Self-Healing Soft Actuators

Jan-11-18 New technologies in soft, self-healing robotics actuators could open the door to the next generation of human-like robots.

Being developed at the University of Colorado, the actuators were inspired by the abilities of natural muscles, and are made up of elastomers combined with liquids. The team, led by Dr. Christoph Keplinger, developed three different types of HASEL (Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic) actuators.

One actuator device from the team features a doughnut-shaped elastomer shell filled with a viscous liquid and attached to a pair of electrodes. Applying a voltage to the electrodes causes the liquid to displace and triggers the shell to respond. According to the team, the grippers could be used to manipulate delicate objects such as raw eggs or berries. The other two actuators include one strong enough to lift a gallon of water, and the Peano-HASEL actuator, which is inexpensive to produce and can contract very quickly in response to an electrical signal.

More Info about this Invention:

[CO.UK]
[SCIENCE.SCIENCEMAG.ORG]

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