Customizing a self-healing soft pump for robot

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Materials Science
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Soft robotics requires advanced power sources for untethered applications, balancing actuation, speed, portability, and reliability.
• Current power sources face challenges in meeting the demands of safe human-machine interaction and adaptive motions in soft robots.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel class of fully soft electronic pumps for untethered soft robotic applications.
• To develop functional liquids with electrically actuated and self-healing properties for fluid power systems.
• To demonstrate the potential of these soft pumps as universal power sources in diverse soft robots.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an electrons and ions migration mechanism for electrical energy to liquid pumping.
• Developing specialized functional liquids with combined electrical actuation and self-healing properties.
• Integrating soft pumps with a miniature high-voltage power converter for untethered robotic systems.

Main Results:

• Soft electronic pumps demonstrate good portability and excellent actuation performance.
• Functional liquids exhibit both electrical actuation and self-healing capabilities, paving the way for self-healing fluid power systems.
• Customizable pump appearances and pumpabilities cater to diverse robotic needs.
• Successful untethered motion of a robotic fish and vehicle powered by the developed soft pumps.

Conclusions:

• Soft electronic pumps represent a significant advancement in untethered soft robotics power sources.
• The developed functional liquids offer a new paradigm for self-healing fluid power systems.
• These soft pumps show broad potential as universal power solutions for a wide range of soft robots.