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Published on: February 1, 2016
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Designing Soft Mobile Machines Enabled by Dielectric Elastomer Minimum Energy Structures
Fan Liu1, Ning An2, Wenjie Sun3
1Xi'an Institute of Space Radio Technology, Xi'an 710100, China.
Polymers
|April 12, 2022
Summary
This study introduces mobile soft machines using dielectric elastomer minimum energy structures (DEMES). Researchers combined DEMES design, simulation, and experiments to achieve biomimetic locomotion, enabling new soft robotics applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Dielectric elastomers (DE) are electro-active polymers enabling soft machine design.
- Dielectric elastomer minimum energy structures (DEMES) offer ease of fabrication and design versatility.
- Current DEMES actuators are limited to immobile applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop mobile soft machines utilizing DEMES.
- To explore biomimetic locomotion inspired by inchworms.
- To integrate complex components with soft DEMES actuators.
Main Methods:
- Combination of DEMES design principles.
- Finite element simulation for design optimization.
- Experimental validation of proposed designs.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of soft mobile machines using DEMES.
- Demonstration of inchworm-like locomotion.
- Harnessing dielectric elastomer buckling for asymmetric feet design.
Conclusions:
- DEMES can be engineered for mobile soft machine applications.
- The study provides insights into designing and fabricating mobile soft machines.
- This work expands the design possibilities for soft active materials.
