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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Fabrication of Soft Pneumatic Network Actuators with Oblique Chambers
Published on: August 17, 2018
Elastic energy-recycling actuators for efficient robots
Erez Krimsky1, Steven H Collins1,2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Electric motors are widely used in robots but waste energy in many applications. We introduce an elastic energy-recycling actuator that maintains the versatility of motors while improving energy efficiency in cyclic tasks. The actuator comprises a motor in parallel with an array of springs that can be individually engaged and disengaged, while retaining stored energy, by pairs of low-power electroadhesive clutches. We developed a prototype actuator and tested it in five repetitive tasks with features common in robotic applications but difficult to perform efficiently. The actuator reduced power consumption by at least 50% in all cases and by 97% in the best case. Elastic energy recovery, controlled by low-power clutches, can improve the efficiency of mobile robots, assistive devices, and other engineered systems.
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