Wireless Artificial Muscle Actuation Using Inductive Particle Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pneumatic artificial muscles for portable devices face challenges due to the weight and size of required equipment such as compressors, valves, and pumps, necessitating the development of wireless actuation methods that do not rely on traditional pressurized sources.
Innovation Solution
The use of induction heating of magnetic micro/nano particles within a fluid environment by an alternating magnetic field to generate pneumatic pressure inside a McKibben-type artificial muscle, eliminating the need for compressors, pumps, and valves, and enabling wireless actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pneumatic sources (compressors, pumps, valves) are used to power pneumatic artificial muscles, then reliable actuation is achieved, but device weight and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heavy external pneumatic sources (compressors, pumps, valves) from the system. Instead, it integrates a lightweight magnetic particle actuation system directly into the artificial muscle structure, where magnetic particles suspended in fluid generate pressure internally when exposed to magnetic fields, thereby achieving actuation without bulky external equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical pneumatic system (compressors, pumps, valves) with a magnetic field-based system. Magnetic particles respond to applied magnetic fields by generating internal pressure through magnetic forces, substituting mechanical compression and pumping mechanisms with a cleaner magnetic field actuation approach that significantly reduces system weight and complexity.
2Stress or pressure
If traditional pneumatic sources are used, then sufficient actuation pressure is generated, but device complexity and portability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter for generating actuation pressure from mechanical compression (traditional pneumatic systems) to magnetic field interaction. By suspending magnetic particles in a fluid medium within the artificial muscle, the system generates pressure through magnetic forces when exposed to magnetic fields, eliminating the need for complex mechanical pneumatic components while maintaining sufficient actuation pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure where magnetic particles are suspended in a fluid medium contained within the artificial muscle bladder. This composite material system combines the properties of magnetic particles (for field response), fluid (for pressure transmission), and the muscle structure (for actuation), creating an integrated system that generates pressure without external pneumatic equipment.
3Ease of operation
If wireless actuation using magnetic particles is implemented, then portability and ease of operation are improved, but the mechanism for generating actuation pressure becomes less conventional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces magnetic particles suspended in fluid as an intermediary medium between the magnetic field and the actuation mechanism. These particles act as a mediator that converts magnetic field energy into mechanical pressure within the artificial muscle, enabling wireless control while maintaining a relatively simple and elegant actuation mechanism based on well-understood magnetic and fluid principles.
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 method allows for efficient wireless actuation with high pressure steam generation, achieving significant strain rates and power densities comparable to traditional pneumatic muscles, while being portable and untethered, suitable for various robotic and biomedical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of magnetic particles configured to react to an alternating magnetic field which causes a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area
Implementation Method 2
causes a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area
Implementation Method 3
The device also includes a sleeve disposed on the outer surface of the bladder. The sleeve is configured to confine the bladder so as to generate actuation from the expansion or retraction of the bladder
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing wireless actuation by inductive heating of magnetic particles. The method provides a bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming an interior area, the bladder configured to expand or retract so as to change an area of the interior area, (ii) a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in a fluid medium and disposed within the interior area, and (iii) a sleeve disposed on the outer surface of the bladder. The method excites the plurality of magnetic particles by application of an alternating magnetic field to which the particles reaction. The method causes, by the excited magnetic particles, a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area which causes the bladder to expand, such that the sleeve confining the bladder generates actuation from the expansion or retraction of the bladder.