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Actuators: Buckling of Elastomeric Beams Enables Actuation of Soft Machines (Adv. Mater. 41/2015)
Author(s) -
Yang Dian,
Mosadegh Bobak,
Ainla Alar,
Lee Benjamin,
Khashai Fatemeh,
Suo Zhigang,
Bertoldi Katia,
Whitesides George M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201570274
Subject(s) - buckle , actuator , materials science , elastomer , pneumatic actuator , mechanism (biology) , soft robotics , mechanical engineering , buckling , computer science , structural engineering , composite material , engineering , artificial intelligence , physics , quantum mechanics
Soft, pneumatic actuators that buckle when interior pressure is less than exterior provide a new mechanism of actuation. Upon application of negative pneumatic pressure, elastic beam elements in these actuators undergo reversible, cooperative collapse, and generate a rotational motion. These actuators are inexpensive to fabricate, lightweight, easy to control, and safe to operate. They can be used in devices that manipulate objects, locomote, or interact cooperatively with humans, as described by G. M. Whitesides and co‐workers on page 6323.