Artificial muscles - Low voltage electrohydraulic actuators for untethered robotics

We present hydraulically amplified low-voltage electrostatic (HALVE) actuators that match mammalian skeletal muscles in average power density (50.5 watts per kilogram) and peak strain rate (971% per second) at a 4.9 times lower driving voltage (1100 volts) compared to the state of the art. HALVE actuators are safe to touch, are waterproof, and exhibit self-clearing properties. We characterize, model, and validate key performance metrics of our actuator. Last, we demonstrate the utility of HALVE actuators on a robotic gripper and a soft robotic swimmer.
Learn more about the publication: www.science.or...
Soft Robotics Lab: srl.ethz.ch/
ETH Zurich press article: ethz.ch/en/new...

[@MykeHawke-r9r]

Excellent

[@robertkatzschmann1390]

Thank you, glad you like it.

[@yakut9876]

Why is electricity crammed into everything?

[@softrobotics]

Can you elaborate on what you mean by crammed into? What would you be curious to see in terms of artificial muscle development?

[@苏广胜]

What is the swimming speed of soft robotic swimmer?

[@stephangravert1933]

Hello! The current fish design reaches a speed of 3.8 cm s−1 or 0.14 bodylength/s with 2-Hz antagonistic actuation.

[@苏广胜]

Advanced materials will be asked how to apply them on a large scale.

[@christopherd.winnan8701]

How are you incorporating these developments in the latest round of humanoids robots?

[@softrobotics]

We are in the process of developing bipeds and quadrupeds using artificial muscles. Here is a first step in that direction: ruclips.net/video/pM97CZUqiS0/видео.html&lc=UgyD_hSzhlBeh0drRtJ4AaABAg

[@christopherd.winnan8701]

@@softrobotics Thank you.

[@4ngling]

600V is low voltage???

[@robertkatzschmann1390]

Typically, electrohydraulic actuators require 6-10kV to generate sufficient forces. Here, we introduced new dielectrics to significantly reduce the driving voltage to 400-1100V, with the main benefit that at that range, various small-scale and cheap electric components are available.

[@crunchybones2528]

amperage is what matters

[@yakut9876]

​@@robertkatzschmann1390You can operate and control it in a simpler and more efficient way without electricity.

[@softrobotics]

@@yakut9876 What do you suggest?

[@J_gumbainia]

Is it faster as HASEL actuator?.

[@softrobotics]

Lower actuation voltages, while maintaining similar speeds and forces as for HASELs