Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mechanical Systems01:22

Mechanical Systems

869
Mechanical systems are analogous to to electrical networks where springs and masses play similar roles to inductors and capacitors, respectively. A viscous damper in mechanical systems functions similarly to a resistor in electrical networks, dissipating energy. The forces acting on a mass in such systems include an applied force in the direction of motion, counteracted by forces from the spring, a viscous damper, and the mass's acceleration. This interplay of forces is mathematically...
869
Mechanical Efficiency of Real Machines01:14

Mechanical Efficiency of Real Machines

1.5K
The mechanical efficiency of a machine is a fundamental concept that describes how effectively a machine can convert input work into output work. According to this concept, the efficiency of a machine is equal to the ratio of the output work to the input work. An ideal machine, meaning a machine that has no energy losses, has an efficiency of one. This implies that the input work and the output work are equal.
However, in reality, no machine can be truly ideal, and all of them experience some...
1.5K
Electro-mechanical Systems01:19

Electro-mechanical Systems

1.8K
Electromechanical systems are intricate configurations that effectively combine electrical and mechanical elements to achieve a desired outcome. Central to many of these systems is the DC motor, a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion, enabling various applications ranging from simple fans to complex robotic mechanisms.
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
1.8K
Wood Products01:21

Wood Products

402
Wood products encompass a broad range of materials crafted from wood strands, veneers, lumber, and even waste wood-like shreds, designed for both structural and nonstructural purposes. Various specialized wood products have been developed to enhance strength, durability, and versatility in building applications.
Glue-laminated wood, often referred to as glulam, combines multiple smaller pieces of dimensional lumber using adhesives to form a single, larger piece. Cross-laminated timber consists...
402
Open and closed-loop control systems01:17

Open and closed-loop control systems

2.1K
Control systems are foundational elements in automation and engineering. They are broadly categorized into open-loop and closed-loop systems. These classifications hinge on the presence or absence of feedback mechanisms, significantly influencing the system's performance, complexity, and application.
An open-loop control system operates without feedback from the output. It consists of two primary elements: the controller and the controlled process. The controller receives an input signal...
2.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Growth and orientation of copper gallate SURMOFs on cellulosic thin films.

RSC advances·2026
Same author

Laser as a toolbox for wood processing and functionalization.

MRS bulletin·2026
Same author

Combined Experimental and Machine Learning Study on the Interplay between Delignification and Mechanical Properties for Improved Poplar Wood Reconstruction.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Iron-Catalyzed Laser-Induced Graphitization Enabling Current Collector-Free Electrodes With Spatially Tunable Iron/Iron Oxide Phases.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2025
Same author

Piezoelectric and Photoconductive Zinc Oxide-Wood Hybrids Obtained by Atomic Layer Deposition.

ACS nano·2025
Same author

Lignin-based porous carbon adsorbents for CO<sub>2</sub> capture.

Chemical Society reviews·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators
14:42

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Published on: April 25, 2020

9.0K

Bio-inspired wooden actuators for large scale applications.

Markus Rüggeberg1, Ingo Burgert1

  • 1Institute for Building Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH Zürich), Zürich, Switzerland; Applied Wood Materials, Swiss Federal Laoratories of Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Dübendorf, Switzerland.

Plos One
|April 4, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Wooden bilayers actuate with humidity changes, enabling large-scale smart material applications. This research demonstrates controllable, stable wooden actuators for autonomous solar trackers.

More Related Videos

Free-form Light Actuators &#8212; Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale
08:17

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Published on: May 25, 2016

9.7K
Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots
08:47

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Published on: November 8, 2019

8.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators
14:42

Fabrication of Carbon-Based Ionic Electromechanically Active Soft Actuators

Published on: April 25, 2020

9.0K
Free-form Light Actuators &#8212; Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale
08:17

Free-form Light Actuators — Fabrication and Control of Actuation in Microscopic Scale

Published on: May 25, 2016

9.7K
Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots
08:47

Rapid Manufacturing of Thin Soft Pneumatic Actuators and Robots

Published on: November 8, 2019

8.3K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Smart Materials
  • Actuation Technologies

Background:

  • Programmable actuation is key for smart materials, with bilayer systems widely used for stimulus response.
  • Scaling up micro-scale bilayer actuators faces challenges in mechanical stiffness and manufacturing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate large-scale actuation using wooden bilayers responsive to relative humidity changes.
  • To investigate the control and stability of wooden bilayer actuators for practical applications.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of wooden bilayers utilizing inherent material stiffness and machinability.
  • Measurement and analysis of actuation amplitude and response time based on bilayer geometry and composition.
  • Field testing under weathering conditions to assess long-term stability.

Main Results:

  • Successful demonstration of large-scale actuation in wooden bilayers driven by relative humidity.
  • Actuation characteristics (amplitude, response time) were predictable and controllable via geometric and compositional adjustments.
  • Long-term stability confirmed through field tests under various weather conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Wooden bilayers offer a viable, scalable solution for humidity-driven actuation.
  • The intrinsic sensing and actuation capabilities of wooden bilayers can be harnessed for autonomous systems, such as solar module trackers.
  • This approach leverages natural material properties for sustainable and robust smart material applications.