Artificial heartbeat: design and fabrication of a biologically inspired pump
Artificial heartbeat: design and fabrication of a biologically inspired pump
We present a biologically inspired actuator exhibiting a novel pumping action. The design of the ‘artificial heartbeat’ actuator is inspired by physical principles derived from the structure and function of the human heart. The actuator employs NiTi artificial muscles and is powered by electrical energy generated by microbial fuel cells (MFCs). We describe the design and fabrication of the actuator and report the results of tests conducted to characterize its performance. This is the first artificial muscle-driven pump to be powered by MFCs fed on human urine. Results are presented in terms of the peak pumping pressure generated by the actuator, as well as for the volume of fluid transferred, when the actuator was powered by energy stored in a capacitor bank, which was charged by 24 MFCs fed on urine. The results demonstrate the potential for the artificial heartbeat actuator to be employed as a fluid circulation pump in future generations of MFC-powered robots (‘EcoBots’) that extract energy from organic waste. We also envisage that the actuator could in the future form part of a bio-robotic artwork or ‘bio-automaton’ that could help increase public awareness of research in robotics, bio-energy and biologically inspired design.
Walters, Peter
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Lewis, Amy
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Stinchcombe, Andrew
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Stephenson, Robert
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Ieropoulos, Ioannis
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17 November 2013
Walters, Peter
bd3c8d84-89e5-4100-bd86-e67fa7e9ffd3
Lewis, Amy
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Stinchcombe, Andrew
f215f495-0b45-4233-9e5f-828fd6989e6b
Stephenson, Robert
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Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Walters, Peter, Lewis, Amy, Stinchcombe, Andrew, Stephenson, Robert and Ieropoulos, Ioannis
(2013)
Artificial heartbeat: design and fabrication of a biologically inspired pump.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 8 (4).
(doi:10.1088/1748-3182/8/4/046012).
Abstract
We present a biologically inspired actuator exhibiting a novel pumping action. The design of the ‘artificial heartbeat’ actuator is inspired by physical principles derived from the structure and function of the human heart. The actuator employs NiTi artificial muscles and is powered by electrical energy generated by microbial fuel cells (MFCs). We describe the design and fabrication of the actuator and report the results of tests conducted to characterize its performance. This is the first artificial muscle-driven pump to be powered by MFCs fed on human urine. Results are presented in terms of the peak pumping pressure generated by the actuator, as well as for the volume of fluid transferred, when the actuator was powered by energy stored in a capacitor bank, which was charged by 24 MFCs fed on urine. The results demonstrate the potential for the artificial heartbeat actuator to be employed as a fluid circulation pump in future generations of MFC-powered robots (‘EcoBots’) that extract energy from organic waste. We also envisage that the actuator could in the future form part of a bio-robotic artwork or ‘bio-automaton’ that could help increase public awareness of research in robotics, bio-energy and biologically inspired design.
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Accepted/In Press date: 8 October 2013
Published date: 17 November 2013
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 454617
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454617
ISSN: 1748-3182
PURE UUID: b37d41ff-b416-4d7b-adba-6cc4a42fb6dc
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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2022 17:39
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10
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Author:
Peter Walters
Author:
Amy Lewis
Author:
Andrew Stinchcombe
Author:
Robert Stephenson
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