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Real‐time control of dielectric elastomer actuators via bioelectric and biomechanical signals
Author(s) -
Carpi Federico,
Raspopovic Stanisa,
Frediani Gabriele,
De Rossi Danilo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2757
Subject(s) - actuator , elastomer , interfacing , artificial muscle , dielectric elastomers , dielectric , materials science , electroactive polymers , computer science , biomedical engineering , engineering , optoelectronics , artificial intelligence , composite material , computer hardware
Dielectric elastomers represent a high‐performance class of electromechanically active polymers, largely studied nowadays to develop soft actuators with pseudo‐muscular functions, suitable for a broad spectrum of biomedical and biorobotic applications. As such, they are investigated to achieve the ambitious goal of developing artificial muscles. From the perspective of using this technology for systems interfacing humans and machines, the possibility to control them in real time via human bioelectric and biomechanical signals is a fundamental requirement. This work provides the first detailed investigation on this topic. The amplitude and frequency of actuation of buckling dielectric elastomer actuators were dynamically controlled with electromyographic, electrocardiographic and respitrace signals, subjected to low‐pass filtering and amplification. The actuators were able to follow, in real time and in synchrony, inputs corresponding to skeletal muscle contraction, heart beating and respiratory activity. This work shows that real‐time open‐loop control of dielectric elastomer actuators via human bioelectric and biomechanical signals is feasible and readily achievable. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry