Performance Prediction and Scaling Laws of Circular Dielectric Elastomer Membrane Actuators

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Hau ◽  
Alexander York ◽  
Gianluca Rizzello ◽  
Stefan Seelecke
Keyword(s):  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Large Strain ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Performance Scaling ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
And Performance ◽  
High Flexibility ◽  
Force Displacement ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Membrane

For a number of emerging mechatronics applications, dielectric elastomers (DEs) appear as a more energy efficient, lightweight, and low-cost solution with respect to established actuation technologies based, e.g., on solenoids or pneumatic cylinders. In addition to large strain, low power consumption, and high flexibility, DE actuators (DEA) are also highly scalable. Since DE membranes can be easily manufactured in different sizes and shapes, an effective approach to scale their performance is based on properly designing the material geometry. Clearly, to perform an optimal scaling the relation between material geometry and performance has to be properly investigated. In this paper, performance scaling by means of geometry is studied for circular out-of-plane (COP) DEAs. Such actuators consist of a silicone elastomer membrane sandwiched between two electrodes (carbon black silicone mixture). DEAs with six different geometries are manufactured, and a model-based strategy is used to find an experimental relationship between geometry and electro-mechanical behavior. In addition, an effective and computationally efficient method for predicting force–displacement characteristics of different geometries is presented. The proposed method allows to easily adapt DEAs to different applications in terms of stroke and force requirement, while minimizing at the same time both characterization and prototyping effort.

Systematic experimental characterization of dielectric elastomer membranes using a custom-built tensile test rig

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (15) ◽  
pp. 2117-2128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micah Hodgins ◽  
Alex York ◽  
Stefan Seelecke
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Pure Shear ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Membrane Thickness ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Force Displacement ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Membrane

This work presents the conceptualization, fabrication, and performance of a dielectric elastomer membrane testing rig. The custom-built rig is designed to electromechanically characterize dielectric elastomer membranes by measuring physical quantities such as force, displacement, film thickness, voltage/current, capacitance, and resistance simultaneously. Due to the thin and very compliant nature of dielectric elastomer membranes, this new design seeks to minimize setup imperfections and human error by considering the specimen preparation and placement from the start. The test rig includes optical thickness sensors which provide the first known dielectric elastomer membrane thickness profile measurements of stretched and/or activated membranes. The operation of the test rig is demonstrated by testing pure shear silicone membrane specimens. Finally, this versatile programmable test rig results in a highly useful tool for further repeatable electromechanical characterization studies of dielectric elastomer membranes.

Fabrication Parameters and Performance Relationship of Twisted and Coiled Polymer Muscles

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lokesh Saharan ◽  
Yonas Tadesse
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Type ◽  
Large Strain ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Precursor Fiber ◽  
Dead Weight ◽  
Linear Deformation ◽  
Fiber Number ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Fabrication Parameters

Twisted and Coiled Polymer (TCP) muscles are soft actuators made by inserting twist in a precursor fiber while attaching a dead weight at the end, followed by heat treatment. TCP muscles are thermally driven actuators with high power to weight ratio, large strain and low cost. These muscles have a wide variety of applications in engineering, specifically for robotics since these actuators have large linear deformation in response to applied power (Joule’s Effect). The performance of these muscles depend on numerous fabrication parameters such as speed of the coiling, dead weight used, precursor fiber type, number of filament in precursor fiber, number of plies and training cycles. An in-depth study of the fabrication parameters is required to understand the performance of the muscles. We have designed experimental setup to study the performance of the muscles on different input parameters such as load, current, voltage and output results such as displacement, force and temperature. We present the study of single, double and tripled plied muscles that are fabricated by plying together a twisted and coiled filament. Further, the power consumption of the muscles under various conditions is discussed. This study would help to establish a procedure to fabricate these materials with consistent properties.

scholarly journals Authenticated Encryption for Low-Power Reconfigurable Wireless Devices

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samant Khajuria ◽  
Birger Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Authenticated Encryption ◽  
Wireless Devices ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Wireless Protocols ◽  
Reconfigurable Devices ◽  
Hardware Architectures ◽  
And Performance ◽  
High Flexibility

With the rapid growth of new wireless communication standards, a solution that is capable of providing a seamless shift between existing wireless protocols and high flexibility as well as capability is crucial. Technology based on reconfigurable devices offers this flexibility. In order to avail this enabling technology, these radios have to propose cryptographic services such as confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Therefore, integration of security services to these low-power devices is very challenging and crucial as they have limited resources and computational capabilities. In this paper, we present a crypto solution for reconfigurable devices. The solution is a single pass Authenticated Encryption (AE) scheme that is designed for protecting both message confidentiality and its authenticity. This makes AE very attractive for low-cost low-power hardware implementation. For test and performance evaluation the design has been implemented in Xilinx Spartan-3 sxc3s700an FPGA. Additionally, this paper analyzes different hardware architectures and explores area/delay tradeoffs in the implementation.

Programmable Integrated Photonics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Capmany ◽  
Daniel Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuit ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
External Control ◽  
Integrated Photonics ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Photonic Integrated Circuit ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Application Fields

Programmable Integrated Photonics (PIP) is a new paradigm that aims at designing common integrated optical hardware configurations, which by suitable programming can implement a variety of functionalities that, in turn, can be exploited as basic operations in many application fields. Programmability enables by means of external control signals both chip reconfiguration for multifunction operation as well as chip stabilization against non-ideal operation due to fluctuations in environmental conditions and fabrication errors. Programming also allows activating parts of the chip, which are not essential for the implementation of a given functionality but can be of help in reducing noise levels through the diversion of undesired reflections. After some years where the Application Specific Photonic Integrated Circuit (ASPIC) paradigm has completely dominated the field of integrated optics, there is an increasing interest in PIP justified by the surge of a number of emerging applications that are and will be calling for true flexibility, reconfigurability as well as low-cost, compact and low-power consuming devices. This book aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to this emergent field covering aspects that range from the basic aspects of technologies and building photonic component blocks to the design alternatives and principles of complex programmable photonics circuits, their limiting factors, techniques for characterization and performance monitoring/control and their salient applications both in the classical as well as in the quantum information fields. The book concentrates and focuses mainly on the distinctive features of programmable photonics as compared to more traditional ASPIC approaches.

The Use of Microcomputer Simulations in Undergraduate Neurophysiology Experiments

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Microcomputer System ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Teaching Objectives ◽  
Compound Action Potentials ◽  
Experimental Management ◽  
And Performance

Practical classes in neurophysiology reinforce and complement the theoretical background in a number of ways, including demonstration of concepts, practice in planning and performance of experiments, and the production and maintenance of viable neural preparations. The balance of teaching objectives will depend upon the particular group of students involved. A technique is described which allows the embedding of real compound action potentials from one of the most basic introductory neurophysiology experiments—frog sciatic nerve, into interactive programs for student use. These retain all the elements of the “real experiment” in terms of appearance, presentation, experimental management and measurement by the student. Laboratory reports by the students show that the experiments are carefully and enthusiastically performed and the material is well absorbed. Three groups of student derive most benefit from their use. First, students whose future careers will not involve animal experiments do not spend time developing dissecting skills they will not use, but more time fulfilling the other teaching objectives. Second, relatively inexperienced students, struggling to produce viable neural material and master complicated laboratory equipment, who are often left with little time or motivation to take accurate readings or ponder upon neurophysiological concepts. Third, students in institutions where neurophysiology is taught with difficulty because of the high cost of equipment and lack of specific expertise, may well have access to a low cost general purpose microcomputer system.

scholarly journals Process Emulation System for High-Power Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Actuators

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 201-205
Author(s):  
Igor Ille ◽  
Sebastian Mojrzisch ◽  
Jens Twiefel
Keyword(s):  
Feedback Control ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Stable Process ◽  
Present System ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Hardware In The Loop ◽  
Ultrasonic Assisted ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
High Flexibility

Abstract Ultrasonic actuators are used for a wide field of applications. The vibration energy can be used to realize many processes like ultrasonic welding or bonding. Furthermore there are many processes which run more efficient and faster combined with ultrasonic vibration like ultrasonic-assisted turning or drilling. Piezoelectric transducers are the main part of those applications. Most of the applications have a time-variant load behavior and need an amplitude feedback control to guarantee a stable process. To ensure correct function tests of the feedback control systems have to be done. In this case the processes have to be executed in association with a high number of cycles. To emulate the behavior of the environment the automotive and aerospace industries use hardware in the loop systems since a long time but there is no such a method for ultrasonic systems. This paper presents a method to realize high dynamic load emulation for different ultrasonic applications. Using a piezoelectric transformer it is possible to reproduce load curves by active damping on the secondary side of the transformer using a current proportional digital feedback circuit. A theoretical and experimental study of hardware in the loop system for ultrasonic applications is given by this paper. The present system allows testing a wide field of feedback control algorithms with high flexibility and a high number of cycles by utilization of low-cost components. This proceeding decreases design periods in association with feedback control.

scholarly journals Experiments with Neural Networks in the Identification and Control of a Magnetic Levitation System Using a Low-Cost Platform

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2535
Author(s):  
Bruno E. Silva ◽  
Ramiro S. Barbosa
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Magnetic Levitation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Neural Controllers ◽  
Levitation System ◽  
Internal Model Controller ◽  
Magnetic Levitation System ◽  
And Performance

In this article, we designed and implemented neural controllers to control a nonlinear and unstable magnetic levitation system composed of an electromagnet and a magnetic disk. The objective was to evaluate the implementation and performance of neural control algorithms in a low-cost hardware. In a first phase, we designed two classical controllers with the objective to provide the training data for the neural controllers. After, we identified several neural models of the levitation system using Nonlinear AutoRegressive eXogenous (NARX)-type neural networks that were used to emulate the forward dynamics of the system. Finally, we designed and implemented three neural control structures: the inverse controller, the internal model controller, and the model reference controller for the control of the levitation system. The neural controllers were tested on a low-cost Arduino control platform through MATLAB/Simulink. The experimental results proved the good performance of the neural controllers.

scholarly journals Synthesis and characterization of Mg–Zn ferrite based flexible microwave composites and its application as SNG metamaterial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Atiqur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Tariqul Islam ◽  
Mandeep Singh Jit Singh ◽  
Md Samsuzzaman ◽  
Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Microwave Frequency ◽  
Dielectric Substrate ◽  
Dielectric Constants ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Flexible Composites ◽  
Average Grain Size ◽  
Zn Ferrite ◽  
High Flexibility

AbstractIn this article, we propose SNG (single negative) metamaterial fabricated on Mg–Zn ferrite-based flexible microwave composites. Firstly, the flexible composites are synthesized by the sol-gel method having four different molecular compositions of MgxZn(1−x)Fe2O4, which are denoted as Mg20, Mg40, Mg60, and Mg80. The structural, morphological, and microwave properties of the synthesized flexible composites are analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and conventional dielectric assessment kit (DAK) to justify their possible application as dielectric substrate at microwave frequency regime. Thus the average grain size is found from 20 to 24 nm, and the dielectric constants are 6.01, 5.10, 4.19, and 3.28, as well as loss tangents, are 0.002, 0.004, 0.006, and 0.008 for the prepared Mg–Zn ferrites, i.e., Mg20, Mg40, Mg60, and Mg80 respectively. Besides, the prepared low-cost Mg–Zn ferrite composites exhibit high flexibility and lightweight, which makes them a potential candidate as a metamaterial substrate. Furthermore, a single negative (SNG) metamaterial unit cell is fabricated on the prepared, flexible microwave composites, and their essential electromagnetic behaviors are observed. Very good effective medium ratios (EMR) vales are obtained from 14.65 to 18.47, which ensure the compactness of the fabricated prototypes with a physical dimension of 8 × 6.5 mm2. Also, the proposed materials have shown better performances comparing with conventional FR4 and RO4533 materials, and they have covered S-, C-, X-, Ku-, and K-band of microwave frequency region. Thus, the prepared, flexible SNG metamaterials on MgxZn(1−x)Fe2O4 composites are suitable for microwave and flexible technologies.

scholarly journals Fabrication and Compressive Behavior of a Micro-Lattice Composite by High Resolution DLP Stereolithography

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 785
Author(s):  
Chow Shing Shin ◽  
Yu Chia Chang
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Lattice Structure ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Dip Coating ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Digital Light Processing ◽  
Unit Cell Size ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Performance

Lattice structures are superior to stochastic foams in mechanical properties and are finding increasing applications. Their properties can be tailored in a wide range through adjusting the design and dimensions of the unit cell, changing the constituent materials as well as forming into hierarchical structures. In order to achieve more levels of hierarchy, the dimensions of the fundamental lattice have to be small enough. Although lattice size of several microns can be fabricated using the two-photon polymerization technique, sophisticated and costly equipment is required. To balance cost and performance, a low-cost high resolution micro-stereolithographic system has been developed in this work based on a commercial digital light processing (DLP) projector. Unit cell lengths as small as 100 μm have been successfully fabricated. Decreasing the unit cell size from 150 to 100 μm increased the compressive stiffness by 26%. Different pretreatments to facilitate the electroless plating of nickel on the lattice structure have been attempted. A pretreatment of dip coating in a graphene suspension is the most successful and increased the strength and stiffness by 5.3 and 3.6 times, respectively. Even a very light and incomplete nickel plating in the interior has increase the structural stiffness and strength by more than twofold.

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