Title :
A distributed actuation method based on Young-Laplace forces
Author :
Borno, Ruba T. ; Maharbiz, Michel M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., Michigan Univ., Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Abstract :
The paper presents biomimetic microactuators that scavenge the energy in evaporating water at room temperature to generate high force densities and large tip deflections. Curved, millimeter-long free-standing microactuators were fabricated from 50 and 80 μm thick photo-patternable silicone polymer layers. When moistened, these structures deform predictably according to the geometry of their water-trapping microstructures. The paper also presents data on larger two-dimensional sheets of material that actuate according to the same principle. Inspired by hygroscopic spore dispersal mechanisms in plants, we believe this transpiration actuation mechanism could be used for embedding common materials with distributed and programmable force generation and actuation.
Keywords :
biomimetics; evaporation; microactuators; micromachining; polymers; silicones; transpiration; 50 micron; 80 micron; Young-Laplace forces; biomimetic microactuators; device modeling; distributed actuation; distributed actuation method; distributed force generation; fabrication; force density; hygroscopic spore dispersal mechanisms; photo-patternable silicone polymer layers; programmable actuation; programmable force generation; testing; tip deflection; transpiration actuation mechanism; water evaporation; water-trapping microstructures; Actuators; Biological materials; Biomimetics; Fungi; Microactuators; Polymers; Ribs; Sheet materials; Temperature; Textile technology;
Conference_Titel :
Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems, 2005. Digest of Technical Papers. TRANSDUCERS '05. The 13th International Conference on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8994-8
DOI :
10.1109/SENSOR.2005.1496375
