Giant magnetostrictive actuators (GMAs) often work in a close-loop feedback system. This system needs independent sensors which may be difficult to be fixed, besides, excessive sensors may cause more unpredicted probl...Giant magnetostrictive actuators (GMAs) often work in a close-loop feedback system. This system needs independent sensors which may be difficult to be fixed, besides, excessive sensors may cause more unpredicted problems in a large system. This paper aims to develop a self-sensing GMA. An observer based on piezomagnetic equations is constructed to estimate the stress and strain of the magnetostrictive material. The observer based self-sensing approach depends on the facts that the magnetic field is controllable and that the magnetic induction is measurable. Aiming at the nonlinear hysteresis in magnetization, a hys- teresis compensation observer based on Preisach model is developed. Experiment verified the availability of the observer approach, and the hysteresis compensation observer has higher tracking precision than linear observer for dynamic force sensing.展开更多
The paper is concerned with the micro-flow self-sensing actuators,the work of which is based on the secondary piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric ceramic stack can yield micro-displacement due to its first inverse...The paper is concerned with the micro-flow self-sensing actuators,the work of which is based on the secondary piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric ceramic stack can yield micro-displacement due to its first inverse piezoelectric effect. Therefore,we apply this micro-displacement to cell micro-flow injection. Moreover, due to the charge of the secondary direct piezoelectric effect,the piezoelectric ceramic stack is able to detect the force and displacement in the injection by itself. The experiments of first inverse piezoelectric effect and secondary direct piezoelectric effect are conducted. The experiment results show that,subjected to 0- 60 V input,the piezoelectric ceramic stack can generate 13. 45 μm displacement,and control accuracy can achieve 2 nm. It can completely meet the needs of cell micro-flow injection. Also,the experiments demonstrate that the micro-displacement due to the first inverse piezoelectric effect can be well self-sensed by the electric charge due to the secondary direct piezoelectric effect.展开更多
Designing soft robots that are able to perceive unstructured,dynamic environments and their deformations has been a long-term goal.Previously reported self-sensing soft actuators were mostly constructed via integratin...Designing soft robots that are able to perceive unstructured,dynamic environments and their deformations has been a long-term goal.Previously reported self-sensing soft actuators were mostly constructed via integrating separate actuators and sensors.The actuation performances and the sensing reliability are affected owing to the unmatched materials and weak connections.Realizing a seamless integration of soft actuators and sensors remains a grand challenge.Here,we report a fabrication strategy to endow soft actuators with sensing capability and programmable actuation performances.The foam inside the actuator functions as actuator and sensor simultaneously,effectively addressing the conformability and connection reliability issues that existed in current self-sensing actuators.The actuators are lightweight(a decrease of 58%in weight),powerful(lifting a load of 433 times of its own weight),and versatile(coupling twisting and contraction motions).Furthermore,the actuators are able to detect multiple physical stimuli with high reliability,demonstrating their exteroception and proprioception capability.Two self-sensing soft robotic prototypes,including a bionic bicep and a bionic neck,are constructed to illustrate their multifunctionality.Our study opens up new possibilities for the design of soft actuators and has promising potential in a variety of applications,ranging from human-robot interaction,soft orthotics,to wearable robotics.展开更多
This paper studies cooperative robust parallel operation of multiple actuators over an undirected communication graph.The plant is modeled as an uncertain linear system,and the actuators are linear and identical.Based...This paper studies cooperative robust parallel operation of multiple actuators over an undirected communication graph.The plant is modeled as an uncertain linear system,and the actuators are linear and identical.Based on the internal model principle,a distributed dynamic output feedback control law is proposed to achieve both robust output regulation of the closed-loop system and plant input sharing among the actuators.A practical example of five motors cooperatively driving an uncertain shaft under an external load torque is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed control law.展开更多
Soft actuators,capable of producing mechanical work in response to external stimuli,have potential applications in robotics and exoskeletons.However,they face major challenges related to energy supply,especially in lo...Soft actuators,capable of producing mechanical work in response to external stimuli,have potential applications in robotics and exoskeletons.However,they face major challenges related to energy supply,especially in long-distance and miniaturized environments.Fuel-driven actuators offer a promising solution by enabling the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy,supporting selfsustaining operations.Chemical energy from fuel can be converted into mechanical energy either directly or indirectly through methods such as electron transfer-induced charge injection,structural changes,fuel-to-electricity conversion,fuel combustioninduced heat,or fuel-induced pneumatic actuation.This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in fuel-powered actuators,covering their fundamental principles,advancements,and challenges.It concludes with an outlook for miniaturized and autonomous robots,highlighting the great potential of integrating fuel-powered actuators.展开更多
Soft actuators based on cellulose with highly electro-responsive properties have attracted significant attention in the fields of wearable devices,medical and healthcare devices,soft robots,and human-computer interact...Soft actuators based on cellulose with highly electro-responsive properties have attracted significant attention in the fields of wearable devices,medical and healthcare devices,soft robots,and human-computer interactions.However,existing cellulose-based soft actuators still need to be improved in terms of actuation displacement,bending strain,and driving frequency.Herein,we report a highly responsive ionic actuator using carboxylated cellulose nanofibers from wood pulp(CNFp),graphene nanosheets(GN),and ionic liquids(IL).The CNFp-IL-GN actuator exhibited a large specific capacitance of 749.11 mF/cm^(2)under a 25 mV/s scan rate,a large mechanical displacement(25 mm peak-to-peak)under 2.0 V at 0.1 Hz,a broad actuation frequency(0.1 to 10 Hz),and long working stability.Furthermore,bioinspired applications,including bionic dragonflies and artificial soft-touch fingers,have been demonstrated.These results demonstrate that the proposed actuator is a significant method for advancing soft actuators,artificial muscles,and bioinspired robots.展开更多
This study develops an event-triggered control strategy utilizing the fully actuated system approach for nonlinear interconnected large-scale systems containing actuator failures.First,to reduce the complexity of the ...This study develops an event-triggered control strategy utilizing the fully actuated system approach for nonlinear interconnected large-scale systems containing actuator failures.First,to reduce the complexity of the design process,we transform the studied system into the form of a fully actuated system through a state transformation.Then,to address the unknown nonlinear functions and actuator fault parameters,we employ neural networks and adaptive estimation techniques,respectively.Moreover,to reduce the control cost and improve the control efficiency,we introduce event-triggered inputs into the control strategy.It is proved by the Lyapunov stability analysis that all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded and the output of system eventually converge to a bounded region.The efficacy of the control approach is ultimately demonstrated via the simulation of an actual machine feeding system.展开更多
Azobenzene-based polymer actuators show great promise for photoactuation owing to their unique photoisomerization behavior and tailorable molecular programmability.However,conventional systems are limited by inadequat...Azobenzene-based polymer actuators show great promise for photoactuation owing to their unique photoisomerization behavior and tailorable molecular programmability.However,conventional systems are limited by inadequate mechanical robustness,self-healing,and recyclability,hindering their practical implementation.Herein,we present a high-performance azobenzene-functionalized polyurethane(AzoPU)elastomer actuator designed via molecular engineering of photoactive azobenzene moieties and dynamic disulfide bonds.AzoPU exhibits exceptional mechanical properties with retained performance after multiple reshaping cycles,enabled by well-engineered hard-soft segments and synergistic stress dissipation from weak covalent bonds/hierarchical hydrogen bonds.It achieves over 93%self-healing efficiency at room temperature owing to the synergistic interplay of disulfide bonds in the polymer backbone and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.Furthermore,it demonstrates remarkable light-triggered actuation behavior,achieving a phototropic bending angle exceeding 180°toward the light source within 45 s.To showcase its practical potential,proof-of-concept photoactuated devices with flower-,hook-,and gripper-like and local-orientation processed strip-shaped structures were fabricated,which exhibited rapid and reversible light-triggered deformation.This study proposes a novel strategy for the development of intelligent polymeric materials that integrate light responsiveness,self-healing,and recyclability,thus holding great promise for applications in flexible electronics,smart actuators,and sustainable functional materials.展开更多
Fabricating macroscale smart actuators that can convert light energy into other forms of energy,especially mechanical and electrical energy,is of great significance.Herein,a simple and efficient 4D printed method for ...Fabricating macroscale smart actuators that can convert light energy into other forms of energy,especially mechanical and electrical energy,is of great significance.Herein,a simple and efficient 4D printed method for fabricating photomechanical actuators based on micro/nano-scale crystals is developed.The high versatility and generality of this method are successfully demonstrated using nine different types of photoresponsive crystalline actuators,including acylhydrazone-,anthracene-,olefin-,and azobenzene-based molecular crystals and covalent organic frameworks(COFs).The low-cost neutral silicone sealant elastomer is first chosen as the photomechanical 4D printing matrix.Notably,these actuators can be used to perform bionic motions(the first windmills spin using crystalline material,dragonflies fly,and sunflowers bloom)under the stimulation of visible light and can realize energy conversion from mechanical energy into electricity when coupled with a piezoelectric membrane.This work provides new insights into the design and manufacturing of smart photomechanical actuators and electricity generators and expands the application scope of COFs.展开更多
A simplified quasi-static computational model for self-sensing applications of magnetostrictive actuators based on terfenol-D rods is presented. Paths and angle changes in the magnetic moments rotation of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe...A simplified quasi-static computational model for self-sensing applications of magnetostrictive actuators based on terfenol-D rods is presented. Paths and angle changes in the magnetic moments rotation of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2 alloy are studied as functions of compressive stress and magnetic field, and then used to determine the magnetization in its actuation. Then sensing of magnetic induction picked from a driving coil in an actuator is derived. The model is quick and efficient to solve moments rotation and its magnetization. Sensing results of compressive stress and magnetostriction calculated by the model are in good agreement with experiments and will be helpful in the design and control of self-sensing applications in actuators.展开更多
The development of bioinspired gradient hydrogels with self-sensing actuated capabilities for remote interaction with soft-hard robots remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we propose a novel multifunctional self-sens...The development of bioinspired gradient hydrogels with self-sensing actuated capabilities for remote interaction with soft-hard robots remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we propose a novel multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel that combines ultrafast actuation and high sensitivity for remote interaction with robotic hand. The gradient network structure, achieved through a wettability difference method involving the rapid precipitation of MoO_(2) nanosheets, introduces hydrophilic disparities between two sides within hydrogel. This distinctive approach bestows the hydrogel with ultrafast thermo-responsive actuation(21° s^(-1)) and enhanced photothermal efficiency(increase by 3.7 ℃ s^(-1) under 808 nm near-infrared). Moreover, the local cross-linking of sodium alginate with Ca^(2+) endows the hydrogel with programmable deformability and information display capabilities. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibits high sensitivity(gauge factor 3.94 within a wide strain range of 600%), fast response times(140 ms) and good cycling stability. Leveraging these exceptional properties, we incorporate the hydrogel into various soft actuators, including soft gripper, artificial iris, and bioinspired jellyfish, as well as wearable electronics capable of precise human motion and physiological signal detection. Furthermore, through the synergistic combination of remarkable actuation and sensitivity, we realize a self-sensing touch bioinspired tongue. Notably, by employing quantitative analysis of actuation-sensing, we realize remote interaction between soft-hard robot via the Internet of Things. The multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel presented in this study provides a new insight for advanced somatosensory materials, self-feedback intelligent soft robots and human–machine interactions.展开更多
This paper introduces a self-sensing anthropomorphic robot hand driven by Twisted String Actuators(TSAs).The use of TSAs provides several advantages such as muscle-like structures,high transmission ratios,large output...This paper introduces a self-sensing anthropomorphic robot hand driven by Twisted String Actuators(TSAs).The use of TSAs provides several advantages such as muscle-like structures,high transmission ratios,large output forces,high efficiency,compactness,inherent compliance,and the ability to transmit power over distances.However,conventional sensors used in TSA-actuated robotic hands increase stiffness,mass,volume,and complexity,making feedback control challenging.To address this issue,a novel self-sensing approach is proposed using strain-sensing string based on Conductive Polymer Composite(CPC).By measuring the resistance changes in the strain-sensing string,the bending angle of the robot hand's fingers can be estimated,enabling closed-loop control without external sensors.The developed self-sensing anthropomorphic robot hand comprises a 3D-printed structure with five fingers,a palm,five self-sensing TSAs,and a 3D-printed forearm.Experimental studies validate the self-sensing properties of the TSA and the anthropomorphic robot hand.Additionally,a real-time Virtual Reality(VR)monitoring system is implemented for visualizing and monitoring the robot hand's movements using its self-sensing capabilities.This research contributes valuable insights and advancements to the field of intelligent prosthetics and robotic end grippers.展开更多
As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine...As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine,soft robots,etc.However,the displacement and blocking force of the traditional sheet-type Nafion-IPMC need to be improved,and it has the limitation of unidirectional actuation.In this paper,a new type of short side chain Aquivion material is used as the polymer in the IPMC.The cylindrical IPMC is prepared by extrusion technology to improve its actuation performance and realize multi-degree-of-freedom motion.In comparison to the traditional Nafion-IPMC,the ion exchange capacity,specific capacitance,and conductivity of Aquivion-IPMC are improved by 28%,27%,and 32%,respectively,and the displacement and blocking force are improved by 57%and 25%,respectively.The cylindrical actuators can be deflected in eight directions.This indicates that Aquivion,as a polymer membrane for IPMC,holds significant application potential.By designing a cylindrical IPMC electrode distribution,the multi-degree-of-freedom deflection of IPMC can be realized.展开更多
To prepare a conductive polymer actuator with decent performance,a self-built experimental platform for the preparation of polypyrrole film is employed.One of the essential goals is to examine the mechanical character...To prepare a conductive polymer actuator with decent performance,a self-built experimental platform for the preparation of polypyrrole film is employed.One of the essential goals is to examine the mechanical characteristics of the actuator in the presence of various combinations of process parameters,combined with the orthogonal test method of"four factors and three levels".The bending and sensing characteristics of actuators of various sizes are methodically examined using a self-made bending polypyrrole actuator.The functional relationship between the bending displacement and the output voltage signal is established by studying the characteristics of the actuator sensor subjected to various degrees of bending.The experimental results reveal that the bending displacement of the actuator tip almost exhibits a linear variation as a function of length and width.When the voltage reaches 0.8 V,the bending speed of the actuator tends to be stable.Finally,the mechanical properties of the self-assembled polypyrrole actuator are verified by the design and fabrication of the microgripper.展开更多
The Electro–Hydrostatic Actuator(EHA)is applied to drive the control surface in flightcontrol system of more electric aircraft.In EHA,the Oil-Immersed Motor Pump(OMP)serves asthe core as a power assembly.However,the ...The Electro–Hydrostatic Actuator(EHA)is applied to drive the control surface in flightcontrol system of more electric aircraft.In EHA,the Oil-Immersed Motor Pump(OMP)serves asthe core as a power assembly.However,the compact integration of the OMP presents challenges inefficiently dissipating internal heat,leading to a performance degradation of the EHA due to ele-vated temperatures.Therefore,accurately modeling and predicting the internal thermal dynamicsof the OMP hold considerable significance for monitoring the operational condition of the EHA.In view of this,a modeling method considering cumulative thermal coupling was hereby proposed.Based on the proposed method,the thermal models of the motor and the pump were established,taking into account heat accumulation and transfer.Taking the leakage oil as the heat couplingpoint between the motor and the pump,the dynamic thermal coupling model of the OMP wasdeveloped,with the thermal characteristics of the oil considered.Additionally,the comparativeexperiments were conducted to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed model.The experimentalresults demonstrate that the proposed dynamic thermal coupling model accurately captured thethermal behavior of OMP,outperforming the static thermal parameter model.Overall,thisadvancement is crucial for effectively monitoring the health of EHA and ensuring flight safety.展开更多
Actuator faults can be critical in turbofan engines as they can lead to stall,surge,loss of thrust and failure of speed control.Thus,fault diagnosis of gas turbine actuators has attracted considerable attention,from b...Actuator faults can be critical in turbofan engines as they can lead to stall,surge,loss of thrust and failure of speed control.Thus,fault diagnosis of gas turbine actuators has attracted considerable attention,from both academia and industry.However,the extensive literature that exists on this topic does not address identifying the severity of actuator faults and focuses mainly on actuator fault detection and isolation.In addition,previous studies of actuator fault identification have not dealt with multiple concurrent faults in real time,especially when these are accompanied by sudden failures under dynamic conditions.This study develops component-level models for fault identification in four typical actuators used in high-bypass ratio turbofan engines under both dynamic and steady-state conditions and these are then integrated with the engine performance model developed by the authors.The research results reported here present a novel method of quantifying actuator faults using dynamic effect compensation.The maximum error for each actuator is less than0.06%and 0.07%,with average computational time of less than 0.0058 s and 0.0086 s for steady-state and transient cases,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed method can accurately and efficiently identify concurrent actuator fault for an engine operating under either transient or steady-state conditions,even in the case of a sudden malfunction.The research results emonstrate the potential benefit to emergency response capabilities by introducing this method of monitoring the health of aero engines.展开更多
Piezoelectric active vibration control holds paramount importance in space structures.An embedded piezoelectric actuator with a sandwich configuration is proposed,which enhances control accuracy by integrating various...Piezoelectric active vibration control holds paramount importance in space structures.An embedded piezoelectric actuator with a sandwich configuration is proposed,which enhances control accuracy by integrating various components.Firstly,the electromechanical coupling characteristics of the actuator are revealed,and the model is established.Secondly,the equivalent model of a cylindrical cantilever beam is investigated as the object,and the feasibility of the vibration control of the actuator is verified by simulation.Finally,the prototype comprised of two actuators,which respectively use the proposed embedded actuators for producing the vibration and suppressing the vibration,is developed,and the measurement system is constructed.Experimental results demonstrate the excellent control efficiency in two orthogonal directions,achieving a minimum vibration amplitude control of 0.00102 mm and a maximum vibration control of-42.74 d B.The integrated structure offers fast response,lightness,adaptability,and high control efficiency,which is conducive to enhancing the vibration control.展开更多
This paper presents an untethered pneumatic soft robot which can crawl both in horizontal and vertical pipes with different sizes and cross sections.This robot uses modular origami inspired soft-rigid hybrid actuator ...This paper presents an untethered pneumatic soft robot which can crawl both in horizontal and vertical pipes with different sizes and cross sections.This robot uses modular origami inspired soft-rigid hybrid actuator to produce telescoping and anchoring movements powered by vacuum pressure.The introduction of grooves to valley crease significantly lowers the full contraction vacuum pressure and improves the response,allowing the system can be driven by an onboard micro vacuum pump,enabling the possibility of miniaturization,integration,and untethered operation of the robot.A series of crawling experiments in pipes with different sizes and cross sections constructed by acrylic are conducted to validate the crawling performance of the robot.Within square cross-section pipes,the robot can achieve a velocity of 9.4 mm/s in horizontal crawling and 7.7 mm/s in vertical upward crawling.For horizontal crawling in circular pipes,it can reach a velocity of 8.0 mm/s.When fully charged,the robot can crawl for 40 min with a mileage of 16.649 m,which is sufficient for most drainage and industrial pipelines detection tasks.The robot demonstrates excellent endurance and speed performance that exceed most existing untethered soft pipe crawling robots.展开更多
Tendon-driven robots have distinct advantages in high-dynamic performance motion and high-degree-of-freedom manipulation.However,these robots face challenges related to control complexity,intricate tendon drive paths,...Tendon-driven robots have distinct advantages in high-dynamic performance motion and high-degree-of-freedom manipulation.However,these robots face challenges related to control complexity,intricate tendon drive paths,and tendon slackness.In this study,the authors present a novel modular tendon-driven actuator design that integrates a series elastic element.The actuator incorporates a unique magnetic position sensing technology that enables observation of the length and tension of the tendon and features an exceptionally compact design.The modular architecture of the tendon-driven actuator addresses the complexity of tendon drive paths,while the tension observation functionality mitigates slackness issues.The design and modeling of the actuator are described in this paper,and a series of tests are conducted to validate the simulation model and to test the performance of the proposed actuator.The model can be used for training robot control neural networks based on simulation,thereby overcoming the challenges associated with controlling tendon-driven robots.展开更多
MXene(Ti3C2Tx)is known for its excellent hydrophilicity,electrical conductivity,and dispersibility.It is a promising candidate for the fabrication of moisture-responsive actuators due to the strong interaction between...MXene(Ti3C2Tx)is known for its excellent hydrophilicity,electrical conductivity,and dispersibility.It is a promising candidate for the fabrication of moisture-responsive actuators due to the strong interaction between MXene sheets and water molecules.Inspired by natural organisms,a variety of moisture-actuated soft robots have been successfully developed through the systematic integration of MXene-based actuators.This minireview summarizes recent advances in the preparation and applications of MXene-based moisture-responsive actuators.The hydrophilic properties of MXene,along with design principles,working mechanisms,current progress,and applications of MXenebased actuators,are discussed.The future prospects and developmental directions of MXene-based moisture-responsive actuators are put forward,providing novel insights for their further advancement in the realm of automatable smart devices.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation ofChina (No. 50105019)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 20060390337)
文摘Giant magnetostrictive actuators (GMAs) often work in a close-loop feedback system. This system needs independent sensors which may be difficult to be fixed, besides, excessive sensors may cause more unpredicted problems in a large system. This paper aims to develop a self-sensing GMA. An observer based on piezomagnetic equations is constructed to estimate the stress and strain of the magnetostrictive material. The observer based self-sensing approach depends on the facts that the magnetic field is controllable and that the magnetic induction is measurable. Aiming at the nonlinear hysteresis in magnetization, a hys- teresis compensation observer based on Preisach model is developed. Experiment verified the availability of the observer approach, and the hysteresis compensation observer has higher tracking precision than linear observer for dynamic force sensing.
基金Sponsored by the Youths Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.QC08C09)the Educational Committee Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.11541272)
文摘The paper is concerned with the micro-flow self-sensing actuators,the work of which is based on the secondary piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric ceramic stack can yield micro-displacement due to its first inverse piezoelectric effect. Therefore,we apply this micro-displacement to cell micro-flow injection. Moreover, due to the charge of the secondary direct piezoelectric effect,the piezoelectric ceramic stack is able to detect the force and displacement in the injection by itself. The experiments of first inverse piezoelectric effect and secondary direct piezoelectric effect are conducted. The experiment results show that,subjected to 0- 60 V input,the piezoelectric ceramic stack can generate 13. 45 μm displacement,and control accuracy can achieve 2 nm. It can completely meet the needs of cell micro-flow injection. Also,the experiments demonstrate that the micro-displacement due to the first inverse piezoelectric effect can be well self-sensed by the electric charge due to the secondary direct piezoelectric effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52205073)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.LD22E050002)+1 种基金China National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(Grant No.BX2021258)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2022M710125)。
文摘Designing soft robots that are able to perceive unstructured,dynamic environments and their deformations has been a long-term goal.Previously reported self-sensing soft actuators were mostly constructed via integrating separate actuators and sensors.The actuation performances and the sensing reliability are affected owing to the unmatched materials and weak connections.Realizing a seamless integration of soft actuators and sensors remains a grand challenge.Here,we report a fabrication strategy to endow soft actuators with sensing capability and programmable actuation performances.The foam inside the actuator functions as actuator and sensor simultaneously,effectively addressing the conformability and connection reliability issues that existed in current self-sensing actuators.The actuators are lightweight(a decrease of 58%in weight),powerful(lifting a load of 433 times of its own weight),and versatile(coupling twisting and contraction motions).Furthermore,the actuators are able to detect multiple physical stimuli with high reliability,demonstrating their exteroception and proprioception capability.Two self-sensing soft robotic prototypes,including a bionic bicep and a bionic neck,are constructed to illustrate their multifunctionality.Our study opens up new possibilities for the design of soft actuators and has promising potential in a variety of applications,ranging from human-robot interaction,soft orthotics,to wearable robotics.
基金Supported by the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Control Theory and Intelligent Systems (ZDSYS20220330161800001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62303207)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515010725)。
文摘This paper studies cooperative robust parallel operation of multiple actuators over an undirected communication graph.The plant is modeled as an uncertain linear system,and the actuators are linear and identical.Based on the internal model principle,a distributed dynamic output feedback control law is proposed to achieve both robust output regulation of the closed-loop system and plant input sharing among the actuators.A practical example of five motors cooperatively driving an uncertain shaft under an external load torque is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed control law.
基金Financial support from the program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant no.52475059)Major Program of National Natural Science Founda-tion of China(NSFC)for Basic Theory and Key Technology of Tri-Co Robots(92248301)+3 种基金the Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China(No.2024M751167)the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST(2023QNRC001)Jiangsu Province Natural Science Foundation(No.BK20240155)supported by the Nano&Material Technology Development Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF),funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT(RS2024-00406534,RS-2025-25442809)。
文摘Soft actuators,capable of producing mechanical work in response to external stimuli,have potential applications in robotics and exoskeletons.However,they face major challenges related to energy supply,especially in long-distance and miniaturized environments.Fuel-driven actuators offer a promising solution by enabling the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical energy,supporting selfsustaining operations.Chemical energy from fuel can be converted into mechanical energy either directly or indirectly through methods such as electron transfer-induced charge injection,structural changes,fuel-to-electricity conversion,fuel combustioninduced heat,or fuel-induced pneumatic actuation.This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in fuel-powered actuators,covering their fundamental principles,advancements,and challenges.It concludes with an outlook for miniaturized and autonomous robots,highlighting the great potential of integrating fuel-powered actuators.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52475035,U23A20615)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.LMS25E050003)+2 种基金Open Funds of the State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems at Zhejiang University of China(Grant No.GZKF-202419)Fundamental Research Funds of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University of China(Grant No.24242115-Y)the Zhejiang Provincial General Scientific Research Projects Fund of China(Grant No.Y202353093).
文摘Soft actuators based on cellulose with highly electro-responsive properties have attracted significant attention in the fields of wearable devices,medical and healthcare devices,soft robots,and human-computer interactions.However,existing cellulose-based soft actuators still need to be improved in terms of actuation displacement,bending strain,and driving frequency.Herein,we report a highly responsive ionic actuator using carboxylated cellulose nanofibers from wood pulp(CNFp),graphene nanosheets(GN),and ionic liquids(IL).The CNFp-IL-GN actuator exhibited a large specific capacitance of 749.11 mF/cm^(2)under a 25 mV/s scan rate,a large mechanical displacement(25 mm peak-to-peak)under 2.0 V at 0.1 Hz,a broad actuation frequency(0.1 to 10 Hz),and long working stability.Furthermore,bioinspired applications,including bionic dragonflies and artificial soft-touch fingers,have been demonstrated.These results demonstrate that the proposed actuator is a significant method for advancing soft actuators,artificial muscles,and bioinspired robots.
基金supported by the Science Center Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62188101the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62573265.
文摘This study develops an event-triggered control strategy utilizing the fully actuated system approach for nonlinear interconnected large-scale systems containing actuator failures.First,to reduce the complexity of the design process,we transform the studied system into the form of a fully actuated system through a state transformation.Then,to address the unknown nonlinear functions and actuator fault parameters,we employ neural networks and adaptive estimation techniques,respectively.Moreover,to reduce the control cost and improve the control efficiency,we introduce event-triggered inputs into the control strategy.It is proved by the Lyapunov stability analysis that all signals of the closed-loop system are bounded and the output of system eventually converge to a bounded region.The efficacy of the control approach is ultimately demonstrated via the simulation of an actual machine feeding system.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52503154)Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Nos.ZR2022MB034 and ZR2025QC512)。
文摘Azobenzene-based polymer actuators show great promise for photoactuation owing to their unique photoisomerization behavior and tailorable molecular programmability.However,conventional systems are limited by inadequate mechanical robustness,self-healing,and recyclability,hindering their practical implementation.Herein,we present a high-performance azobenzene-functionalized polyurethane(AzoPU)elastomer actuator designed via molecular engineering of photoactive azobenzene moieties and dynamic disulfide bonds.AzoPU exhibits exceptional mechanical properties with retained performance after multiple reshaping cycles,enabled by well-engineered hard-soft segments and synergistic stress dissipation from weak covalent bonds/hierarchical hydrogen bonds.It achieves over 93%self-healing efficiency at room temperature owing to the synergistic interplay of disulfide bonds in the polymer backbone and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.Furthermore,it demonstrates remarkable light-triggered actuation behavior,achieving a phototropic bending angle exceeding 180°toward the light source within 45 s.To showcase its practical potential,proof-of-concept photoactuated devices with flower-,hook-,and gripper-like and local-orientation processed strip-shaped structures were fabricated,which exhibited rapid and reversible light-triggered deformation.This study proposes a novel strategy for the development of intelligent polymeric materials that integrate light responsiveness,self-healing,and recyclability,thus holding great promise for applications in flexible electronics,smart actuators,and sustainable functional materials.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22175099,22205116,22301147)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC2102100)+1 种基金Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter of Nankai University(63181206)111 Project(B12015).
文摘Fabricating macroscale smart actuators that can convert light energy into other forms of energy,especially mechanical and electrical energy,is of great significance.Herein,a simple and efficient 4D printed method for fabricating photomechanical actuators based on micro/nano-scale crystals is developed.The high versatility and generality of this method are successfully demonstrated using nine different types of photoresponsive crystalline actuators,including acylhydrazone-,anthracene-,olefin-,and azobenzene-based molecular crystals and covalent organic frameworks(COFs).The low-cost neutral silicone sealant elastomer is first chosen as the photomechanical 4D printing matrix.Notably,these actuators can be used to perform bionic motions(the first windmills spin using crystalline material,dragonflies fly,and sunflowers bloom)under the stimulation of visible light and can realize energy conversion from mechanical energy into electricity when coupled with a piezoelectric membrane.This work provides new insights into the design and manufacturing of smart photomechanical actuators and electricity generators and expands the application scope of COFs.
基金Project supported by the National Preeminent Youth Foundation(Grant No.51225702)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51177024)
文摘A simplified quasi-static computational model for self-sensing applications of magnetostrictive actuators based on terfenol-D rods is presented. Paths and angle changes in the magnetic moments rotation of Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2 alloy are studied as functions of compressive stress and magnetic field, and then used to determine the magnetization in its actuation. Then sensing of magnetic induction picked from a driving coil in an actuator is derived. The model is quick and efficient to solve moments rotation and its magnetization. Sensing results of compressive stress and magnetostriction calculated by the model are in good agreement with experiments and will be helpful in the design and control of self-sensing applications in actuators.
基金The financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201179)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515110126 and 2021A1515010130)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (N2319005)Ningbo Science and Technology Major Project (2021Z027) is gratefully acknowledged。
文摘The development of bioinspired gradient hydrogels with self-sensing actuated capabilities for remote interaction with soft-hard robots remains a challenging endeavor. Here, we propose a novel multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel that combines ultrafast actuation and high sensitivity for remote interaction with robotic hand. The gradient network structure, achieved through a wettability difference method involving the rapid precipitation of MoO_(2) nanosheets, introduces hydrophilic disparities between two sides within hydrogel. This distinctive approach bestows the hydrogel with ultrafast thermo-responsive actuation(21° s^(-1)) and enhanced photothermal efficiency(increase by 3.7 ℃ s^(-1) under 808 nm near-infrared). Moreover, the local cross-linking of sodium alginate with Ca^(2+) endows the hydrogel with programmable deformability and information display capabilities. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibits high sensitivity(gauge factor 3.94 within a wide strain range of 600%), fast response times(140 ms) and good cycling stability. Leveraging these exceptional properties, we incorporate the hydrogel into various soft actuators, including soft gripper, artificial iris, and bioinspired jellyfish, as well as wearable electronics capable of precise human motion and physiological signal detection. Furthermore, through the synergistic combination of remarkable actuation and sensitivity, we realize a self-sensing touch bioinspired tongue. Notably, by employing quantitative analysis of actuation-sensing, we realize remote interaction between soft-hard robot via the Internet of Things. The multifunctional self-sensing actuated gradient hydrogel presented in this study provides a new insight for advanced somatosensory materials, self-feedback intelligent soft robots and human–machine interactions.
基金supported by the Anhui Provincial Key Research and Development Program No.2022f04020008National Natural Science Foundation of China No.62301522Anhui Provincial Nature Science Foundation No.1908085MF196.
文摘This paper introduces a self-sensing anthropomorphic robot hand driven by Twisted String Actuators(TSAs).The use of TSAs provides several advantages such as muscle-like structures,high transmission ratios,large output forces,high efficiency,compactness,inherent compliance,and the ability to transmit power over distances.However,conventional sensors used in TSA-actuated robotic hands increase stiffness,mass,volume,and complexity,making feedback control challenging.To address this issue,a novel self-sensing approach is proposed using strain-sensing string based on Conductive Polymer Composite(CPC).By measuring the resistance changes in the strain-sensing string,the bending angle of the robot hand's fingers can be estimated,enabling closed-loop control without external sensors.The developed self-sensing anthropomorphic robot hand comprises a 3D-printed structure with five fingers,a palm,five self-sensing TSAs,and a 3D-printed forearm.Experimental studies validate the self-sensing properties of the TSA and the anthropomorphic robot hand.Additionally,a real-time Virtual Reality(VR)monitoring system is implemented for visualizing and monitoring the robot hand's movements using its self-sensing capabilities.This research contributes valuable insights and advancements to the field of intelligent prosthetics and robotic end grippers.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U1637101)The Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures(1005-ZAG23011).
文摘As a kind of ionic artificial muscle material,Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites(IPMCs)have the advantages of a low drive current,light weight,and significant flexibility.IPMCs are widely used in the fields of biomedicine,soft robots,etc.However,the displacement and blocking force of the traditional sheet-type Nafion-IPMC need to be improved,and it has the limitation of unidirectional actuation.In this paper,a new type of short side chain Aquivion material is used as the polymer in the IPMC.The cylindrical IPMC is prepared by extrusion technology to improve its actuation performance and realize multi-degree-of-freedom motion.In comparison to the traditional Nafion-IPMC,the ion exchange capacity,specific capacitance,and conductivity of Aquivion-IPMC are improved by 28%,27%,and 32%,respectively,and the displacement and blocking force are improved by 57%and 25%,respectively.The cylindrical actuators can be deflected in eight directions.This indicates that Aquivion,as a polymer membrane for IPMC,holds significant application potential.By designing a cylindrical IPMC electrode distribution,the multi-degree-of-freedom deflection of IPMC can be realized.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,Chinal(No.2021JJ60012)。
文摘To prepare a conductive polymer actuator with decent performance,a self-built experimental platform for the preparation of polypyrrole film is employed.One of the essential goals is to examine the mechanical characteristics of the actuator in the presence of various combinations of process parameters,combined with the orthogonal test method of"four factors and three levels".The bending and sensing characteristics of actuators of various sizes are methodically examined using a self-made bending polypyrrole actuator.The functional relationship between the bending displacement and the output voltage signal is established by studying the characteristics of the actuator sensor subjected to various degrees of bending.The experimental results reveal that the bending displacement of the actuator tip almost exhibits a linear variation as a function of length and width.When the voltage reaches 0.8 V,the bending speed of the actuator tends to be stable.Finally,the mechanical properties of the self-assembled polypyrrole actuator are verified by the design and fabrication of the microgripper.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFB2011300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52275044,U2233212)。
文摘The Electro–Hydrostatic Actuator(EHA)is applied to drive the control surface in flightcontrol system of more electric aircraft.In EHA,the Oil-Immersed Motor Pump(OMP)serves asthe core as a power assembly.However,the compact integration of the OMP presents challenges inefficiently dissipating internal heat,leading to a performance degradation of the EHA due to ele-vated temperatures.Therefore,accurately modeling and predicting the internal thermal dynamicsof the OMP hold considerable significance for monitoring the operational condition of the EHA.In view of this,a modeling method considering cumulative thermal coupling was hereby proposed.Based on the proposed method,the thermal models of the motor and the pump were established,taking into account heat accumulation and transfer.Taking the leakage oil as the heat couplingpoint between the motor and the pump,the dynamic thermal coupling model of the OMP wasdeveloped,with the thermal characteristics of the oil considered.Additionally,the comparativeexperiments were conducted to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed model.The experimentalresults demonstrate that the proposed dynamic thermal coupling model accurately captured thethermal behavior of OMP,outperforming the static thermal parameter model.Overall,thisadvancement is crucial for effectively monitoring the health of EHA and ensuring flight safety.
基金support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52402520)。
文摘Actuator faults can be critical in turbofan engines as they can lead to stall,surge,loss of thrust and failure of speed control.Thus,fault diagnosis of gas turbine actuators has attracted considerable attention,from both academia and industry.However,the extensive literature that exists on this topic does not address identifying the severity of actuator faults and focuses mainly on actuator fault detection and isolation.In addition,previous studies of actuator fault identification have not dealt with multiple concurrent faults in real time,especially when these are accompanied by sudden failures under dynamic conditions.This study develops component-level models for fault identification in four typical actuators used in high-bypass ratio turbofan engines under both dynamic and steady-state conditions and these are then integrated with the engine performance model developed by the authors.The research results reported here present a novel method of quantifying actuator faults using dynamic effect compensation.The maximum error for each actuator is less than0.06%and 0.07%,with average computational time of less than 0.0058 s and 0.0086 s for steady-state and transient cases,respectively.These results confirm that the proposed method can accurately and efficiently identify concurrent actuator fault for an engine operating under either transient or steady-state conditions,even in the case of a sudden malfunction.The research results emonstrate the potential benefit to emergency response capabilities by introducing this method of monitoring the health of aero engines.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52275022,52175015 and U2037603)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(Nos.BK20222011 and BK20230093)the State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures,China(No.MCAS-S-0223G01)。
文摘Piezoelectric active vibration control holds paramount importance in space structures.An embedded piezoelectric actuator with a sandwich configuration is proposed,which enhances control accuracy by integrating various components.Firstly,the electromechanical coupling characteristics of the actuator are revealed,and the model is established.Secondly,the equivalent model of a cylindrical cantilever beam is investigated as the object,and the feasibility of the vibration control of the actuator is verified by simulation.Finally,the prototype comprised of two actuators,which respectively use the proposed embedded actuators for producing the vibration and suppressing the vibration,is developed,and the measurement system is constructed.Experimental results demonstrate the excellent control efficiency in two orthogonal directions,achieving a minimum vibration amplitude control of 0.00102 mm and a maximum vibration control of-42.74 d B.The integrated structure offers fast response,lightness,adaptability,and high control efficiency,which is conducive to enhancing the vibration control.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant no.52475067.
文摘This paper presents an untethered pneumatic soft robot which can crawl both in horizontal and vertical pipes with different sizes and cross sections.This robot uses modular origami inspired soft-rigid hybrid actuator to produce telescoping and anchoring movements powered by vacuum pressure.The introduction of grooves to valley crease significantly lowers the full contraction vacuum pressure and improves the response,allowing the system can be driven by an onboard micro vacuum pump,enabling the possibility of miniaturization,integration,and untethered operation of the robot.A series of crawling experiments in pipes with different sizes and cross sections constructed by acrylic are conducted to validate the crawling performance of the robot.Within square cross-section pipes,the robot can achieve a velocity of 9.4 mm/s in horizontal crawling and 7.7 mm/s in vertical upward crawling.For horizontal crawling in circular pipes,it can reach a velocity of 8.0 mm/s.When fully charged,the robot can crawl for 40 min with a mileage of 16.649 m,which is sufficient for most drainage and industrial pipelines detection tasks.The robot demonstrates excellent endurance and speed performance that exceed most existing untethered soft pipe crawling robots.
基金supported in part by the National Key R&D Program of China under Grant 2024YFB4707900the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 91948302 and Grant 52021003.
文摘Tendon-driven robots have distinct advantages in high-dynamic performance motion and high-degree-of-freedom manipulation.However,these robots face challenges related to control complexity,intricate tendon drive paths,and tendon slackness.In this study,the authors present a novel modular tendon-driven actuator design that integrates a series elastic element.The actuator incorporates a unique magnetic position sensing technology that enables observation of the length and tension of the tendon and features an exceptionally compact design.The modular architecture of the tendon-driven actuator addresses the complexity of tendon drive paths,while the tension observation functionality mitigates slackness issues.The design and modeling of the actuator are described in this paper,and a series of tests are conducted to validate the simulation model and to test the performance of the proposed actuator.The model can be used for training robot control neural networks based on simulation,thereby overcoming the challenges associated with controlling tendon-driven robots.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFB3812800)the Joint Fund for Regional Innovation and Development of National Natural Science Foundation China(No.U24A2078)+3 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52173181,51973155,52205599)Tianjin Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(22JCJQJC00060)the Youth Science Fund Program of Shanxi Province(202203021212203)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2024M752361).
文摘MXene(Ti3C2Tx)is known for its excellent hydrophilicity,electrical conductivity,and dispersibility.It is a promising candidate for the fabrication of moisture-responsive actuators due to the strong interaction between MXene sheets and water molecules.Inspired by natural organisms,a variety of moisture-actuated soft robots have been successfully developed through the systematic integration of MXene-based actuators.This minireview summarizes recent advances in the preparation and applications of MXene-based moisture-responsive actuators.The hydrophilic properties of MXene,along with design principles,working mechanisms,current progress,and applications of MXenebased actuators,are discussed.The future prospects and developmental directions of MXene-based moisture-responsive actuators are put forward,providing novel insights for their further advancement in the realm of automatable smart devices.
