Artificial Muscle Electrode Clamping for Low Voltage Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial muscles face limitations due to gaps between electrode pairs, which increase the voltage required for actuation and reduce efficiency, and existing fluidic actuators suffer from speed and efficiency issues with gas or liquid supply systems.
Innovation Solution
An artificial muscle design featuring a housing with an electrode pair and a dielectric fluid, where the electrode pair is actuatable between non-actuated and actuated states to direct the fluid into an expandable region, with clamping devices reducing the gap between electrodes to lower the actuation voltage and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gaps are allowed between electrode pair surfaces, then ease of assembly and manufacturing are improved, but the voltage required to actuate the artificial muscle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping device applies compressive force to the electrode pair before actuation, pre-reducing the gap between electrode surfaces. This preliminary action ensures that when voltage is applied, the electrodes are already in close proximity, minimizing the voltage required to achieve actuation while maintaining ease of assembly during manufacturing
2Use of energy by moving object
If clamping force is increased to reduce gap between electrodes, then actuation voltage is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode pair is constructed with flexible electrode surfaces that can deform under clamping force. This flexibility allows the electrodes to conform to each other when compressed, achieving intimate contact and reduced gap without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances for initial electrode alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device is designed to apply compressive force that pre-aligns the electrode surfaces before actuation. This preliminary mechanical alignment compensates for manufacturing variations, allowing standard manufacturing precision while still achieving the gap reduction needed for low-voltage actuation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves increased actuator power per unit volume and efficient fluid expansion, reducing the voltage required for actuation and improving the speed and efficiency of muscle contraction.
Implementation Method 1
the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region
Implementation Method 2
a clamping device applying a force against the first electrode and the second electrode at the second end of the first electrode and the second electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region; an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair comprising a first electrode positioned adjacent a first surface of the housing and a second electrode positioned adjacent a second surface of the housing, the first electrode and the second electrode each having a first end proximate the expandable fluid region and a second end opposite the expandable fluid region; a dielectric fluid housed within the housing; and a clamping device applying a force against the first electrode and the second electrode at the second end of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.