Untethered magneto-thermal flexible actuators for soft robotics

Keneth, Ela Sachyani1,2; Lieberman, Rama1,2; Pahima, Avishag1,2; Varma, V. B.3; Sharma, Vinay3; Yuan, Chao5; Ge, Qi6; Ramanujan, R. V.3; Magdassi, Shlomo1,2,4

2023-12-01

10.1016/j.sna.2023.114683

SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL   Impact Factor & Quartile

0924-4247

1873-3069

Soft robots are devices that can perform delicate and sensitive movements. Such robots have flexible actuators activated by external triggers. Magnetic soft actuators, triggered by external magnetic fields, can be operated remotely and wirelessly. We present new materials and processes to fabricate 2D and 3D magneto-thermal actuators (MTA) by a printing process. Unlike most earlier reports, our actuators are activated by an alternating magnetic field. The formed bilayer actuators which combine a flexible polymer layer with a magnetic layer can heat up under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) which triggers the actuation and shape morphing. The actuation is based on the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of the two layers. The achieved curvatures are very large, in the range of 0.08-0.1 mm-1. The effect of various actuation parameters was studied, providing a good agreement of the experimental results with the modeling predictions. A 2D gripper and a "flower" were activated remotely without wiring or patterning of the magnetic layer. A 3D-printed MTA, obtained by combining stereolithography-based 3D printing with spray deposition, was also developed. Actuators with complex 3D structures formed by 3D printed process, resulting in objects that undergo remotely activated shape morphing, as demonstrated for a drone-like wing, performing a controlled tilting movement. The excellent actuation of these magneto-thermal actuators suggests their promise in soft robotics, for which wireless and remote activation present an unmet need.

Magneto-thermal actuators Soft actuators Soft robotics 3D printing

SCI

English

Corresponding

Engineering ; Instruments & Instrumentation

Engineering, Electrical & Electronic ; Instruments & Instrumentation

WOS:001090863800001

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

ENGINEERING

Web of Science

1.Hebrew Univ Jerusalem, Inst Chem, Casali Ctr Appl Chem, IL-91904 Jerusalem, Israel
2.Hebrew Univ Jerusalem, Ctr Nanosci & Nanotechnol, IL-91904 Jerusalem, Israel
3.Nanyang Technol Univ, Sch Mat Sci & Engn, Singapore 639798, Singapore
4.Campus Res Excellence & Technol Enterprise CREATE, Smart Grippers Soft Robot SGSR Programme, Singapore HUJ Alliance Res & Enterprise SHARE, Singapore 138602, Singapore
5.Xi An Jiao Tong Univ, Dept Engn Mech, State Key Lab Strength & Vibrat Mech Struct, Xian 710049, Peoples R China
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mech & Energy Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Keneth, Ela Sachyani,Lieberman, Rama,Pahima, Avishag,et al. Untethered magneto-thermal flexible actuators for soft robotics[J]. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL,2023,363.

Keneth, Ela Sachyani.,Lieberman, Rama.,Pahima, Avishag.,Varma, V. B..,Sharma, Vinay.,...&Magdassi, Shlomo.(2023).Untethered magneto-thermal flexible actuators for soft robotics.SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL,363.

Keneth, Ela Sachyani,et al."Untethered magneto-thermal flexible actuators for soft robotics".SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL 363(2023).