Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots

Ioannis Ieropoulos; Iain A. Anderson; Todd Gisby; Cheng-Hung Wang; Jonathan Rossiter

doi:10.1117/12.817059

6 April 2009 Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots

Ioannis Ieropoulos, Iain A. Anderson, Todd Gisby, Cheng-Hung Wang, Jonathan Rossiter

Proceedings Volume 7287, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2009; 728708 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.817059
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We consider the embodiment of a microbial fuel cell using artificial muscle actuators. The microbial fuel cell digests organic matter and generates electricity. This energy is stored in a capacitor bank until it is discharged to power one of two complimentary artificial muscle technologies: the dielectric elastomer actuator and the ionic-polymer metal composite. We study the ability of the fuel cell to generate useful actuation and consider appropriate configurations to maximally exploit both of these artificial muscle technologies. A prototype artificial sphincter is implemented using a dielectric elastomer actuator. Stirrer and cilia mechanisms motivate experimentation using ionic polymer metal composite actuators. The ability of the fuel cell to drive both of these technologies opens up new possibilities for truly biomimetic soft artificial robotic organisms.

Citation Download Citation

Ioannis Ieropoulos, Iain A. Anderson, Todd Gisby, Cheng-Hung Wang, and Jonathan Rossiter "Microbial-powered artificial muscles for autonomous robots", Proc. SPIE 7287, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2009, 728708 (6 April 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.817059

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