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Characteristic Analysis and Design Optimization of Bubble Artificial Muscles.
Richard Suphapol Diteesawat1,2, Tim Helps1,2, Majid Taghavi1,2
1Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Soft Robotics
|June 20, 2020
Summary
Bubble artificial muscles (BAMs) offer a lightweight, low-cost solution for soft robotics. These novel actuators demonstrate significant contraction and tension, showing promise for assisting human mobility and other applications.
Area of Science:
- Soft robotics
- Biomimetic actuators
- Materials science
Background:
- Current soft robotic actuators are often heavy, expensive, and lack efficiency.
- There is a need for advanced artificial muscles that are scalable, cost-effective, and capable of high performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze bubble artificial muscles (BAMs) for soft robotics applications.
- To develop and validate a predictive model for BAM actuation.
- To demonstrate the potential of BAMs in assisting human mobility.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BAMs using commercial plastic tubing and retaining rings.
- Experimental testing to measure contraction, tension, and performance under varying pressures.
- Development of a mathematical model to predict BAM behavior.
Main Results:
- Achieved a maximum contraction of 43.1% and maximum stress of 0.894 MPa.
- Demonstrated BAMs lifting loads 1000 times their own weight.
- Validated the predictive model for BAM tension and contraction characteristics.
Conclusions:
- BAMs present a viable, high-performance actuator for soft robotics.
- The developed model enables optimized design and manufacturing of BAMs for specific applications.
- BAMs show potential for use in wearable assistive devices, such as orthoses.
