptable, Passive-compliant Actuators

    Bram Vanderborght;Ronald Van Ham;Dirk Lefeber;Thomas G. Sugar

  • Pleated pneumatic artificial muscles: actuators for automation and robotics

    F. Daerden;D. Lefeber;B. Verrelst;R. Van Ham

  • Loss-of-function mutations in ATP6V0A2 impair vesicular trafficking, tropoelastin secretion and cell survival

    Vishwanathan Hucthagowder;Eva Morava;Uwe Kornak;Dirk J. Lefeber

Frequent Co-Authors

Bram Vanderborght
Bram Vanderborght Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Nicola Vitiello
Nicola Vitiello Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Romain Meeusen
Romain Meeusen Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Antonio Bicchi
Antonio Bicchi Italian Institute of Technology
Manuel G. Catalano
Manuel G. Catalano Italian Institute of Technology
Daniel David
Daniel David Babeș-Bolyai University
Marko Munih
Marko Munih University of Ljubljana
Jose L Pons
Jose L Pons Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Patrick Guillaume
Patrick Guillaume Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Etienne Burdet
Etienne Burdet Imperial College London

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