This paper presents a new architecture in soft robotics that utilizes particulate jamming technology. A novel concept of actuation is described that utilizes jamming technology to modulate the direction and magnitude of the work performed by a single central actuator. Jamming “activators” modulate work by jamming and unjamming (solidifying and liquifying) a granular medium coupled to a core act...

This paper presents a method of modeling and subsequently characterizing stochastically controlled actuator arrays. The actuator arrays are built from cells, each containing six piezoelectric actuators and an amplification structure; however the results can be generalized to actuator arrays using solenoids, pneumatic cylinders, or any other fast acting linear actuators. The cells are controlled...

Since the actuator capacity is limited, in the real application of active control systems under sever earthquakes it is conceivable that the actuators saturate, hence the actuator saturation should be considered as a constraint in design of optimal controllers. In this paper optimal design of active controllers for nonlinear structures by considering actuator saturation, has been studied. The p...

In this paper, we present a robotic actuation system using an artificial muscle actuator based on a dielectric elastomer. A novel linear actuator called a ‘multi-stacked actuator’ is proposed that can be embedded in the phalanges of a multi-jointed robot finger. This actuator ensures a compact design of the overall system. As an example, a 2-d.o.f. robot finger is developed and its performance ...

Soft robotics has attracted great attention owing to their immense potential especially in human–robot interfaces. However, the compliant property of soft alone, without stiff elements, restricts applications under load-bearing conditions. Here, biohybrid actuators, that create own bone-like rigid layer and thus alter stiffness from hard, are designed. Fabrication actuators is based on polydime...

In this paper we assume that all actuators are mobile and an event was reported to one of the actuators, and a response by one actuator is required. The goal of actuator task assignment is to select the best actuator for responding to a reported event so that communication cost for selecting, and response time for performing the task are minimized. Existing solutions, except those proposed in [...

In order to exhaustively exploit the high-level capabilities of shape memory alloys (SMAs), they must be applied in control systems applications. However, because of their hysteretic inherent, dilatory response, and nonlinear behavior, scientists are thwarted in their attempt to design controllers for actuators of such kind.  The current study aims at developing a micro-position control system ...

Elastomeric dielectric material has recently become a new alternative for actuator technology. The characteristics of dielectric elastomers placed between two electrodes to withstand large strain when electrodes are charged has attracted the attention of many researcher to study this material for actuator technology. Thus, in the past few years Danfoss Ventures A/S has established their own die...