EAP as Artificial Muscles - Progress and Challenges

During the last decade and a half new polymers have emerged that respond to electrical stimulation with a significant shape or size change. This capability of electroactive polymer (EAP) materials is attracting the attention of engineers and scientists from many different disciplines. Practitioners in biomimetics are particularly excited about these materials since the artificial muscle aspect of EAPs can be applied to mimic the movements of animals and insects. In the foreseeable future, robotic mechanisms actuated by EAP will enable engineers to create devices previously imaginable only in science fiction. Last year, significant accomplishments were reported include the emergence of the first commercial product and the possibility that an arm can be made with EAP actuators having the potential of winning a wrestling match with human. As such major accomplishments continue to be reported it is interesting to review the progress and provide a prospective regarding the development since the first EAPAD conference in 1999. This manuscript covers the progress in the field of EAP and the challenges that are being addressed.