Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots
Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots
We consider the embodiment of a microbial fuel cell using artificial muscle actuators. The microbial fuel cell digests organic matter and generates electricity. This energy is stored in a capacitor bank until it is discharged to power one of two complimentary artificial muscle technologies: the dielectric elastomer actuator and the ionic-polymer metal composite. We study the ability of the fuel cell to generate useful actuation and consider appropriate configurations to maximally exploit both of these artificial muscle technologies. A prototype artificial sphincter is implemented using a dielectric elastomer actuator. Stirrer and cilia mechanisms motivate experimentation using ionic polymer metal composite actuators. The ability of the fuel cell to drive both of these technologies opens up new possibilities for truly biomimetic soft artificial robotic organisms.
Artificial muscles, Dielectric elastomer actuator, EcoBot, Ionic polymer metal composite
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Anderson, Iain A.
1839d707-2895-43af-8fd5-fd2f70ce3dc1
Gisby, Todd
1664d98a-17e5-439b-836b-abcee9fcec09
Cheng, Hung Wang
5ab28e62-5096-4532-9007-34fae5dc6bb4
Rossiter, Jonathan
64caa0df-19e0-40c8-ab69-7021de665c39
2009
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Anderson, Iain A.
1839d707-2895-43af-8fd5-fd2f70ce3dc1
Gisby, Todd
1664d98a-17e5-439b-836b-abcee9fcec09
Cheng, Hung Wang
5ab28e62-5096-4532-9007-34fae5dc6bb4
Rossiter, Jonathan
64caa0df-19e0-40c8-ab69-7021de665c39
Ieropoulos, Ioannis, Anderson, Iain A., Gisby, Todd, Cheng, Hung Wang and Rossiter, Jonathan
(2009)
Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots.
In Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2009.
vol. 7287
(doi:10.1117/12.817059).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
We consider the embodiment of a microbial fuel cell using artificial muscle actuators. The microbial fuel cell digests organic matter and generates electricity. This energy is stored in a capacitor bank until it is discharged to power one of two complimentary artificial muscle technologies: the dielectric elastomer actuator and the ionic-polymer metal composite. We study the ability of the fuel cell to generate useful actuation and consider appropriate configurations to maximally exploit both of these artificial muscle technologies. A prototype artificial sphincter is implemented using a dielectric elastomer actuator. Stirrer and cilia mechanisms motivate experimentation using ionic polymer metal composite actuators. The ability of the fuel cell to drive both of these technologies opens up new possibilities for truly biomimetic soft artificial robotic organisms.
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Published date: 2009
Additional Information:
Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Venue - Dates:
Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2009, , San Diego, CA, United States, 2009-03-09 - 2009-03-12
Keywords:
Artificial muscles, Dielectric elastomer actuator, EcoBot, Ionic polymer metal composite
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 454549
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454549
ISSN: 0277-786X
PURE UUID: 7f92d53e-15ff-43a1-ba9f-06afa1025036
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Date deposited: 16 Feb 2022 17:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10
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Contributors
Author:
Iain A. Anderson
Author:
Todd Gisby
Author:
Hung Wang Cheng
Author:
Jonathan Rossiter
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