actuator

Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

Volume 163, Issue 1, September 2010, Pages 240–246

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2010.06.002

NONEQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS
Xuanhe Zhao, Soo Jin Adrian Koh, Zhigang Suo

Subject to a voltage, a dielectric elastomer can deform substantially, making it a desirable material for actuators. Designing such an actuator, however, has been challenging due to nonlinear equations of state, as well as multiple modes of failure, parameters of design, and measures of performance. This paper explores these issues, using a spring-roll actuator as an example.

Rob Wood teaches a course on micro/nano robotics, and asks me to give a 30-minute tutorial on the theory of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs).  I attach my slides, which might be useful to you if you'd like to include this topic in your class.  The tutorial draws upon work in the literature, as well as recent work in my group: