Stretchable Electromagnetic Actuator With Bi-Stable Soft Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromagnetic actuators are rigid and inflexible, limiting their application in wearable devices due to the need for miniaturization and adaptability to the human body, necessitating the development of soft actuators that can provide bi-directional driving force.
Innovation Solution
A bi-stable soft electromagnetic actuator is designed using a housing with a stretchable elastic body, a stretchable coil generating an electromagnetic field, and permanent magnet portions arranged to create regions where magnetic attraction or repulsion exceeds the elastic force, allowing for flexible contraction and restoration, and modularization of units for varied force and displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid housing and permanent magnets are used in electromagnetic actuators, then structural strength and magnetic force are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to human body are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional rigid housing with a flexible housing made of elastic material that can be stretched and deformed. The permanent magnets are attached to this flexible housing, allowing them to move relative to the coil portion when the housing is stretched, thereby generating magnetic force while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to human body contours.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structure combining elastic material for the housing with permanent magnets and coil portions. This composite approach allows the actuator to exhibit both the magnetic force generation capability of rigid components and the flexibility of elastic materials, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If stretchable elastic body is used for housing, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but structural stability and force generation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic configuration where the flexible housing can be stretched to control the distance between permanent magnets and the coil portion. When stretched, the housing allows magnets to move closer to the coil, enhancing magnetic force generation. The system dynamically adjusts its configuration to balance flexibility with force generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the elastic restoring force of the stretched housing as a counteracting force to the magnetic attraction. The elastic material provides a restoring force that prevents the magnets from completely collapsing onto the coil, thereby controlling the magnetic force generation while maintaining structural integrity and flexibility.
3Force
If permanent magnets are positioned close to coil portion, then magnetic force is improved, but energy efficiency is worsened due to constant power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic stretching and releasing of the flexible housing to control the positioning of permanent magnets relative to the coil portion. The housing is stretched to bring magnets close to the coil for force generation, then released to increase distance and reduce magnetic attraction. This periodic action allows the actuator to generate magnetic force only when needed, significantly improving energy efficiency by eliminating continuous power consumption.
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 soft actuator efficiently utilizes energy, is easily modularized, and can measure deformation, enabling versatile applications with bi-stability and the ability to connect multiple units, while also allowing for deformation state measurement through inductance value monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
a stretchable coil portion generating an electromagnetic field by applied power
Implementation Method 2
at least a pair of permanent magnet portions respectively facing the first surface and the second surface of the stretchable coil portion
Implementation Method 3
the first permanent magnet portion and the second permanent magnet portion may be arranged so that different polarities face each other so that attractions act therebetween
Implementation Method 4
a housing including a frame portion formed of a stretchable elastic body
Implementation Method 5
allowing for flexible contraction and restoration
Data Source
AI summary
A bi-stable soft electromagnetic actuator includes a housing including a frame portion formed of a stretchable elastic body, a stretchable coil portion generating an electromagnetic field by applied power, located in the housing, and having a first surface and a second surface facing in mutually opposite directions, and at least a pair of permanent magnet portions respectively facing the first surface and the second surface of the stretchable coil portion and arranged to maintain a distance by the frame portion.