Artificial muscle assemblies including a central artificial muscle and a plurality of initiating actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial muscle technologies require sufficient voltage to actuate and are limited by the need for pressurized gas or liquid, which restricts their speed and efficiency due to the reliance on fluidic actuators and rigid components.
Innovation Solution
An artificial muscle assembly with a housing containing an electrode pair and a dielectric fluid, where the electrode pair is actuatable between non-actuated and actuated states to direct the dielectric fluid into an expandable region, and a plurality of initiating actuators that apply force to reduce the voltage required for actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fluidic actuators are used to drive artificial muscles, then the artificial muscles can achieve actuation, but the speed and efficiency are limited due to reliance on pressurized gas or liquid supply systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fluidic actuation system entirely, replacing it with a dielectric fluid-based electrostatic actuation system. The artificial muscle uses a dielectric fluid housed within a flexible housing and electrodes that directly actuate the muscle without requiring external pressurized gas or liquid supply systems, thereby removing the complex fluid transport infrastructure while enabling faster actuation speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical fluidic actuation system with an electrostatic field-based system. Instead of using mechanical pressure from external fluid sources, the invention uses electric fields generated by electrodes to directly actuate the artificial muscle through dielectric fluid displacement, replacing complex mechanical fluid transport with a more efficient electrical field mechanism.
2Power
If sufficient voltage is applied to actuate the artificial muscle, then the muscle can perform work, but the power requirement is high and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the actuation system by introducing a dielectric fluid with specific dielectric properties and using a flexible housing that can expand and contract. This parameter change allows the system to achieve reliable actuation at lower voltages compared to traditional rigid artificial muscles, as the dielectric fluid enables more efficient electrostatic field generation and muscle fiber displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials including a flexible housing material that combines structural integrity with expandability, and a dielectric fluid that provides both insulation and actuation medium functions. This composite approach creates an artificial muscle that can reliably perform work at reduced power levels by optimizing the interaction between the flexible housing, dielectric fluid, and electrode system.
3Weight of moving object
If rigid components like servomotors are used in robotic systems, then the systems can perform tasks in structured environments, but the weight-to-power ratio limits versatility and performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible housing that can expand and contract to drive the artificial muscle, replacing rigid servomotor components with a soft, compliant structure. This flexible shell approach significantly reduces the weight of the actuation system while maintaining the ability to perform useful work, enabling better weight-to-power ratios and enhanced adaptability for robotic applications in unstructured environments.
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 allows for reduced voltage actuation of the artificial muscle, enhancing efficiency and speed by utilizing a dielectric fluid and initiating actuators to compress the electrode pair, thereby reducing the power supply needed for muscle actuation.
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.