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Translucent soft robots driven by frameless fluid electrode dielectric elastomer actuators.

Caleb Christianson1, Nathaniel N Goldberg2, Dimitri D Deheyn3

  • 1Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

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|November 3, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel frameless dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) using fluid electrodes for soft submersible robots. This innovation enables transparent, quiet swimming robots inspired by marine life, overcoming previous DEA limitations.

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Area of Science:

  • Robotics
  • Materials Science
  • Biomimetics

Background:

  • Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) offer advantages like large strain and high efficiency for soft robotics.
  • Previous DEA applications in submersible devices were hindered by electrode material challenges, insulation needs, and rigid frame requirements.
  • Soft submersible robots require advanced actuation for applications like marine surveillance and research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a frameless, submersible DEA design using fluid electrodes.
  • To demonstrate the feasibility of this design in a prototype swimming robot.
  • To explore the potential of DEAs with fluid electrodes for biomimetic soft robotics.

Main Methods:

  • A frameless DEA design was created using an internal liquid-filled chamber and the surrounding liquid as electrodes.
  • A prototype swimming robot was constructed using transparent bimorph actuator segments, mimicking leptocephali.
  • Locomotion, swimming speed, Froude efficiency, and optical transmittance were measured.

Main Results:

  • The prototype robot achieved undulatory swimming with a maximum speed of 1.9 mm/s.
  • A Froude efficiency of 52% was recorded, indicating efficient propulsion.
  • The robot body exhibited 94% average transmittance, providing camouflage capabilities.

Conclusions:

  • DEAs with fluid electrodes offer a viable solution for soft, actuated submersible devices.
  • This technology simplifies DEA implementation for frameless, submersible applications.
  • The developed actuators show promise as artificial muscles for quiet, translucent, swimming soft robots.