Demo - Multifunctional actuators and energy harvester based on the Electrostatic Bellow Muscle (EBM)

Ion-Dan Sîrbu; Giacomo Moretti; Marco Bolignari; Luca Fambri; Rocco Vertechy; Marco Fontana

doi:10.1117/12.2589548

22 March 2021 Demo - Multifunctional actuators and energy harvester based on the Electrostatic Bellow Muscle (EBM)

Ion-Dan Sîrbu, Giacomo Moretti, Marco Bolignari, Luca Fambri, Rocco Vertechy, Marco Fontana

Proceedings Volume 11587, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIII; 115870G (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589548
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2021, Online Only

Abstract

This demo presents the Electrostatic Bellow Muscle (EBM), a flexible multipurpose actuator that is obtained by stacking multiple bellow-shaped actuation units. EBM takes inspiration from previous work on liquid-gap electrostatic actuators introducing a new architecture. This novel solution makes it possible to implement an actuator that features a flexible/multipurpose applications such as contractile muscle, pump or energy harvester, while maintaining performance that are comparable to those of previously developed actuation systems. Additionally, a very simple manufacturing process makes it possible to scale up force or displacement by arranging in series or in-parallel actuators. Specifically, the demo will show an EBM with cylindrical shape with a diameter of 30 mm and a height sof 14 mm lifting a weight of approximately 300g with a displacement of 6-7mm at different frequencies.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Ion-Dan Sîrbu, Giacomo Moretti, Marco Bolignari, Luca Fambri, Rocco Vertechy, and Marco Fontana "Demo - Multifunctional actuators and energy harvester based on the Electrostatic Bellow Muscle (EBM)", Proc. SPIE 11587, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXIII, 115870G (22 March 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2589548

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