A flexible liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic pump for soft robotic systems

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Materials Science
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Fluidic soft actuators are crucial for safe human-machine interaction but lack portability and autonomy.
• Existing soft and conventional pumps face limitations in size, power consumption, and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel liquid metal droplet-based fluidic soft pump.
• To address the limitations of current soft pump technologies, enhancing portability and autonomy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized magnetohydrodynamics and the Lorentz force for electrical energy to fluid motion conversion.
• Optimized the pump design for enhanced performance.
• Evaluated fundamental pump characteristics, including pressure and flow rate.
• Demonstrated integration with various soft robotic systems.

Main Results:

• Developed a lightweight (0.2 g) and compact (0.086 cm³) liquid metal pump.
• Achieved specific pressure (18.6–34.88 GPa m⁻³) and specific flow rate (38.4–49.29 kL min⁻¹ m⁻³).
• Operated the pump at low voltage (< 1 V), surpassing existing pump technologies.
• Showcased versatility in powering soft actuators, transferring chemical energy, and generating code patterns.

Conclusions:

• The liquid metal pump offers a significant advancement in soft robotics, providing a portable and autonomous fluidic solution.
• The pump's performance and versatility demonstrate its potential for future sophisticated robotic systems.
• This technology paves the way for more adaptable and efficient human-machine applications.