Journal
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume 22, Issue 7, Pages 1376-1384Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201102978
Keywords
soft robotics; pneumatic actuators; origami; composite materials
Categories
Funding
- DARPA [W911NF-11-1-0094, W911NF-09-1-0476]
- Department of Energy [ER45852]
- NSF [PHY-0646094]
- MRSEC, NSF [DMR-0820484]
- Spanish FECYT [EX2009-0421]
- Division Of Materials Research
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien [820484] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The development of soft pneumatic actuators based on composites consisting of elastomers with embedded sheet or fiber structures (e.g., paper or fabric) that are flexible but not extensible is described. On pneumatic inflation, these actuators move anisotropically, based on the motions accessible by their composite structures. They are inexpensive, simple to fabricate, light in weight, and easy to actuate. This class of structure is versatile: the same principles of design lead to actuators that respond to pressurization with a wide range of motions (bending, extension, contraction, twisting, and others). Paper, when used to introduce anisotropy into elastomers, can be readily folded into 3D structures following the principles of origami; these folded structures increase the stiffness and anisotropy of the elastomeric actuators, while being light in weight. These soft actuators can manipulate objects with moderate performance; for example, they can lift loads up to 120 times their weight. They can also be combined with other components, for example, electrical components, to increase their functionality.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available