Dielectric elastomer actuators examples

In some generator applications it may not be possible or desirable to dry and seal the device. Nonetheless, data from dielectric elastomer actuator lifetime tests suggest that long lifetimes can still be achieved by a tradeoff in performance. For example. Fig. 3.14 shows operation of dielectric elastomer actuators submerged in salt water. In underwater operation, 6 out of 11 actuators survived for >10 million cycles with an electric field limited to 32 MV/m and approximately 2% strain (actuation strain). Operation while submerged in saline solution suggests the practicality of low-cost highly distributed ocean wave harvesters. 

Simple dielectric elastomer actuators can readily be made in an afternoon widi basic tools and from low-cost materials fliat can all easily be ordered online. Many examples of simple actuators with instructions can be found on YouTube (simply search for dielectric elastomer actuator ). The Soft Robotics TooUdf website (http //soflroboticstoolkit.com/book/dielecliic-elastomer-actuators) provides... 

This book intends to provide a comprehensive and updated insight into both the fundamentals of each class of EAP, and examples of the most significant applications of EAP actuators in the biomedical field, either already demonstrated or currently under development. Eor this purpose, the book comprises five sections devoted to the most technologically mature EAPs, namely polymer gels, ionic polymer-metal composites, conjugated polymers, piezoelectric/electrostrictive polymers and dielectric elastomers. Each section is... 

Since the electric impedance and the output of a dielectric elastomer transducer are related to the deformation of the polymer film, it follows that these transducers could also be used to detect strain. For example, a linear actuator could be designed such that film capacitance is directly related to the amount of actuator linear motion. Rosenthal [10] discusses the use of dielectric elastomers as a sensor. 

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