Layered actuation structure including artificial muscle

By alternating the layered drive structure and using dielectric fluid drive, the problem of insufficient power in artificial muscle actuators in small spaces in existing technologies is solved, achieving efficient drive force output and space utilization.

CN115956017BActive Publication Date: 2026-07-21TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
Filing Date
2021-08-05
Publication Date
2026-07-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing artificial muscle actuators struggle to increase actuator power per unit volume in a small footprint, and fluid actuators require a supply of compressed gas or liquid, limiting speed and efficiency, while thermally activated polymer fibers are difficult to control and inefficient.

Method used

A layered drive structure is adopted, in which a drive cavity is formed by alternating drive platforms and mounting platforms. By using the drive of dielectric fluid and electrode pairs, the expansion of dielectric fluid in the expandable fluid region is realized, generating translational motion of the drive platform.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves the driving power per unit volume in a small footprint, increases the maximum force, and reduces the overall size and mass of the driver, while also providing good controllability and improving efficiency.

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Abstract

A layered actuation structure includes one or more actuation platforms alternating with one or more mounting platforms to form one or more actuation cavities between pairs of platforms, each pair having an independent mounting platform and an independent actuation platform. The layered actuation structure further includes a support arm coupled to the one or more mounting platforms, an actuation arm coupled to the one or more actuation platforms, and one or more artificial muscles disposed in each of the one or more actuation cavities. The one or more artificial muscles each include a pair of electrodes that can be actuated between a non-actuated state and an actuated state to direct a dielectric fluid into an expandable fluid region of a housing of the artificial muscle, expand the expandable fluid region, and thereby exert a pressure on the one or more actuation platforms to produce a translational motion of the one or more actuation platforms.
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