Design of artificial muscle based on dynamic response model of dielectric elastomer

Abstract

Dielectric elastomers are a type of electroactive polymers that have been investigated for its use in artificial muscle-like stretchable actuators. Dielectric actuators are characterized by their high energy density, large strain rate, fast response, softness, lightweight, and low cost. To apply elastomers in various conditions and structures, numerous actuator configurations were designed. A spring roll actuator is composed of a thin dielectric elastomer sheet wrapped around a spring core. This configuration converts the dielectric membrane’s expansion into linear motion. As a result, upon voltage activation, a muscle-like movement is produced. In this paper, designing of spring roll actuator based artificial muscle is proposed. To optimize the performance for its use in wearable applications, the dynamic response is analyzed through actuator modeling and simulation. In addition, actuator optimization through mechanical annealing is explored as well. In conclusion, we propose a general model of spring roll dielectric elastomer actuator and optimized design parameters based on dynamic analysis and mechanical annealing.