Biomimetic Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Abstract

Polymer actuators offer attractive properties as biomimetic devices capable of mimicking functional characteristics of biological muscles and structures. This paper presents the ongoing research activities and the latest results achieved in our lab in the development of soft actuators made of a particular class of electroactive polymers, consisting of silicone-based dielectric elastomers. Devices described here exploit the basic principle of operation of such an actuation technology, i.e. an electrical squeezing of an elastomeric insulator, with different structural configurations showing unlike active features. In particular, new actuators shaped as contractile linear devices are particularly emphasised, with reference to applications currently under study or development.