Imitating nature’s mechanisms offers enormous potential for the improvement of
our lives and the tools we use. This field of the study and imitation of, and
inspiration from, nature’s methods, designs and processes is known as
biomimetics. Artificial muscles, i.e. electroactive polymers (EAPs), are one of
the emerging technologies enabling biomimetics. Polymers that can be stimulated
to change shape or size have been known for many years. The activation
mechanisms of such polymers include electrical, chemical, pneumatic, optical and
magnetic. Electrical excitation is one of the most attractive stimulators able to
produce elastic deformation in polymers. The convenience and practicality of
electrical stimulation and the continual improvement in capabilities make EAP
materials some of the most attractive among activatable polymers (Bar-Cohen Y
(ed) 2004 Electroactive Polymer (EAP) Actuators as Artificial Muscles—Reality,
Potential and Challenges 2nd edn, vol PM136 (Bellingham, WA: SPIE Press) pp
1–765). As polymers, EAP materials offer many appealing characteristics that
include low weight, fracture tolerance and pliability. Furthermore, they can be
configured into almost any conceivable shape and their properties can be tailored
to suit a broad range of requirements. These capabilities and the significant
change of shape or size under electrical stimulation while being able to endure
many cycles of actuation are inspiring many potential possibilities for EAP
materials among engineers and scientists in many different disciplines.
Practitioners in biomimetics are particularly excited about these materials since
they can be used to mimic the movements of animals and insects. Potentially,
mechanisms actuated by EAPs will enable engineers to create devices previously
imaginable only in science fiction.
Imitating nature’s mechanisms offers enormous potential for the improvement ofour lives and the tools we use. This field of the study and imitation of, andinspiration from, nature’s methods, designs and processes is known asbiomimetics. Artificial muscles, i.e. electroactive polymers (EAPs), are one ofthe emerging technologies enabling biomimetics. Polymers that can be stimulatedto change shape or size have been known for many years. The activationmechanisms of such polymers include electrical, chemical, pneumatic, optical andmagnetic. Electrical excitation is one of the most attractive stimulators able toproduce elastic deformation in polymers. The convenience and practicality ofelectrical stimulation and the continual improvement in capabilities make EAPmaterials some of the most attractive among activatable polymers (Bar-Cohen Y(ed) 2004 Electroactive Polymer (EAP) Actuators as Artificial Muscles—Reality,Potential and Challenges 2nd edn, vol PM136 (Bellingham, WA: SPIE Press) pp1–765). As polymers, EAP materials offer many appealing characteristics thatinclude low weight, fracture tolerance and pliability. Furthermore, they can beconfigured into almost any conceivable shape and their properties can be tailoredto suit a broad range of requirements. These capabilities and the significantchange of shape or size under electrical stimulation while being able to enduremany cycles of actuation are inspiring many potential possibilities for EAPmaterials among engineers and scientists in many different disciplines.Practitioners in biomimetics are particularly excited about these materials sincethey can be used to mimic the movements of animals and insects. Potentially,mechanisms actuated by EAPs will enable engineers to create devices previouslyimaginable only in science fiction.
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