Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-mp689 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T22:57:44.827Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Challenges to the Transition to the Practical Application of IPMC as Artificial-Muscle Actuators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

Y. Bar-Cohen ,
S. Leary ,
A. Yavrouian ,
K. Oguro ,
S. Tadokoro ,
J. Harrison ,
J. Smith  and
J. Su
Y. Bar-Cohen
Affiliation:
JPL/Caltech, (MC 82–105), 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109–8099, yosi@jpl.nasa.gov, website:http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov
S. Leary
Affiliation:
JPL/Caltech, (MC 82–105), 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109–8099, yosi@jpl.nasa.gov, website:http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov
A. Yavrouian
Affiliation:
JPL/Caltech, (MC 82–105), 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109–8099, yosi@jpl.nasa.gov, website:http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov
K. Oguro
Affiliation:
Osaka National Research Institute, Osaka, Japan;
S. Tadokoro
Affiliation:
Dept. Computer & Systems Eng., Kobe University, Kobe, Japan;
J. Harrison
Affiliation:
NASA Langley Research Center, Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, MS 226, Hampton, VA 23681–2199
J. Smith
Affiliation:
NASA Langley Research Center, Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, MS 226, Hampton, VA 23681–2199
J. Su
Affiliation:
NASA Langley Research Center, Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, MS 226, Hampton, VA 23681–2199
Get access

Abstract

In recent years, electroactive polymers (EAP) materials have gained recognition as potential actuators with unique capabilities having the closest performance resemblance to biological muscles. Ion-exchange membrane metallic composites (IPMC) are one of the EAP materials with such a potential. The strong bending that is induced by IPMC offers attractive actuation for the construction of various mechanisms. Examples of applications that were conceived and investigated for planetary tasks include a gripper and wiper. The development of the wiper for dust removal from the window of a miniature rover, planned for launch to an asteroid, is the subject of this reported study. The application of EAP in space conditions is posing great challenge due to the harsh operating conditions that are involved and the critical need for robustness and durability. The various issues that can affect the application of IPMC were examined including operation in vacuum, low temperatures, and the effect of the electromechanical and ionic characteristics of IPMC on its actuation capability. The authors introduced highly efficient IPMC materials, mechanical modeling, unique elements and protective coatings in an effort to enhance the applicability of IPMC as an actuator of a planetary dust-wiper. Results showed that the IPMC technology is not ready yet for practical implementation due to residual deformation that is introduced under DC activation and the difficulty to protect the material ionic content over the needed 3-years durability. Further studies are under way to overcome these obstacles and other EAP materials are also being considered as alternative bending actuators.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 600: Symposium FF – Electroactive Polymers , 1999 , 13
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bar-Cohen, Y., (Ed.), Proceedings oft-he Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, Smart Structures and Materials 1999, Volume 3669, pp. 1–414, (1999a).Google Scholar
Bar-Cohen, Y. (Ed.), WorldWide Electroactive (WW-EAP) Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 1, http//ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/eap/WW-EAP-Newsletter.html (1999b)Google Scholar
Bar-Cohen, Y., Leary, S., Shahinpoor, M., Harrison, J., and Smith, J., "Flexible Low-Mass Devices and Mechanisms Actuated by Electroactive Polymers," ibid, pp. 51–56 (1999).Google Scholar
Dow Coming data for general silicones - based on personal communication, Oct. 1999.Google Scholar
Heitner-Wirguin, C., "Recent advances in perfluorinated ionomer membranes: Structure, properties and applications," J.of Membrane Sci., V 120, No. 1, 1996, pp. 1–33.Google Scholar
Hunter, I. W., and Lafontaine, S., "A comparison of muscle with artificial actuators,"IEEE Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, 1992, pp. 178–165.Google Scholar
Kombluh, R., Pelrine, R. and Joseph, J. "Elastomeric dielectric artificial muscle actuators for small robots," Proceeding of the 3rd lASTED Intern. Conf, Concun, Mexico, June, 14–16, 1995.Google Scholar
Oguro, K., Kawami, Y., and Takenaka, H., "Bending of an Ion-Conducting Polymer Film-Electrode Composite by an Electric Stimulus at Low Voltage," Trans. J of Micromachine Soc., 5, (1992) 27–30.Google Scholar
Osada, Y., and Gong, J., "Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Gels and Their Application to Chemomechanical Systems," Prog. Polym. Sci, 18 (1993) 187–226.Google Scholar
Sadeghipour, K., Salomon, R., and Neogi, S., "Development of a Novel Electrochemically Active Membrane and 'Smart' Material Based Vibration Sensor/Damper," Smart Mater. and Struct. (1992) 172–179.Google Scholar
Shahinpoor, M., "Conceptual Design, Kinematics and Dynamics of Swimming Robotic Structures using Ionic Polymeric Gel Muscles," Smart Mater. and Struct., Vol. 1, No. 1 (1992) 91–94.Google Scholar
Yoshiko, A., Mochizuki, A, Kawashima, T., Tamashita, S., Asaka, K., and Oguro, K., "Effect on Bending Behavior of Counter Cation Species in Perfluorinated Sulfonate Memberance-Platinum Composite," Poly. for Adv. Tech., Vol. 9 (1998), pp. 520–526.Google Scholar