A soft ring oscillator

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (31) ◽  
pp. eaaw5496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Preston ◽  
Haihui Joy Jiang ◽  
Vanessa Sanchez ◽  
Philipp Rothemund ◽  
Jeff Rawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constant Pressure ◽  
Particle Separation ◽  
Schmitt Trigger ◽  
Ring Oscillator ◽  
System Level ◽  
Pressure Source ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
System Parameters ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Single Constant

Periodic actuation of multiple soft, pneumatic actuators requires coordinated function of multiple, separate components. This work demonstrates a soft, pneumatic ring oscillator that induces temporally coordinated periodic motion in soft actuators using a single, constant-pressure source, without hard valves or electronic controls. The fundamental unit of this ring oscillator is a soft, pneumatic inverter (an inverting Schmitt trigger) that switches between its two states (“on” and “off”) using two instabilities in elastomeric structures: buckling of internal tubing and snap-through of a hemispherical membrane. An odd number of these inverters connected in a loop produces the same number of periodically oscillating outputs, resulting from a third, system-level instability; the frequency of oscillation depends on three system parameters that can be adjusted. These oscillatory output pressures enable several applications, including undulating and rolling motions in soft robots, size-based particle separation, pneumatic mechanotherapy, and metering of fluids. The soft ring oscillator eliminates the need for hard valves and electronic controls in these applications.

Valveless microliter combustion for densely packed arrays of powerful soft actuators

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (39) ◽  
pp. e2106553118
Author(s):  
Ronald H. Heisser ◽  
Cameron A. Aubin ◽  
Ofek Peretz ◽  
Nicholas Kincaid ◽  
Hyeon Seok An ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Exothermic Reaction ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Metal Electrodes ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Display Technology ◽  
Fluidic Actuators ◽  
Operational Frequency ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Flame Behavior

Existing tactile stimulation technologies powered by small actuators offer low-resolution stimuli compared to the enormous mechanoreceptor density of human skin. Arrays of soft pneumatic actuators initially show promise as small-resolution (1- to 3-mm diameter), highly conformable tactile display strategies yet ultimately fail because of their need for valves bulkier than the actuators themselves. In this paper, we demonstrate an array of individually addressable, soft fluidic actuators that operate without electromechanical valves. We achieve this by using microscale combustion and localized thermal flame quenching. Precisely, liquid metal electrodes produce sparks to ignite fuel lean methane–oxygen mixtures in a 5-mm diameter, 2-mm tall silicone cylinder. The exothermic reaction quickly pressurizes the cylinder, displacing a silicone membrane up to 6 mm in under 1 ms. This device has an estimated free-inflation instantaneous stroke power of 3 W. The maximum reported operational frequency of these cylinders is 1.2 kHz with average displacements of ∼100 µm. We demonstrate that, at these small scales, the wall-quenching flame behavior also allows operation of a 3 × 3 array of 3-mm diameter cylinders with 4-mm pitch. Though we primarily present our device as a tactile display technology, it is a platform microactuator technology with application beyond this one.

Torsional Stiffness Improvement of a Soft Pneumatic Finger Using Embedded Skeleton

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Lotfiani ◽  
Huichan Zhao ◽  
Zhufeng Shao ◽  
Xili Yi
Keyword(s):  
Torsional Stiffness ◽  
Good Precision ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Finite Element Approach ◽  
Grasping And Manipulation ◽  
Element Approach ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Compact Design ◽  
Rigid Skeleton

Abstract Silicone-based pneumatic actuators are among the most widely used soft actuators in adaptable fingers. However, due to the soft nature of silicone, the performance of these fingers is highly affected by the low torsional stiffness, which may cause failure in grasping and manipulation. To address this problem, a compact design is proposed by embedding a rigid skeleton into a soft pneumatic finger. A finite element approach with an analysical model is used to evaluate the performance of the fingers both with and without the skeleton. Then, a series of experiments is performed to study the bending motion and rigidity of the fingers. The results reveal that the skeleton increases the torsional stiffness of the finger up to 300%. Furthermore, the consistency with the experimental data indicates the good precision of the proposed modeling method. Finally, a two-finger hand is designed to evaluate the performance of the reinforced finger in reality. The grasp experiments illustrate that the hybrid finger with the skeleton is highly adaptable and can successfully grasp and manipulate heavy objects. Thus, a potential approach is proposed to improve the torsional stiffness of silicone-based pneumatic fingers while maintaining adaptability.

scholarly journals Rapid Design and Analysis of Microtube Pneumatic Actuators Using Line-Segment and Multi-Segment Euler–Bernoulli Beam Models

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myunggi Ji ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
In Ho Cho ◽  
Jaeyoun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Line Segment ◽  
Beam Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Design And Optimization ◽  
Rapid Design ◽  
The Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Soft Actuators

Soft material-based pneumatic microtube actuators are attracting intense interest, since their bending motion is potentially useful for the safe manipulation of delicate biological objects. To increase their utility in biomedicine, researchers have begun to apply shape-engineering to the microtubes to diversify their bending patterns. However, design and analysis of such microtube actuators are challenging in general, due to their continuum natures and small dimensions. In this paper, we establish two methods for rapid design, analysis, and optimization of such complex, shape-engineered microtube actuators that are based on the line-segment model and the multi-segment Euler–Bernoulli’s beam model, respectively, and are less computation-intensive than the more conventional method based on finite element analysis. To validate the models, we first realized multi-segment microtube actuators physically, then compared their experimentally observed motions against those obtained from the models. We obtained good agreements between the three sets of results with their maximum bending-angle errors falling within ±11%. In terms of computational efficiency, our models decreased the simulation time significantly, down to a few seconds, in contrast with the finite element analysis that sometimes can take hours. The models reported in this paper exhibit great potential for rapid and facile design and optimization of shape-engineered soft actuators.

Development of Miniaturized Rubber Muscle Actuator Driven by Gas-Liquid Phase Change

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomonori Kato ◽  
Kazuki Sakuragi ◽  
Mingzhao Cheng ◽  
Ryo Kakiyama ◽  
Yuta Matsunaga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Frequency Response ◽  
Artificial Muscle ◽  
Phase Changes ◽  
Corner Frequency ◽  
Pi Control ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Frequency Responses ◽  
Soft Actuators

The goal of this study is to develop a miniaturized artificial muscle in which a tiny compressor can be installed. Pneumatic actuators, such as pneumatic artificial rubber muscles (PARMs), have been widely used in many industrial and robotic research applications because they are compact and lightweight. However, the compressors driving such actuators are relatively large. To solve this problem, the authors have been researching soft actuators driven by gas-liquid phase changes (GLPCs). In this study, a fixed chamber containing a constantan heater and fluorocarbon was used to generate pressure instead of a compressor. The pressure generation caused by the GLPC was confirmed, and a PARM contraction experiment was then conducted. Additionally, a PI control system was built to test the step and frequency responses of the actuator. A frequency response of up to 4.0 Hz was determined, and the corner frequency was found to be approximately 1.5 Hz. The size of the actuator was reduced by removing the chamber and installing the heater in the rubber muscle. A PARM driving experiment was conducted, and the performance of the PARM was evaluated. The miniaturized actuator consumes less power than the original actuator.

scholarly journals Modelling and implementation of soft bio-mimetic turtle using echo state network and soft pneumatic actuators

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MennaAllah Soliman ◽  
Mostafa A. Mousa ◽  
Mahmood A. Saleh ◽  
Mahmoud Elsamanty ◽  
Ahmed G. Radwan
Keyword(s):  
Orientation Angle ◽  
Motion Path ◽  
Echo State Network ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Large Pressure ◽  
Inclination Angles ◽  
Maximum Root ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Rotation Motion

AbstractAdvances of soft robotics enabled better mimicking of biological creatures and closer realization of animals’ motion in the robotics field. The biological creature’s movement has morphology and flexibility that is problematic deportation to a bio-inspired robot. This paper aims to study the ability to mimic turtle motion using a soft pneumatic actuator (SPA) as a turtle flipper limb. SPA’s behavior is simulated using finite element analysis to design turtle flipper at 22 different geometrical configurations, and the simulations are conducted on a large pressure range (0.11–0.4 Mpa). The simulation results are validated using vision feedback with respect to varying the air pillow orientation angle. Consequently, four SPAs with different inclination angles are selected to build a bio-mimetic turtle, which is tested at two different driving configurations. The nonlinear dynamics of soft actuators, which is challenging to model the motion using traditional modeling techniques affect the turtle’s motion. Conclusively, according to kinematics behavior, the turtle motion path is modeled using the Echo State Network (ESN) method, one of the reservoir computing techniques. The ESN models the turtle path with respect to the actuators’ rotation motion angle with maximum root-mean-square error of $$1.04 \times 10^{-11}$$ 1.04 × 10 - 11 . The turtle is designed to enhance the robot interaction with living creatures by mimicking their limbs’ flexibility and the way of their motion.

scholarly journals Quantized Ultracold Neutrons in Rough Waveguides: GRANIT Experiments and Beyond

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
M. Escobar ◽  
A. E. Meyerovich
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Quantum States ◽  
Scaling Relations ◽  
Ultracold Neutrons ◽  
System Parameters ◽  
Neutron Count ◽  
Simple Scaling ◽  
Biased Diffusion ◽  
Rough Boundaries ◽  
Single Constant

We apply our general theory of transport in systems with random rough boundaries to gravitationally quantized ultracold neutrons in rough waveguides as in GRANIT experiments (ILL, Grenoble). We consider waveguides with roughness in both two and one dimensions (2D and 1D). In the biased diffusion approximation the depletion times for the gravitational quantum states can be easily expressed via each other irrespective of the system parameters. The calculation of the exit neutron count reduces to evaluation of a single constant which contains a complicated integral of the correlation function of surface roughness. In the case of 1D roughness (random grating) this constant is calculated analytically for common types of the correlation functions. The results obey simple scaling relations which are slightly different in 1D and 2D. We predict the exit neutron count for the new GRANIT cell.

scholarly journals Circuit design with adjustable threshold using the independently controlled double gate feature of the Vertical Slit Field Effect Transistor (VESFET)

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 275-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Weis ◽  
D. Schmitt-Landsiedel
Keyword(s):  
Circuit Design ◽  
Field Effect ◽  
Field Effect Transistor ◽  
Tuning Range ◽  
Frequency Tuning ◽  
Schmitt Trigger ◽  
Ring Oscillator ◽  
Double Gate ◽  
Vertical Slit ◽  
Effect Transistor

Abstract. The recently introduced Vertical Slit Field Effect Transistor allows for adjusting its threshold voltage through independent controllable gates. This feature can be applied to a broad range of circuits. In this paper two examples are presented. First, a ring oscillator with a wide frequency tuning range and second, a Schmitt trigger with a controllable hysteresis.

scholarly journals Torsional Stiffness Improvement of a Soft Pneumatic Finger Using Embedded Skeleton

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Amin Lotfiani ◽  
Huichan Zhao ◽  
Zhufeng Shao ◽  
Xili Yi
Keyword(s):  
Torsional Stiffness ◽  
Good Precision ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Finite Element Approach ◽  
Grasping And Manipulation ◽  
Element Approach ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Soft Actuators ◽  
Compact Design ◽  
Rigid Skeleton

Abstract Silicone-based pneumatic actuators are among the most widely used soft actuators in adaptable fingers. However, due to the soft nature of silicone, the performance of these fingers is highly affected by the low torsional stiffness, which may cause failure in grasping and manipulation. To address this problem, a compact design is proposed by embedding a rigid skeleton into a soft pneumatic finger. A finite element approach with an analytical model is used to evaluate the performance of the fingers both with and without the skeleton. Then, a series of experiments is performed to study the bending motion and rigidity of the fingers. The results reveal that the skeleton increases the torsional stiffness of the finger up to 300%. Furthermore, the consistency with the experimental data indicates the good precision of the proposed modeling method. Finally, a two-finger hand is designed to evaluate the performance of the reinforced finger in reality. The grasp experiments illustrate that the hybrid finger with the skeleton is highly adaptable and can successfully grasp and manipulate heavy objects. Thus, a potential approach is proposed to improve the torsional stiffness of silicone-based pneumatic fingers while maintaining adaptability.

Development of a 3D Printed Soft Parallel Robot

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Garcia ◽  
Amir Ali Amiri Moghadam ◽  
Ayse Tekes ◽  
Randy Emert
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Position Control ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Parallel Robot ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Pneumatic Actuators ◽  
Kinematics Modeling ◽  
Rigid Body Model ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Soft Actuators

Abstract This paper reports on design, fabrication, and kinematics modeling of a 3D printed soft parallel robot equipped with soft pneumatic actuators. Soft robotics is an emerging field of research which facilitates safe human machine interface. Soft elastomeric actuators made through molding process are one of the key elements of soft robotic systems. However, molding process is tedious and time consuming making the fabrication process undesirable. Recently reported 3D printed soft pneumatic actuators pave the way for manufacturing of novel soft actuators and robots with complex geometries. The current work can be considered as a proof of concept for 3D printing of a soft parallel robot. The robot consists of two soft pneumatic actuators that are connected to two passive links by mean of flexible hinges. The robot has two degrees of freedom and can be used in planar manipulation tasks. Moreover, a number of robots can be configured to operate in a cooperative manner to increase the manipulation dexterity. A kinematic model is developed to simulate the motion of robot end-effector. Through application of the kinematic model it has been shown that the robot is capable of following any planar trajectories within its workspace. Also, pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) is used to develop a dynamic model of the soft robot to more accurately predict the robot interaction with its environment and also develop advanced control system for robust position control of the robot.

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