Tristan Schlögl

Tristan Schlögl, Dr.-Ing.

Immerwahrstrasse 1
91058 Erlangen
Deutschland

  • 2012 Dipl.-Ing. in Mechanical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
  • 2013 Doctoral candidate, Institute of Applied Dynamics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • 2018 Dr.-Ing. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

theses

2018

 

reviewed journal publications

2017

2015

 

conferences and proceedings

2017

2015

 

further publications

2017

 

  • Symplectic discretizations for optimal control problems in mechanics

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: since 2023-02-15
    Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Sachbeihilfe (EIN-SBH)

  • Simulation of optimal control problems via geometric methods

    (Own Funds)

    Term: since 2023-02-15
    URL: https://www.ltd.tf.fau.de

  • Smoothed finite element methods in modelling and simulation of cardiac electromechanics

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2022-04-01 - 2024-03-31
    Funding source: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

  • Muskeln, Knochen und ihre Interaktion in muskuloskeletalen Systemen

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2022-03-09 - 2022-12-31
    Funding source: Bayerische Forschungsallianz (BayFOR)

  • Simulation and optimal control of flexible mechanical systems with frictional contact

    (Own Funds)

    Term: since 2022-01-01

  • Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology

    (Third Party Funds Group – Overall project)

    Term: 2021-07-01 - 2025-06-30
    Funding source: DFG / Sonderforschungsbereich / Transregio (SFB / TRR)
    URL: https://empkins.de/
    Abstract
    The proposed CRC “Empathokinaesthetic Sensor Technology” (EmpkinS) will investigate novel radar, wireless, depth camera, and photonics based sensor technologies as well as body function models and algorithms. The primary objective of EmpkinS is to capture human motion parameters remotely with wave-based sensors to enable the identification and analysis of physiological and behavioural states and body functions. To this end, EmpkinS aims to develop sensor technologies and facilitate the collection of motion data for the human body. Based on this data of hitherto unknown quantity and quality, EmpkinS will lead to unprecedented new insights regarding biomechanical, medical, and psychophysiological body function models and mechanisms of action as well as their interdependencies.The main focus of EmpkinS is on capturing human motion parameters at the macroscopic level (the human body or segments thereof and the cardiopulmonary function) and at the microscopic level (facial expressions and fasciculations). The acquired data are captured remotely in a minimally disturbing and non-invasive manner and with very high resolution. The physiological and behavioural states underlying the motion pattern are then reconstructed algorithmically from this data, using biomechanical, neuromotor, and psychomotor body function models. The sensors, body function models, and the inversion of mechanisms of action establish a link between the internal biomedical body layers and the outer biomedical technology layers. Research into this link is highly innovative, extraordinarily complex, and many of its facets have not been investigated so far.To address the numerous and multifaceted research challenges, the EmpkinS CRC is designed as an interdisciplinary research programme. The research programme is coherently aligned along the sensor chain from the primary sensor technology (Research Area A) over signal and data processing (Research Areas B and C) and the associated modelling of the internal body functions and processes (Research Areas C and D) to the psychological and medical interpretation of the sensor data (Research Area D). Ethics research (Research Area E) is an integral part of the research programme to ensure responsible research and ethical use of EmpkinS technology.The proposed twelve-year EmpkinS research programme will develop novel methodologies and technologies that will generate cutting-edge knowledge to link biomedical processes inside the human body with the information captured outside the body by wireless and microwave sensor technology. With this quantum leap in medical technology, EmpkinS will pave the way for completely new "digital", patient-centred diagnosis and therapeutic options in medicine and psychology.Medical technology is a research focus with flagship character in the greater Erlangen-Nürnberg area. This outstanding background along with the extensive preparatory work of the involved researchers form the basis and backbone of EmpkinS.

  • Analysis of Degenerative Motion Impairments through Integration of Empathokinaesthetic Sensor Data in Biomechanical Human Models (C04)

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology
    Term: 2021-07-01 - 2025-06-30
    Funding source: DFG / Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB)
    URL: https://www.empkins.de/
    Abstract
    The focus of the work program is on the best possible integration of empathokinaesthetic sensor data in biomechanical models. Concretely, degenerative motion impairments of the hand are recorded by EmpkinS and reference sensors and the date is integrated optimally into the mathematical formulation of the optimal control problem, depending on the data type, measurement frequency and uncertainty, etc. Through movement tracking as well as via the prediction of movement, objective biomarkers are identified for healthy or impaired movement function.

  • Dynamic analysis of prosthetic structures with polymorphic uncertainty

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: Polymorphic uncertainty modelling for the numerical design of structures
    Term: 2020-10-01 - 2023-09-30
    Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Sachbeihilfe (EIN-SBH)
    Abstract
    People with joint disorders or lower limb loss require a technical substitute that restores biomechanical function and body integrity. Prothetic structures not only need to fulfil their respective functional requirements (allowing a save and wide range of motion at low energy expenditure and without impairing the person's body) but also the appearance of the resulting motion (including aesthetic properties like natural and symmetric gait patterns) is of high relevance. Since measurement of in vivo joint motion and loading is complicated and the experimental testing of newly developed prostheses under real life conditions is very difficult (in particular for experiments concerning human movements with prostheses, there are hardly appropriate probands available), predictive simulation plays a major role. Biomechanical motion can be simulated as solution of an optimal control problem, with a physiologically motivated objective function. However, polymorphic sources of uncertainty are present resulting from the prostheses itself, the way a patient moves or the environment. The overarching goal of this project (phases I and II) is the development of models and structure preserving solution methods for biomechanical optimal control problems involving uncertainty to enable the reliable prediction of human motion with prostheses and their analysis.

  • Modelling, optimisation and control of Stirling-cycle devices in a port-Hamiltonian framework

    (Own Funds)

    Term: since 2020-01-01

  • Konzeptentwicklung zur Bedatung (Parameteridentifikation) Biomechanischer Menschmodelle auf Basis von Messungen im Bewegungsanalyselabor

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2020-01-01 - 2020-12-31
    Funding source: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

  • Electromechanically coupled beam models for stacked dielectric elastomer actuators

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2020-01-01 - 2022-12-31
    Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Sachbeihilfe (EIN-SBH)
    Abstract

    Stacked dielectric elastomer actuators bear analogy to the behaviour of human muscles in terms of contracting in length direction when stimulated. They are suitable for point-by-point application of a force. Therefore, dielectric elastomers allow for a sophisticated, efficient and noiseless actuation of systems. However, the use of elastic actuators is also accompanied by new control challenges. As the computational cost for solving optimal control problems is significantly affected by the number of model degrees of freedom, reduced and problem specific actuator models are superior to general but cost-intensive finite element models.

  • Joint Training on Numerical Modelling of Highly Flexible Structures for Industrial Applications

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2019-10-01 - 2023-09-30
    Funding source: EU - 8. Rahmenprogramm - Horizon 2020
    URL: https://thread-etn.eu
    Abstract
    Highly flexible slender structures like yarns, cables, hoses or ropes are essential parts of high-performance engineering systems. The complex response of such structures in real operational conditions is far beyond the capabilities of current modelling tools that are at the core of modern product development cycles.

    Addressing this requires a new generation of brilliant scientists. Marie Skłodowska-Curie funding of the THREAD project will bring together young mechanical engineers and mathematicians who will develop mechanical models and numerical methods for designing highly flexible slender structures, and support the development of future virtual prototyping tools for products where such structures have a key role in functional system performance. 

    THREAD is a unique network of universities, research organisations and industry which by addressing fundamental modelling problems will ultimately enable the field to better meet the needs of different industries. A group of 14 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will receive comprehensive training covering state-of-the-art research topics along the modeling of highly flexible slender structures for industrial applications  as well as valuable transferable skills. They will benefit from close cooperation with twelve industrial partner organisations implementing a comprehensive programme of research secondments and contributing their experience.

  • High order variational integrators for continuum mechanics, constrained mechanical systems and optimal control

    (Own Funds)

    Term: since 2019-08-15

  • A mechano-geometric framework to characterize macromolecular ensembles

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2019-06-01 - 2022-03-31
    Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Sachbeihilfe (EIN-SBH)

  • P14 – Passage from Atomistic-to-Continuum for Quasistatic and Dynamic Crack Growth

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: GRK 2423 FRASCAL: Skalenübergreifende Bruchvorgänge: Integration von Mechanik, Materialwissenschaften, Mathematik, Chemie und Physik (FRASCAL)
    Term: 2019-04-01 - 2027-12-31
    Funding source: DFG / Graduiertenkolleg (GRK)
    Abstract

    We extend the rigorous identification of Griffith models from atomistic systems governed by Lennard-Jones interactions [FrSc15a] to general lattice systems including long-range and multi-body interactions. Here, we will apply techniques from the paper [BaBrCi20] and complement their analysis by showing the Cauchy-Born rule in the setting of small displacements. Applying the Gamma-convergence approach to composite materials, we also aim at studying the influence of different mesoscopic on the macroscopic fracture properties. This connects our perspective to projects P8 and P11. Our main goal is then to establish existence of an atomistic continuous–time evolution and relate it rigorously to continuum quasi-static evolutions [FrLa03, FrSo18] by means of evolutionary Gamma-convergence for rate-independent systems. Here, a key issue consists in verifying stability of unilateral minimisers along the irreversible fracture process.

  • Teilprojekt P2 - Atomistics of Crack-Heterogeneity Interactions

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: Skalenübergreifende Bruchvorgänge: Integration von Mechanik, Materialwissenschaften, Mathematik, Chemie und Physik (FRASCAL)
    Term: 2019-01-02 - 2027-12-31
    Funding source: DFG / Graduiertenkolleg (GRK)
    URL: https://www.frascal.research.fau.eu/home/research/p-2-atomistics-of-crack-heterogeneity-interactions/
    Abstract

    The fracture of a brittle solid is crucially determined by material heterogeneities directly at the crack front where the stress field diverges and the usual homogenization strategies are no longer applicable. While this problem has attracted significant interest, currently no consistent theory that relates local changes in properties to the local fracture behavior and macroscopic failure criteria exists. In contrast to the long-range elastic interactions, the direct interaction of the crack front with heterogeneities cannot be described by continuum methods but requires an atomistic treatment.

    The aim of this project is to study the influence of various types of heterogeneities on the energy dissipation mechanisms in different classes of materials.

  • Teilprojekt P9 - Adaptive Dynamic Fracture Simulation

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: Fracture across Scales: Integrating Mechanics, Materials Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics (FRASCAL)
    Term: 2019-01-02 - 2027-12-31
    Funding source: DFG / Graduiertenkolleg (GRK)
    URL: https://www.frascal.research.fau.eu/home/research/p-9-adaptive-dynamic-fracture-simulation/
    Abstract

    In the simulation of continuum mechanical problems of materials with heterogeneities caused e.g. by a grained structure on a smaller scale compared to the overall dimension of the system, or by the propagation of discontinuities like cracks, the spatial meshes for finite element simulations are typically consisting of coarse elements to save computational costs in regions where less deformation is expected, as well as finely discretised areas to be able to resolve discontinuities and small scale phenomena in an accurate way. For transient problems, spatial mesh adaption has been the topic of intensive research and many strategies are available, which refine or coarsen the spatial mesh according to different criteria. However, the standard is to use the same time step for all degrees of freedom and adaptive time step controls are usually applied to the complete system.

    The aim of this project is to investigate the kinetics of heterogeneous, e.g. cracked material, in several steps by developing suitable combinations of spatial and temporal mesh adaption strategies.

  • Computational and experimental biomechanics

    (Own Funds)

    Term: since 2017-09-01

  • Muscle paths in the biomechanical simulation of human movement and MBS integration

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: 05M2016 - DYMARA: A dynamic manikin with fibre-based modelling of skeletal musculature
    Term: 2016-12-01 - 2020-06-30
    Funding source: BMBF / Verbundprojekt
    Abstract

    Das Verbundprojekt DYMARA hat die Entwicklung eines innovativen digitalen Menschmodells (Manikins) mit  detaillierter Modellierung der Skelettmuskulatur und schnellen numerischen Algorithmen zum Ziel. Mit diesem Manikin soll es möglich werden, den Menschen simulationsgestützt auf optimale Weise in sein Arbeitsumfeld zu integrieren und Ermüdungen, Erkrankungen sowie Unfälle am Arbeitsplatz zu vermeiden. Neben diesen ergonomischen Gesichtspunkten soll das Menschmodell auch zur Therapieplanung im muskulären Bereich und zur Gestaltung von Prothesen und Orthesen eingesetzt werden können. Um die Dynamik des muskuloskeletalen Systems hinreichend genau zu erfassen, wird ein Modellierungsansatz verfolgt, der auf der Methode der mechanischen Mehrkörpersysteme (MKS) basiert. Solche Modelle sind durch die Robotik inspiriert und werden bereits heute in vielen biomechanischen Anwendungsfeldern eingesetzt. Die Modellierung der Muskulatur stellt jedoch nach wie vor eine große Herausforderung dar, insbesondere wenn Aspekte wie Rechenzeit auf der einen und Berücksichtigung der anatomischen und physiologischen Gegebenheiten auf der anderen Seite zu beachten sind. Hier setzen wir mit unserem Projekt an: Ein neu zu entwickelndes eindimensionales Kontinuumsmodell, das einzelne Muskelfaserbündel realitätsnah beschreibt, soll die bisher üblichen diskreten Kraftelemente im MKS-Modell ersetzen und mit schnellen, problemangepassten numerischen Algorithmen zur Berechnung von Bewegungssequenzen und zur Steuerung des Manikins kombiniert werden.

  • Establishment of a heart support system as a contractile membrane based on the pericardium

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2016-05-01 - 2022-07-15
    Funding source: Stiftungen
    Abstract

    This projectcontains the establishment of a heart support system as a contractile membrane based on the pericardium to minimize theconsequences of severe heart disease and to maintain proper cardiacfunction. The project is a research cooperation between the Institute ofApplied Dynamics and the Pediatric Cardiology at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and is funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation.

    The project includes the study ofcardiac function under pathological and normal conditions by developing computer models of the heart, which are validated with experimental data ofpediatric cardiology of the University of Erlangen Nuremberg. The clinicalmeasurements and experimental data, as well as the simulation model are basedon rat hearts. Subsequently, a cardiac support system based on a membrane is to be designed to improve or at least maintain heart function under pathological conditions.

    In particular at the Institute of Applied Dynamics, we are focusing on the development of theunderlying computational heart model including the anatomy, morphology,electrophysiology and also the fluid-structure interaction to be able to buildup the optimized heart support system but also to better understand thefunction of the heart and thus to predict or early detect cardiac dysfunctions andbring new treatments to the clinic. 

  • Variational integrators of higher order for constrained systems and variational integrators of mixed order for dynamical systems with multiple time scales

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2016-01-01 - 2022-03-31

  • Dynamic analysis of prosthetic structures with polymorphic uncertainty

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: SPP 1886: Polymorphic uncertainty modelling for the numerical design of structures
    Term: 2016-01-01 - 2020-09-30
    Funding source: DFG / Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP)
    URL: https://tu-dresden.de/bu/bauingenieurwesen/sdt/forschung/spp1886?set_language=en
    Abstract

    The overarching goal of this project (phases I and II) is the development of models and structure preserving solution methods for biomechanical optimal control problems involving uncertainty to enable the reliable prediction of human motion with prostheses and their analysis. To be able to get close to the consideration of a real world scenario when simulating the uncertain motion with prosthesis, we want to exemplarily focus on one particular foot prosthesis and perform measurements. We will experimentally acquire material properties and model them as uncertain parameters and capture a walking motion to create an uncertain human leg model. The main part of the proposed research work comprises the further development of the fuzzy simulation methods for forward dynamics and optimal control problems to the presence of polymorphic uncertainty for the analysis of prosthetic structures during design and life cycle. This involves in particular the formulation and solution of uncertain optimisation problems. To keep the computational effort manageable, approximations of the uncertain problems are formulated.

    Prosthesis models of increasing material complexity and different types of uncertainty are derived from experimental and computational analysis. The investigation of polymorphic uncertainty on the microstructure and its propagation to the macroscale is planned. 

    Furthermore, using the LTD's motion capture laboratory, uncertain quantities on model and parameter level, will be determined from analysing human gait trials. For the gait cycle simulation to encompass the entire gait cycle, ground contact, heel strike and toe-off have to be modelled for the complex precurved geometrically exact beam model of the carbon spring foot prosthesis.

     Being one of the few projects so far in the SPP 1886 dealing with dynamical systems, the other subprojects will profit from the developed methods when focussing on time-dependent parameters and the change of a structure during its life cycle.

  • Optimal control of biomechanical MBS-Digital Human Models for simulation in the virtual assembly planning

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2015-11-01 - 2018-03-31
    Funding source: Industrie
    URL: https://www.emma-cc.com/de/teilprojekte-partner/biomechanik-optimalsteuerung.html
    Abstract

    The goal of this project is to apply techniques of biomechanics and optimal control to generate realistic human-like motions of the DHM from generic working instructions like for example move a box from A to B. Such a model would enable the engineers to take into account physical workloads and reachability issues in virtual assembly planning.

    The digital human is modeled as a biomechanical multibody system with muscles as actuators. The motions of the DHM for specific working instructions are predicted with the help of optimal control, where an objective function accounting for physiological quantities that are relevant for humans is minimized. This new approach enables the user to make quantitative statements about muscle forces and joint loads during assembly, which are important indicators for ergonomic assessment.

  • Optimal feedback control for constrained mechanical systems

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2015-01-01 - 2017-01-01

  • Protein flexibility and conformational ensembles from kino-geometric modeling and sampling to motion planning

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2014-06-01 - 2019-03-31
    Abstract

    Proteins are dynamic macromolecules that perform their biological functions by exchanging between different conformational substates on a broad range of spatial and temporal scales. As the underlying energy landscapes that govern these conformational changes are very rough and often contain high energy barriers, efficient, yet atomically detailed simulations to understand and predict biophysically relevant motions remain challenging.

    This project aims at providing functional insights into protein molecular mechanisms from simplified kinematic and geometric modeling. Guided by the covalent bond structure of the molecule, we construct kinematic multi-body systems with dihedral degrees of freedom and non-covalent interactions as constraints, which allows us to efficiently analyze conformational flexibility and deform the protein while maintaining secondary structure. Our analyses show convincing agreement with experimental data from various resources and more detailed Molecular Dynamics simulations, demonstrating the power of kino-geometric models for fast insights into protein flexibility and functional mechanisms, with broad implications for drug design and human health.

  • Development of artificial muscles as actors and sensors on the basis of dielectric elastomers

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: bionicum research
    Term: 2012-10-01 - 2018-03-31
    Funding source: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (StMUV) (ab 10/2013), Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Gesundheit (StMUG) (bis 09/2013)
    URL: http://www.bionicum.de/forschung/projekte/muskeln/index.htm
    Abstract

    The aim of the research project is to provide the basis for a new generation of robotic solutions through the use of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEA) as artificial muscles, covering a broad range of applications from intrinsically safe service robots to highly dynamic mobile kinematics to bionic prostheses. For this purpose, the subareas of automated production of actuators, control electronics and simulation are considered in more detail. On the basis of the aerosol jet printing, a process can be qualified which produces additive and planarized dielectric elastomer actuators and sensors. In the field of power electronics, a simultaneous evaluation and control of DEA based on a central energy source is being developed. This allows the use of multiple DEA as self-sensing actuators. An electromechanically coupled simulation model allows the investigation and optimal control of robotic kinematics that are driven by artificial muscles.

  • Numerical investigations on optimal control and variational integrators for multirate systems

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2012-01-01 - 2017-12-31

  • Multiobjective optimal control of hybrid systems

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2012-01-01 - 2016-01-01

  • Space time discretization for flexible multibody systems and multisymplectic variational integrators

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2011-10-01 - 2018-09-30
    Abstract

    Variational integrators are based on the discretization of the variational principle. It is applied to an approximation of the action functional and results in the discrete Euler-Lagrange equations. If space time is discretized in one step, the resulting integrator is multisymplectic, i.e. symplectic in both space and time.Those integrators are suitable for the simulation of flexible multibody systems including beams, shells and 3D continua. Some of the symmetries present in the continuous system are carried over to the discrete setting which leads to the conservation of the associated discrete momentum maps. Furthermore, variational integrators show a very good energy behaviour, i.e. they do not artificially dissipate or gain total energy in a conservative system.

  • Phase lag analysis of variational integrators using interpolation techniques

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2011-01-01 - 2013-01-01

  • Complex frequency response for linear viscoelastic beams of Kelvin-Voigt type

    (Own Funds)

    Term: 2011-01-01 - 2021-06-30

  • Simulation and optimal control of the dynamics of multibody systems in biomechanics and robotics

    (Third Party Funds Single)

    Term: 2008-12-01 - 2011-12-01
    Funding source: DFG-Einzelförderung / Emmy-Noether-Programm (EIN-ENP)
    Abstract

    Simulation is of great importance when studying everyday or athletic motions with regard to improvements in ergonomics and performance. In particular for medical problems like analysing gait or optimising prostheses as well as for planning robot manoeuvres, simulation is often the only way to estimate the actuating and applied forces and torques. An approximate solution can only be as accurate as the underlying numerical method represents the system’s characteristic properties. If, for example, the energy required to perform a motion is a criterion of interest, the use of an energy consistent method is crucial. In purely forward dynamical simulations, here mechanical integrators are widely accepted. This project aims to develop and investigate new efficient and robust methods for the dynamic optimisation of movements that guarantee the inheritance of the real solution’s relevant properties by the approximated solution. The developed methods are applied to varying fields. Multirate integrators are developed that simulate different system parts with individual time steps saving computational time while accuracy remains unchanged. To realistically simulate motions of the human arm, Hill-type muscle models actuate the limbs. A semi-analytic algorithm approximating the muscle path allows its use in optimal control problems with physiologically motivated cost functions. Everyday motions like operating a steering wheel or lifting a weight, as well as sports motions like long throw and shot put, are optimised. Another main point is the simulation of the lower extremities. The modelled limbs are actuated by joint torques and contact problems where inelasticities and friction are taken into account. Monopedal jumping and human gait are investigated. Changing between open and closed kinematic loops (double stance phase versus swing phase) is described by different holonomic constraints that are active or passive in different phases. For the example of optimising a pole vault, the introduced method is applied to a flexible multibody system. It is shown that the developed methods are very effective and flexible and therefore a variety of problems can be investigated ranging from robotics over everyday human motion to athletics’ high performance motions.

  • Development of artificial muscles as actors and sensors on the basis of dielectric elastomers

    (Third Party Funds Group – Sub project)

    Overall project: bionicum research
    Term: 2012-10-01 - 2018-03-31
    Funding source: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz (StMUV) (ab 10/2013), Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt und Gesundheit (StMUG) (bis 09/2013)
    URL: http://www.bionicum.de/forschung/projekte/muskeln/index.htm
    Abstract

    The aim of the research project is to provide the basis for a new generation of robotic solutions through the use of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEA) as artificial muscles, covering a broad range of applications from intrinsically safe service robots to highly dynamic mobile kinematics to bionic prostheses. For this purpose, the subareas of automated production of actuators, control electronics and simulation are considered in more detail. On the basis of the aerosol jet printing, a process can be qualified which produces additive and planarized dielectric elastomer actuators and sensors. In the field of power electronics, a simultaneous evaluation and control of DEA based on a central energy source is being developed. This allows the use of multiple DEA as self-sensing actuators. An electromechanically coupled simulation model allows the investigation and optimal control of robotic kinematics that are driven by artificial muscles.