Study on the Twisted and Coiled Polymer Actuator with Strain Self-Sensing Ability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Twisted and coiled polymer actuators (TCAs) function as efficient artificial muscles with potential in soft robotics and biomedical fields.
• A key limitation of current TCAs is the lack of dynamic strain sensing, leading to inaccuracies in deformation and imprecise control.
• Accurate strain monitoring is crucial for reliable performance in applications requiring controlled, repetitive movements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strain self-sensing twisted and coiled polymer actuator (TCASA).
• To integrate stretchable optomechanical film (SOMF) sensors for dynamic strain perception in TCAs.
• To demonstrate the capability of TCASA for precise strain control and evaluate its performance.

Main Methods:

• TCAs were fabricated by integrating SOMF sensors capable of color changes proportional to strain.
• The relationship between SOMF color change and actuator strain was established.
• The strain self-sensing performance and cycling stability of the TCASA were tested over 200 cycles.

Main Results:

• The integrated SOMF sensors exhibited a wide range of color changes correlating with TCA deformation.
• The TCASA demonstrated excellent cycling stability for strain self-sensing over 200 cycles.
• The TCASA showed superior strain self-sensing performance, enabling effective strain control compared to standard TCAs.

Conclusions:

• The proposed TCASA offers a simple yet effective strategy for dynamic strain sensing in artificial muscles.
• The developed actuators possess excellent strain self-sensing ability, suitable for precise control in soft robots and biomedical applications.
• This technology holds promise for smart wearable devices and other fields requiring controlled, repetitive deformations.