Advanced Architectures of Microfluidic Microcapacitor Arrays for 3D-Printable Biomimetic Electrostatic Artificial Muscles
Source abstract
Abstract
Artificial muscles underlie exciting, novel technologies that have many wide-reaching applications: exoskeleton actuation, walker robots, prosthetics and stealthy underwater propulsion. Actuating these muscles via electrostatic forces promises excellent energy efficiency and output force density and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Building these muscles through 3D-printed and conductive microfluidics promises fast mass production at a low cost. A microfluidic double-helix weave as a potential solution for the architectural design of these actuators has previously been reported. However, more recent experimental work showed that a weave architecture was not manufacturable at the necessary scale, given the limitations of current 3D-printing technology. Herein, several alternative architectures are presented. They are more advanced and more compatible with current manufacturing requirements, and offer additional benefits. The presented experimental results confirm their improvements in manufacturability. These advanced architectures represent a significant step towards the experimental proof of principle and the practical implementation of electrostatic microfluidic 3D-printed artificial muscles.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Dielectric materials and actuators · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Physics Department, Naval Postgraduate School, One University Circle, Monterey, CA 93943, USA
MOVES Institute, Naval Postgraduate School, One University Circle, Monterey, CA 93943, USA
Funding
Office of Naval Research
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