Enhancing the performance of dielectric elastomer actuators through the approach of distributed electrode array with fractal interconnects architecture

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Authors
Burugupally, Sindhu Preetham
Koppolu, Bhargav
Danesh, Negar
Lee, Yongkuk
Indeewari, Vidisha
Li, Bin
Advisors
Issue Date
2021-04-27
Type
Article
Keywords
Dielectric elastomer actuator , Fractal interconnects , Distributed electrode array , Microrobotics , Static and dynamic response
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Burugupally, S. P., Koppolu, B., Danesh, N., Lee, Y., Indeewari, V., & Li, B. (2021). Enhancing the performance of dielectric elastomer actuators through the approach of distributed electrode array with fractal interconnects architecture. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 31(6) doi:10.1088/1361-6439/abf632
Abstract

Dielectric elastomer actuators fabricated from thin and miniaturized metal electrodes integrated with highly soft and stretchable elastomers offer the promise of opening new possibilities in the field of microrobotics. To achieve large displacements m at actuation voltages V in actuators with thin metal electrodes, the approach of distributed electrode array with fractal interconnects is proposed, where a single large electrode is replaced with an array of N small individual electrodes physically linked together with fractal interconnects. To investigate the effect of distributed electrode array with fractal interconnects on the static and dynamic response of the actuators, elastomer actuators with different electrode arrays—comprised of N ∈ {1,5,13,25} individual electrodes in the shape of circles—are fabricated and characterized. This study shows that the approach of distributed electrode array with fractal interconnects results in achieving large actuator displacements m at high speeds mm , making these actuators suitable for driving microrobots.

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Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal
Book Title
Series
Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering;Vol. 31, Iss.. 6
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0960-1317
1361-6439
EISSN