Articles tagged with Actuators
Researchers create a novel actuator driven by genetically modified biomolecular motors that can be printed using existing 3D techniques. The artificial muscle mimics natural muscle fibers, allowing for contraction and amplification of force from a molecular scale to millimeter one.
Pitt and CMU researchers create a high-torque light-powered actuator that can compete with electrical and pneumatic systems. By forming a polymer sheet into a curved shape, the bending action happens quickly and generates more torque.
A research team at Toyohashi University of Technology developed a method to reduce aerodynamic noise using a plasma actuator. By periodically switching off the power, they achieved a higher reduction in sound pressure level compared to continuous operation.
Scientists created a new type of fabric that can change shape and support loads, using heat-responsive alloy, stiff composite fibers, and conductive ink. The robotic fabric was used to make a tourniquet and napkin-sized sheet that can fold into a box supporting up to 50g of weight.
Researchers led by CCNY engineer Xi Chen create supramolecular crystals that change shape in response to evaporation, enabling direct observation of water-material interactions at the molecular level. The new crystals have potential applications in energy harvesting, actuators, and artificial muscles.
Scientists have developed a paper-based mechanical memory board by folding paper using the Kresling pattern, generating a switch that can be controlled using vibrations. By placing multiple switches on a single platform, researchers created a functioning mechanical memory board with wide applicability for future device development.
Researchers created a self-healing polymer that mimics squid ring teeth, enabling fast and efficient repair of soft robotic actuators. The material can heal within one second, regaining its original strength and being fully biodegradable and recyclable.
Researchers created a self-healing polymer that can repair itself in one second, while retaining its original strength, and is also biodegradable and recyclable. The material mimics the squid's ability to heal itself in nature, with potential applications for robotic machines, prosthetic legs, and personal protective equipment.
Researchers at Harvard have developed a fast-moving jumping soft actuator that harnesses the energy released by buckling to achieve speed. The device uses shell buckling similar to toy poppers, enabling it to catapult itself into the air and navigate safely through uncharted landscapes.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University created a paper-like material from pollen that responds to changing humidity levels. The pollen paper can bend, flip, and move, making it useful for applications such as soft robots, sensors, and artificial muscles.
A new graphene-based actuator swarm can enable programmable 3D deformation, expanding capabilities of smart devices. The swarm integrates SU-8 pattern arrays with GO to achieve active and programmable deformation under moisture actuation.
Scientists develop a method to teach synthetic plastic to walk and respond to light, learning new tricks based on past experiences. The thermoplastic, made from liquid crystal polymer networks and dye, can be controlled remotely and has potential biomedical applications.
Researchers at Harvard develop resilient RoboBee with soft artificial muscles that can withstand collisions and achieve controlled hovering flight. The breakthrough solves long-standing challenges in microrobotics, paving the way for potential applications in search and rescue missions.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed soft actuators that can be controlled electrically, making them compatible with small electronic devices and batteries. These actuators enabled the creation of compact, portable and multifunctional soft robots with various applications.
Researchers from KAIST have created an ultrathin artificial muscle that expands, contracts, and rotates using electricity, opening doors for applications in wearable electronics and advanced prosthetics. The actuator is flexible, durable, and highly responsive, with a durability of over five hours.
Scientists at Huazhong University of Science & Technology have created a bio-inspired untethered fully soft robot in liquid that can actuate using environmental energy gradients. The robot achieves an impressive speed of 7 times higher than the best reported value for untethered soft robotic fish.
The team of researchers from RIKEN BDR and Tokyo Denki University have developed a bio-MEMS that is driven by real muscle, which could be useful in surgical implants. The new study successfully demonstrates an on-chip muscle-driven valve that can open and close without any external power source.
Carnegie Mellon University researchers developed software to make knitted objects with embedded tendons for actuation, enabling the creation of plush toys and wearable technologies. The technique allows for cost-effective production of soft robots and wearable devices.
Researchers have developed micromachines that can mechanically stimulate cells and microtissues, potentially preventing diseases. These gummy-like robots use cell-sized artificial muscles powered by laser beams to carry out complex tasks.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a method to change the shape of a flat sheet of elastomer using actuation that is fast, reversible, and controllable by an applied voltage.
Soft robots are enabled by origami mechanisms that transform environmental stimuli into mechanical signals, allowing for basic Boolean logic operations and locomotion. The design uses a polymer actuator that changes shape in response to humidity, paving the way for environmentally responsive soft robotics.
Researchers have discovered a new material science concept that uses light to expand a two-dimensional nanosheet at incredible speeds. The nanosheet can expand up to 5.7% of its original size in sub-milliseconds, making it potentially useful for artificial muscles and soft robotic systems.
Researchers developed soft actuator prototypes with tunable parameters, achieving larger deflections than other recent examples. The 3-D printed dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) can perform high bending motion without skeletal support.
The minimally actuated serial robot (MASR) operates with two motors to achieve a wide range of movements, ideal for space, agriculture, and industry applications. The robot's lightweight design allows it to fix malfunctioning satellites and pick fruit with high accuracy and control.
Researchers at Brandeis University have engineered soft materials with embedded chemical networks that mimic the behavior of neural tissue, paving the way for autonomous soft robotics and dual sensors. The breakthrough material may also lead to artificial skins and exoskeletons.
Researchers develop biomimetic drive elements inspired by pine cones, which can open and close without energy consumption. The goal is to optimize building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rutgers engineers create a nano-sized actuator that can lift 265 milligrams hundreds of times in a row, defying conventional strength limits. The discovery uses molybdenum disulfide to generate extraordinary mechanical properties.
Soft robotic exosuits have been developed to assist stroke patients in walking with more efficiency and reduced asymmetry. The devices provide forward propulsion and correct problems with ankle dorsiflexion, a common issue affecting up to 20% of stroke survivors.
The new tool enables users to build customized legged or wheeled robots using 3D-printed components and off-the-shelf actuators. It provides a physical simulation environment to test the robot before fabrication, allowing for iterative design adjustments.
Researchers developed a molecular robot that changes shape in response to specific DNA signals, enabling biomimetic robotics and potential medical innovations. The tiny robot, about 1 millionth of a meter in size, consists of protein and DNA molecules.
A novel control scheme is proposed to control unknown nonlinear systems without exact knowledge of system dynamics. The method uses an observer-based approach with a neural network to observe the system at multiple time scales and update its information.
Researchers have developed a method to automatically design soft actuators for complex motions, enabling the creation of soft robots that can bend and twist like living tissues. This breakthrough streamlines the process of designing soft robots, allowing for the creation of robots with enhanced mobility and dexterity.
HRL Laboratories developed an active variable stiffness vibration isolator capable of 100x stiffness changes and millisecond actuation times. This innovation solves long-standing challenges in shock and vibration problems for next-generation transportation platforms.
Researchers at Harvard have engineered a new soft actuator that utilizes unstable responses to create fast-moving instabilities. These snap-through instabilities can trigger large changes in internal pressure, shape, and exerted force without significant volume change, enabling fast, untethered motion for soft robots.
Researchers found that vibratory stimulation applied to the soles of the feet using piezoelectric technology significantly improves balance by reducing postural sway and gait variability. The study participants showed a persistent improvement in performance on timed tests, indicating potential benefits for fall prevention.
The James Webb Space Telescope features a primary mirror composed of 18 smaller lightweight mirror segments, each with precise actuators to align and shape the mirror. The segments are designed to work together as one giant mirror, capturing light from distant galaxies and stars in space.
A soft-bodied robotic fish with a flexible spine can mimic real fish swimming motions and perform rapid accelerations. The innovative design enables the robot to adapt to various environments, showcasing advancements in soft robotics.
Researchers developed a novel rotary actuator that delivers more torque than previous devices, achieving four-fold improvements in loading torque and accuracy. The device uses piezoelectric material and a clamp with a changeable clamping radius to optimize power and control.
Researchers developed an elegant and powerful new microscale actuator based on vanadium dioxide material, which expands and contracts in response to temperature variations. The actuators are smaller than human hair width and offer large force and displacement, suitable for biological and microfluidic applications.
A new anti-windup design paradigm was developed to improve control system performance in the presence of actuator saturation. The triple loop anti-windup design outperforms other methods, demonstrating stronger ability to recover nominal closed-loop performance.
A new video article demonstrates a standardized procedure for harvesting and processing synthetic spider silk from bacteria, improving fiber strength and scalability. The technique has potential industrial applications in industries where spider silk's properties are valuable.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed a muscle-like actuator that can control camera systems, allowing robots to move more like humans. The technology has potential applications in MRI-guided surgery and robotic rehabilitation.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have successfully integrated single-crystal piezoelectric material onto silicon, enabling low-voltage near-nanoscale electromechanical devices. These devices could improve high-resolution 3D imaging, signal processing and energy harvesting applications.
The team aims to create biologically inspired material systems that can intelligently sense and actuate a network of distributed robust sensors and actuators. They will develop a robotic fish-like underwater vehicle by integrating biological investigations of fish with engineering knowledge about sensors and actuators.
Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a breakthrough method for producing long, hair-like strands of carbon nanotubes up to 20 centimeters in length. This simplified approach uses chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with a sulfur-containing compound and hydrogen, resulting in high yields of long strands.