Mm-size bistable zipping dielectric elastomer actuators for integrated microfluidics

Abstract

We report on a new structure of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) called zipping DEAs, which have a set of unique characteristics that are a good match for the requirements of electrically-powered integrated microfluidic pumping and/or valving units as well as Braille displays. The zipping DEAs operate by pulling electrostatically an elastomer membrane in contact with the rigid sidewalls of a sloped chamber. In this work, we report on fully functional mm-size zipping DEAs that demonstrate a complete sealing of the chamber sidewalls and a tunable bistable behavior, and compare the measurements with an analytical model. Compared to our first generation of devices, we are able vary the sidewall angle and benefit therefore from more flexibility to study the requirements to make fully functional actuators. In particular, we show that with Nusil CF19 as membrane material (1.2 MPa Young's modulus), it is possible to zip completely 2.3 mm diameter chambers with 15° and 21° sidewalls angle equibiaxially prestretched to λ 0 =1.12 and 15° chambers with λ 0 =1.27.

Exploiting Mechanical Instabilities in Soft Robotics: Control, Sensing, and Actuation

“…[79] These hard components compromise the degrees of freedom of soft robots restricting their maneuverability, dexterity, and adaptability. [15,77,80] Several bistable systems have been exploited to recreate soft logic modules [37,[81][82][83][84] that can be easily integrated into soft robots, significantly reducing the complexity of their control system without restricting their mobility (Figure 3). [85,86] Ben-Haim et al proposed a method to reproduce different logic gates using an array of fluid-driven bistable elastic chambers connected by thin tubes (Figure 3A).…”

Retracted: A concise review on the elastomeric behavior of electroactive polymer materials

“…These filers are also temperature‐dependent, thus would reduce the dielectric actuators elastic DAE application limit. The problems were partly solved by the coating of BT particles with a thin layer of polydopamine, 5, 10–12, 115–246 which improves its dielectric permittivity and reduces dielectric loss.…”

Increasing the performance of dielectric elastomer actuators: A review from the materials perspective

“…Examples of DEA bio-mimetic robots include a fishlike propulsion airship [182] and inchworm robots [183], complex walking robots [184], transparent "active skins" [185] and motors for the eyeballs of an android face [186]. and other applications include (Figure 18), refreshable Braille and tactile displays [187][188][189], motion capture suits [190], micro-pumps [191][192][193][194], loudspeakers [195], variable focus lenses [196][197][198][199], active isolation devices for cancelation of vibrations [200,201] and even shape controllers of lightweight mirrors [202]. It is envisioned that, as DE materials and design improve, this technology will find further applications in the medical and industrial sector.…”