Artificial Muscle Assembly With Initiating Actuators for Lower Voltage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic technologies relying on rigid components like servomotors face limitations due to weight-to-power ratio issues, and fluidic actuators require pressurized gas or liquid supply and high voltage for actuation, limiting speed and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An artificial muscle assembly with a central muscle and initiating actuators, utilizing a dielectric fluid and electrode pair actuatable between states to direct fluid into an expandable region, where initiating actuators reduce the voltage required for actuation by pre-compressing the central muscle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluidic actuators are used to mimic biological muscle, then versatility and reliability improve, but speed and efficiency deteriorate due to requirements for pressurized gas or liquid supply through channels and tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fluid transport system (channels and tubes) from the actuator design. Instead of using fluidic actuators that require external pressurized gas or liquid supply, the invention uses an artificial muscle that contains its own dielectric fluid within a sealed housing, removing the need for external fluid transport infrastructure and thereby improving speed while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the artificial muscle with electrode pair and dielectric fluid) that converts electrical energy directly into mechanical actuation without requiring external fluid pressure as an intermediary. This direct conversion pathway eliminates the speed limitations imposed by fluid transport through channels and tubes.
2Power
If sufficient voltage is applied to the artificial muscle to cause actuation, then the artificial muscle can perform work, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using initiating actuators to pre-compress the artificial muscle before the main actuation event. This pre-compression prepares the muscle in an intermediate state, reducing the voltage required for subsequent actuation and thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining full actuation capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the artificial muscle by introducing multiple actuation states (non-actuated, partially actuated, and fully actuated) controlled by different voltage levels. This allows the system to operate at lower energy levels for minor adjustments and reserve high-power actuation only when full performance is required, optimizing overall energy consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If initiating actuators are used to apply force against the electrode region, then actuation voltage is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing initiating actuators outside the sealed housing of the artificial muscle. The initiating actuators are positioned to apply force against the external surface of the housing at the electrode region, allowing them to influence the internal electric field without requiring internal components or complex internal mechanisms.
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 solution reduces the actuation voltage needed, enhances efficiency, and allows for controlled, selective expansion of the muscle, overcoming limitations of traditional robotic actuators.
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
Each initiating actuator of the plurality of initiating actuators is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state applies a force against the electrode region of the artificial muscle
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial muscle assembly includes initiating actuators and an artificial muscle. The artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode fixed to respective first and second surfaces of the housing. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening defining the expandable fluid region. 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 a dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region. Each initiating actuator is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state applies a force against the electrode region of the artificial muscle.