Flexible electro-hydraulic power chips

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Materials Science
• Fluidics and Microfluidics

Background:

• Soft systems, like robots and wearables, offer safe human interaction and adaptability but are limited by rigid fluid power components.
• Existing systems require bulky, tethered power sources, hindering flexibility and autonomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel strategy for flexible electro-hydraulic power chips.
• To enable multi-circuit independent pumping and control for compact, lightweight soft systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of programmable electro-hydraulic power chips using "line-plane-body" module combinations.
• Fabrication of chips into desired shapes and functions using multi-material 3D printing.
• Achieved high output density (10.77 kPa/g and 2.15 L/min/g).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated portable, powerful, and multi-circuit independent control capabilities.
• Successfully applied chips in multi-circuit mass transfer, selective cooling, and actuating soft robots (bird, jellyfish).

Conclusions:

• The flexible electro-hydraulic power chips represent a significant advancement for soft systems.
• This strategy paves the way for low-cost, mass-manufactured, universal fluid power components for next-generation autonomous soft systems.