Gradient Stiffened Electrode Pair for Artificial Muscle Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial muscles face limitations in efficiently directing fluid into an expandable region due to uniform stiffness, which restricts their actuation efficiency and control, particularly in soft robotics applications.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a gradient stiffened electrode pair within an artificial muscle housing, where stiffening members increase stiffness towards the expandable fluid region, allowing for controlled actuation and directional fluid flow by 'zipping' the electrodes towards the fluid region upon activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform stiffness housing is used in artificial muscles, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the fluid cannot be effectively directed into the expandable region during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with non-uniform stiffness distribution, where specific regions have different stiffness properties. The first and second stiffening members are positioned at opposite edges of the electrode region to provide localized stiffness enhancement, enabling controlled deformation patterns that effectively direct fluid into the expandable region while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Productivity
If the housing stiffness is increased to control fluid direction, then the fluid can be directed more effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire housing uniformly stiff, stiffening members are strategically positioned only at specific locations (opposite edges of the electrode region) where stiffness enhancement is needed. This localized approach achieves effective fluid direction control while minimizing the overall complexity of the housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is constructed as a composite structure combining a base housing material with integrated stiffening members. This composite design allows different regions of the housing to have different stiffness properties, enabling controlled deformation patterns for effective fluid direction without requiring the entire housing to be complex.
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
This design enhances the actuation efficiency and control of artificial muscles by effectively directing dielectric fluid into the expandable region, improving the muscle's ability to inflate on demand and providing increased actuation power per unit volume compared to existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators with muscle-like performance - These hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators use electrostatic and hydraulic forces to achieve a variety of actuation modes
Implementation Method 2
Hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuators with muscle-like performance - These hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators use electrostatic and hydraulic forces to achieve a variety of actuation modes
Data Source
AI summary
Artificial muscles are provided including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode positioned in the electrode region of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and a stiffening member positioned between the housing and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The stiffening member increases a stiffness of the housing in a direction toward the expandable fluid region from an opposite edge of the electrode 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 the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.