Papers by Keyword: Artificial Muscle

Abstract: This paper presents a review of some of the applications for artificial muscle and several material of artificial muscle. We focus attention on the polymer material artificial muscle, which responds to electrical stimulation with a significant change in shape or size. Through our research on a variety of materials and the analysis of the mechanical properties of muscle movement, finally we designed the artificial muscle device the imitation of muscles stretching device. This article describes the structure and performance of the device.

Abstract: Tri-layer electroactive bending polymeric artificial muscles generally exhibit no overshoot during open-loop step response with a non-zero initial slope when the output is the vertical position of the bending sample tip. We propose to identify such a bending step contraction by a nonlinear system derived from a linear first order system in the form: where the parameters k, T and r depend on the u-control voltage. We show the relevance of this approach for identifying the step-response of a PEDOT:PSS/PVDF/ionic liquid actuator developed at the laboratory. As a consequence, we try to show that a linear PI-controller, including voltage constraints, is a simple and an efficient approach for a closed-loop control of the bending actuator.

Abstract: The characteristics of the asymmetric artificial muscles, PPy-ClO₄/tape, PPy-DBS/tape and PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS worked in 0.5 M NaClO₄ aqueous solutions were discussed by the dynamo-voltammetric responses, coulo-dynamic Evolution responses and the bending angle per unit of consumed charge and the cooperative dynamic effects of PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS artificial muscles is clarified. In the PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS asymmetric bilayer artificial muscles, the PPy-ClO₄ layer shrinks and PPy-DBS layer swells during reduction and the PPy-ClO₄ layer swells and PPy-DBS layer shrinks during oxidation. The artificial muscle originates cooperative dynamic bending actuation of the constituent layers (swelling/shrinking or shrinking/swelling) and achieves the larger bending amplitude than those of the PPy-ClO₄/tape and the PPy-DBS/tape. The bending angle per unit of consumed charge on the PPy-ClO₄/tape and PPy-DBS/tape is 3.240 and 2.85, respectively, and the cooperative dynamic effect on PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS is 8.257. In case of NaCl having same level bending angle per unit of consumed charge on PPy-DBS/tape, 2.396, the cooperative dynamic effect on PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS is just 3.868. Because the bending angle per unit of consumed charge on PPy-ClO₄/tape is very low, 0.101. Actually, the cooperative dynamic effect on PPy-ClO₄/PPy-DBS in Na₂CO₃ is 5.184 and is larger than that in NaCl even the bending angle per unit of consumed charge on PPy-DBS is lower than that on NaCl. The expansion and contraction of the PPy-ClO₄ film dominates the reaction-driven bending motion and those of the PPy-DBS have a minor influence on the bending actuation.

Abstract: Electroactive polymer transducers have many features that are desirable for various devices. An especially attractive type of electroactive polymer is dielectric elastomer (DE). Our recent progress is a DE actuator having only 0.1 g of DE that lifted a weight of 2 kg using carbon system electrodes. We also developed a ribbon form DE actuator having a sensor function that can be used to measure force, or pressure, as well as motion at the same time. This actuator can assist human and robot motions. At the same time, it can work as a motion feedback sensor. We hope that it may be useful for smart rehabilitation equipment for hands, legs, and fingers. DE has also been shown to operate in reverse as a generator. Experiments have been performed on portable DE generators/wearable generators powered by human motion, ocean wave power harvesters mounted on buoys, solar heat generators, and water turbines. While the power output levels of such demonstration devices is small, the performance of these devices has supported the potential benefits of DE. We are developing elastomers having larger dielectric constant using barium titanium oxide to produce a “super artificial muscle for energy harvesting devices, actuators & sensors” in the near future.

Abstract: Recently, ionic actuator as a kind of artificial muscle has attracted great attentions according to their remarkable strain under low-voltage stimulation. Here, we investigated a biocompatible ionic polymer actuator, which consists of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) film as the double electrode layer and an electrolyte layer equipped with a chitosan polymer skeleton. As a result, we found it presented various electromechanical properties under the preparation factors of the different additive glycerol (0mL, 2mL, 4mL). The actuators with 2mL glycerol behaved a longer life bending (65 times), which was obviously surpassed by the others. Also, based on strain and stress testing, Young's modulus of the electrolyte presented a decreasing trend. In fact, the improvement was mainly due to the weakened inter-molecular hydrogen and the rotation molecular of the electrolyte film. Results show the additive inside the electrolyte is very effective to improve the performance of artificial muscle.

Abstract: This paper explains the design of real-time control system for drives which use a pneumatic artificial muscles. Described is the design of hardware and software equipment, as well as design of these components involvement in the experimental facility with artificial muscles. In this paper are referred experimental measurements on the device aimed at monitoring the changes in observed PAMs characteristics caused by pressure changes in artificial muscles during their operation.

Abstract: This paper explains the design of real-time control system for control of drives containing the artificial muscles. Described is the design of devices hardware and software, as well as design of their involvement in the experimental device. In this paper are referred experimental measurements on the device, aimed at monitoring the change in observed characteristics caused by position changes in artificial muscles during their operation.

Abstract: This paper explains the design of real-time control system for control of drives containing the artificial muscles. Described is the design of hardware and software devices, as well as design of their involvement in the experimental device. In this paper are referred experimental measurements on the device, aimed at monitoring the change in observed characteristics caused by position changes in artificial muscles during their operation.

Abstract: This paper explains proposed real-time control system algorithm modifications for control of drives containing the artificial muscles. The aim of these modifications is to create control algorithm more effective in spite to provide effective computational time to prepare measurement chain to add further artificial muscles to ensure movement in another directions. Described are devices, hardware and software equipment, as well as design of their involvement in the experimental device.

Abstract: IPMC is used as artificial muscle in bioinspired micro structures/devices due to its low voltage actuation, high bending deformation, rapid response and capability to be operated in aqueous environment. In this paper, deflection analysis of IPMC actuated fin of a micro fish like device is presented to find out angle of attacks generated by IPMC deflection under different voltages applied to it. A novel approach is presented to perform motion analysis of IPMC actuated mechanisms for biomimetic robots under true actuation presentation of the IPMC actuator. This paper also contributes to present velocity and acceleration of the actuator at different voltages. Finally, two different configurations of the fin actuation mechanism are characterized in terms of angle of attack produced by them under same actuation responses of an IPMC actuator. Deflection analysis is performed in Pro/ Mechanism, an advanced simulation tool. A technique of virtual prototyping through simulations is applied to access the performance of both configurations of the fin actuation mechanism under true scenario before going into manufacturing.