Buckling of Elastomeric Beams Enables Actuation of Soft Machines.

Journal: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Published Date: Sep 21, 2015

Abstract

Soft, pneumatic actuators that buckle when interior pressure is less than exterior provide a new mechanism of actuation. Upon application of negative pneumatic pressure, elastic beam elements in these actuators undergo reversible, cooperative collapse, and generate a rotational motion. These actuators are inexpensive to fabricate, lightweight, easy to control, and safe to operate. They can be used in devices that manipulate objects, locomote, or interact cooperatively with humans.

Authors

  • Dian Yang
    Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • Bobak Mosadegh
    Dalio Institute of Cardiovascular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
  • Alar Ainla
    Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • Benjamin Lee
    Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • Fatemeh Khashai
    Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • Zhigang Suo
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
  • Katia Bertoldi
    School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
  • George M Whitesides
    Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

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