Characterization of lightweight electroactive polyelectrolyte composite artificial muscles (CAM) as biomimetic propulsion fins for remote-controlled aquatic vehicles

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehran Mojarrad
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Aquatic Vehicles

Carbon Fiber Based Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) for Powered Ankle-Foot Orthoses (AFO)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parth Kotak ◽  
Jason Wilken ◽  
Kirsten Anderson ◽  
Caterina Lamuta
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Input Voltage ◽  
Input Power ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Foot Orthoses ◽  
Ankle Foot Orthoses ◽  
Low Cost Manufacturing

Abstract Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) control the position and motion of the ankle, compensate for weakness, and correct deformities. AFOs can be classified as passive or powered. Powered AFOs overcome the limitations of passive AFOs by adapting their performance to meet a variety of requirements. However, the actuators currently used to power AFOs are typically heavy, bulky, expensive, or limited to laboratory settings. Thus, there is a strong need for lightweight, inexpensive, and flexible actuators for powering AFOs. In this technical brief, Carbon Fiber/Silicone Rubber (CF/SR) Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) are proposed as novel actuators for powered AFOs. CF/SR TCAMs can lift up to 12,600 times their weight with an input power of only 0.025 W cm-1 and are fabricated from inexpensive materials through a low-cost manufacturing process. Additionally, they can provide a specific work of 758 J kg-1 when an input voltage of 1.64 V cm-1 is applied. A mechanical characterization of CF/SR TCAMs in terms of length/tension, tension/velocity, and active-passive length/tension is presented, and results are compared with the performance of skeletal muscles. A gait analysis demonstrates that CF/SR TCAMs can provide the performance required to supplement lower limb musculature and replicate the gait cycle of a healthy subject. Therefore, the preliminary results provided in this brief are a stepping stone for a dynamic AFO powered by CF/SR TCAMs.

Mechanical characterization of artificial muscles with computer vision

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Verdu ◽  
Juan Morales-Sanchez ◽  
Antonio J. Fernandez-Romero ◽  
M. T. Cortes ◽  
Toribio F. Otero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computer Vision ◽  
Mechanical Characterization ◽  
Artificial Muscles

scholarly journals Design, Manufacturing, and Characterization of Thin, Core-Free, Rolled Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Actuators ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Julian Kunze ◽  
Johannes Prechtl ◽  
Daniel Bruch ◽  
Bettina Fasolt ◽  
Sophie Nalbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Hollow Core ◽  
Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽  
Mass Load ◽  
Silicone Film

In this work, we develop a coreless rolled dielectric elastomer actuator (CORDEA) to be used as artificial muscles in soft robotic structures. The new CORDEA concept is based on a 50 µm silicone film with screen-printed electrodes made of carbon black suspended in polydimethylsiloxane. Two printed silicone films are stacked together and then tightly rolled in a spiral-like structure. Readily available off-the-shelf components are used to implement both electrical and mechanical contacts. A novel manufacturing process is developed to enable the production of rolled actuators without a hollow core, with a focus on simplicity and reliability. In this way, actuator systems with high energy density can be effectively achieved. After presenting the design, an experimental evaluation of the CORDEA electromechanical behavior is performed. Finally, actuator experiments in which the CORDEA is pre-loaded with a mass load and subsequently subject to cycling voltage are illustrated, and the resulting performance is discussed.

Characterization of Artificial Muscles Using Image Processing

2007 ◽  
pp. 142-151
Author(s):  
Rafael Berenguer Vidal ◽  
Rafael Verdú Monedero ◽  
Juan Morales Sánchez ◽  
Jorge Larrey Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Image Processing ◽  
Artificial Muscles

Mechanical Properties of the ‘Stretchable’ Polyacrylamide-Gelatin Double Network Hydrogel

2014 ◽  
Vol 695 ◽  
pp. 328-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Adrus ◽  
Nur Farizah Ayub ◽  
Nurul Atika Mohd Amer ◽  
Jamarosliza Jamaluddin
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Water ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Elongation At Break ◽  
Double Network ◽  
Innovative Materials ◽  
Physically Crosslinked ◽  
Mechanical Properties Characterization

Double network (DN) hydrogels have drawn considerable attention as innovative materials possessing both high water content as well as improved mechanical properties. In this study, DN hydrogels were formed from a combination of two hydrogel networks. The first network composed of acrylamide (AAm) andN’,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm). AAm and MBAAm were covalently crosslinked via photopolymerization simultaneously with/without the presence of the second network pre-gel mixture; physically crosslinked gelatin-calcium carbonate (GCa). The mechanical properties characterization of the hydrogels revealed that tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break increased with the increasing amount of second network component; i.e. GCa. These data could confirmed that the polyacrylamide (PAAm)-GCa DN hydrogels possessed ‘stretchability’ character. Overall, PAAm-GCa DN hydrogels had shown better mechanical strength than the PAAm single network hydrogels. We foreseen that DN hydrogels are highly potential to be developed as artificial muscles.

Toward Variable Recruitment Fluidic Artificial Muscles

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Bryant ◽  
Michael A. Meller ◽  
Ephrahim Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Method ◽  
Artificial Muscle ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Experimental Characterization ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Fluidic Control ◽  
Variable Recruitment ◽  
Save Energy

We investigate taking advantage of the lightweight, compliant nature of fluidic artificial muscles to create variable recruitment actuators in the form of artificial muscle bundles. Several actuator elements at different diameter scales are packaged to act as a single actuator device. The actuator elements of the bundle can be connected to the fluidic control circuit so that different groups of actuator elements, much like individual muscle fibers, can be activated independently depending on the required force output and motion. This novel actuation concept allows us to save energy by effectively selecting the size of the actuators on the fly based on the instantaneous required load, versus the traditional method wherein actuators are sized for the maximum required load, and energy is wasted by oversized actuators most of the time. This design also allows a single bundled actuator to operate in substantially different force regimes, which could be valuable for robots that need to perform a wide variety of tasks and interact safely with humans. This paper will propose this actuator concept and show preliminary results of the design, fabrication, and experimental characterization of three such bioinspired variable recruitment actuator prototypes.

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