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At least 415 records · Page 23

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2023

Photo-actuators via epitaxial growth of microcrystal arrays in polymer membranes

Photomechanical crystals composed of three-dimensionally ordered and densely packed photochromes hold promise for high-performance photochemical actuators. However, bulk crystals with high structural ordering are severely limited in their flexibility, resulting in poor processibility and a tendency to fragment upon light exposure, while previous nano- or microcrystalline composites have lacked global alignment. Here we demonstrate a photon-fuelled macroscopic actuator consisting of diarylethene microcrystals in a polyethylene terephthalate host matrix. These microcrystals survive large deformations and show a high degree of three-dimensional ordering dictated by the anisotropic polyethylene terephthalate, which critically also has a similar stiffness. Overall, these ordered and compliant composites exhibit rapid response times, sustain a performance of over at least hundreds of cycles and generate work densities exceeding those of single crystals. In conclusion, our composites represent the state-of-the-art for photochemical actuators and enable properties unattainable by single crystals, such as controllable, reversible and abrupt jumping (photosalient behaviour).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2025

Advanced silicone materials for soft actuator applications

Soft actuators are at the forefront of the innovation tide in medicine, manufacturing, and aerospace because they are able to mimic the behavior of biological tissue and adapt to complex, unstructured environments. Of all the materials used, silicone-based elastomers have drawn enormous attention since they offer a superb combination of mechanical flexibility, biocompatibility, thermal stability, and long-term durability. In the past few years, there has also been a rapid pace of material evolution, additive manufacturing, and biointegration that has enhanced the performance and applications of silicone-based soft actuators. However, there is no focused and timely review compiling these advances. This review seeks to address that need by critically discussing recent advancements in advanced silicone materials, exploring new fabrication methodologies, and discussing emerging applications that range from wearable devices to implantable robotics. We also present suggestions for directions and the problems which must be addressed in order to further develop the performance and potential of silicone-based soft actuators, justifying the relevance and urgency of this effort.

biocompatibility↗

NASA NTRS1998

Robotic Arm Actuated by Electroactie Polymers

Actuators are used for many planetary and space applications. To meet the NASA goal to reduce the actuators size, mass, cost and power consumption, electroactie polymers (EAP) are being developed to induce large bending and longitudinal actuation strains.

Robotics electroactive polymers hand simulation ac↗

NASA NTRS1996

Computation of Static Shapes and Voltages for Micromachined Deformable Mirrors with Nonlinear Electostatic Actuators

In modeling micromachined deformable mirrors with electrostatic actuators whose gap spacings are of the same order of magnitude as that of the surface deformations, it is neccessary to use nonlinear models for the actuators. In this paper, we consider micromachined deformable mirrors modeled by a membrane or plate equation with nonlinear electrostatic actuator characteristics.

deformations optical systems adaptive optical syst↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Detailed Design of a Magnetically-Geared Actuator for Use in Extremely Cold Lunar Environments

A magnetically-geared actuator is being developed for extremely cold space environments to avoid the wiring and significant efficiency penalty associated with heating grease-lubricated actuators as well as the stringent life and loading constraints imposed by dry film lubricated mechanical gears. This paper describes the detailed design of this actuator, including the impactful requirements, thermal analysis, bearing loads, electromagnetic analysis and the impact of tolerance stack up, and structural analysis.

space mechanisms↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Detailed Design of a Magnetically-Geared Actuator for use in Extremely Cold Lunar Environments

space mechanisms↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development and Manufacture of A Proof-of-Concept Magnetically-Geared Actuator for Use in Extremely Cold Lunar Environments

A magnetically-geared actuator is being developed for extremely cold space environments to avoid the wiring and significant efficiency penalty associated with heating grease-lubricated actuators as well as the stringent life and loading constraints imposed by dry film lubricated mechanical gears. This paper describes the lessons learned while designing, manufacturing, and assembling a proof-of-concept prototype similar to the preliminary design of the actuator.

lunar surface↗

NASA NTRS2023

Development and Manufacture of A Proof-of-Concept Magnetically-Geared Actuator for Use in Extremely Cold Lunar Environments

A magnetically-geared actuator is being developed for extremely cold space environments to avoid the wiring and significant efficiency penalty associated with heating grease-lubricated actuators as well as the stringent life and loading constraints imposed by dry film lubricated mechanical gears. This paper describes the lessons learned while designing, manufacturing, and assembling a proof-of-concept prototype similar to the preliminary design of the actuator.

lunar surface↗

NASA NTRS2025

Influence of Actuator Movement Rate During Acquisition of Inlet Characterization Data

This report considers using a process to acquire performance data for supersonic mixed-compression inlets that is faster and less costly than the previous process. In the previous process for acquiring data during wind tunnel experiments, actuators for backpressuring an inlet moved in discrete increments, paused for dynamics to dampen, measured data for 5 s, recorded the data, and then reduced the data to graphic plots of pressure recovery versus mass capture ratio. This discrete data acquisition procedure was methodical, reliable, and accurate. However, acquiring data to characterize the inlet consumed significant wind-on time. Wind tunnel operation was costly when considering maintenance, energy, and human resources (operators and research team); therefore, the price for each data point was high. This report presents a quicker method to obtain all measurements, one which can also be used in blowdown wind tunnels. This approach, identified as the dynamic inlet characteristic data acquisition procedure, uses in situ dynamic high-speed pressure sensors to measure pressure signals. The backpressuring actuator moves continuously, and measurements from high-speed pressure sensors are recorded as the actuator progresses to and past the incremental points. Despite its advantages, the approach raised the following questions: (1) Will the new process be as accurate as the previous process? and (2) Are there any hidden costs? These concerns are addressed in this report. This report reviews a study that was undertaken to compare wind tunnel experiment data taken using the previous discrete data acquisition procedure with data recorded using the dynamic inlet characterization data acquisition procedure. In this report, the wind tunnel experiment and the study objectives are described. The processes to reduce the data for analysis are explained, and a discussion of the results is given. Finally, conclusions from this study that may guide further work in this area are presented.

Inlet Characterization Curves↗

DOE OSTI2024

SELF-HEALING PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR DIAPHRAGMS

In the oil and gas industry, damaged diaphragms in pneumatic actuators can lead to unintended methane leaks, increasing emissions. In this work, replacement self-healing diaphragms are manufactured for a commercial pneumatic actuator. To enable self-healing, hollow microvascular networks are created within the diaphragms using sacrificial 3D printed PLA w/ tin(II) oxalate. These microvascular networks are filled with healing chemistries and, upon damage, rupture. After rupturing, the healing chemistries mix and cure to “heal” the damage and reduce leaks. Separate actuator test stands using nitrogen gas and using natural gas were developed to assess the healing performance of diaphragms. A fatigue stand was also developed to evaluate the effects of the different microvascular network geometries on the fatigue life of diaphragms. Our results demonstrate self-healing in diaphragms subjected to damage and tested for leaks. In fatigue testing, our results indicate that the introduction of microvascular networks does not influence the fatigue life.

Self-healing, pneumatic actuator↗

DOE OSTI2023

A helical actuator driven by biased SMA: design, model, and experiment

A helical actuator driven by biased shape memory alloy (SMA) patterns embedded into a soft composite ribbon base is presented in this work. Instead of common U-shape SMA wires, a single SMA wire is woven into planar patterns, which enable helical deformation of the composite ribbon from an initially flat geometry. An analytical static model is established for accurate and rapid prediction of the helical reconfiguration arising from the shape memory effect of woven SMA patterns, followed by validation of the static model using the finite element method (FEM). The finite element results are compared with the analytical solutions given by this static model, which show a high agreement. Parametric study of the influences of eight independent design variables on the dependent helical parameters, such as combined curvatures, pitches, and helical angles, is completed. It is found that the helically deformed geometry is mainly dominated by diameters, biased positions, inclined angles, and numbers of skewed segments of the SMA wire. Fabrication and in-situ experimental test of a prototype of such helical actuators qualitatively demonstrate its dramatic three-dimensional (3D) spiral reconfiguration from a two-dimensional (2D) flat ribbon. In conclusion, such SMA patterns will allow more diverse designs of soft actuators for a wider range of robotic applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Canister valve and actuator deposition in metered dose inhalers formulated with low-GWP propellants

A challenge in pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) formulation design is management of adhesion of the drug to the canister wall, valve and actuator internal components and surfaces. Wall-material interactions differ between transparent vials used for visual inspection and metal canister pMDI systems. This is of particular concern for low greenhouse warming potential (GWP) formulations where propellant chemistry and solubility with many drugs are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrate a novel application of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation to assay the contents of surrogate solution and suspension pMDI formulations of potassium iodide and barium sulphate in propellants HFA134a, HFA152a and HFO1234ze(E) using aluminium canisters and standard components. Preliminary results indicate that through unit life drug distribution in the canister valve closure region and actuator can vary significantly with new propellants. For solution formulations HFO1234ze(E) propellant shows the greatest increase in local deposition inside the canister valve closure region as compared to HFA134a and HFA152a, with correspondingly reduced actuator deposition. This is likely driven by chemistry changes. For suspension formulations HFA152a shows the greatest differences, due to its low specific gravity. These changes must be taken into consideration in the development of products utilising low-GWP propellants.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Single-Crystal Optical Actuation Generated by 100% SO 2 Linkage Photoisomerization in a Ruthenium-Based Coordination Complex

Single-crystal optical actuators are emerging as a new field of materials chemistry because of their wide-ranging potential applications, from light-induced molecular motors to photosensing technologies. Ruthenium-based coordination complexes that contain sulfur dioxide linkage photoisomers have shown particular promise as optical actuators, given that they may exhibit either optical switching or nano-optomechanical transduction in their single-crystal form. The type of single-crystal optical actuation observed in a specific compound within this family of complexes depends upon the nature of the ligand that lies trans to this SO 2 linkage photoisomer, since this governs the type and extent of photoisomer (η 2 -(OS)O or η 1 -OSO) that will form upon the application of light. We report the discovery of a new complex, trans-[Ru(SO 2 )(NH 3 ) 4 (3-iodopyridine)]tosylate 2 (1), which forms an η 1 -OSO photoisomer with 100% photoconversion upon the application of 505 nm light. The photoisomerization process in the ruthenium-based cation of 1 stimulates rotation and translation of the toluenic constituent of its neighboring anion, thereby affording nano-optomechnical transduction. We show that this η 1 -OSO photoisomer transitions to its more thermally stable η 2 -(OS)O photoisomer with an activation energy, E a , of 11(2) kJ/mol using thermally activated single-crystal optical absorption spectroscopy. The application of external light with different wavelengths to 1 is also shown to cause a variation in its optical absorption spectral characteristics. Here, this suggests that the photophysical properties of 1 may be tunable with light.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

Skin-integrated stretchable actuators toward skin-compatible haptic feedback and closed-loop human-machine interactions

Abstract Skin-integrated haptic interfaces that can relay a wealth of information from the machine to the human are of great interest. However, existing haptic devices are not yet able to produce haptic cues that are compatible with the skin. In this work, we present the stretchable soft actuators for haptic feedback, which can match the perception range, spatial resolution, and stretchability of the skin. Pressure-amplification structures are fabricated using a scalable self-assembly process to ensure an output pressure beyond the skin perception threshold. Due to the minimized device size, the actuator array can be fabricated with a sufficiently high spatial resolution, which makes the haptic device applicable for skin locations with the highest spatial acuity. A haptic feedback system is demonstrated by employing the developed soft actuators and highly sensitive pressure sensors. Two proof-of-concept applications are developed to illustrate the capability of transferring information related to surface textures and object shapes acquired at the robot side to the user side.

Chen, Si↗

DOE OSTI2022

On the mechanism of performance improvement of electroactive polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuators via conductive fillers

Abstract The electromechanical actuation of transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gels with conductive fillers were studied. The effects of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim]BF 4 ) ionic liquid (IL) on both the electrical conduction and dielectric processes within PVC gels were investigated, and the differences between the two were clarified. Both CNTs and IL were shown to increase the conductivity of the gels and produce larger electromechanical transduction of a contraction actuator, but only CNTs were shown to increase the electrostatic adhesion force of the PVC gels. The addition of charge carriers to the gel via the inclusion of ILs was shown to significantly reduce the conductivity relaxation time, and the transient current upon voltage polarity reversal indicated multiple peaks corresponding to the introduction of carriers with different polarities and mobilities into the gel. This is believed to cause a screening effect, reducing the charge accumulation at the anode that is the foundational basis for PVC gels’ actuation mechanism. A recommendation for preferable conductive fillers for various applications is made.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2022

A study of electroactive polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuators through the use of the electric modulus formalism and cyclic linear voltage sweeps

The conductivity and dielectric properties are integral to the function of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gel actuators. The frequency-dependent properties of PVC gel actuators are investigated here in terms of their impedance, permittivity, and for the first time, electric modulus. The data shows that PVC gels’ conductive properties are just as, if not more, important as their dielectric properties in electromechanical transduction applications. The electrode polarization (EP) and its impact on the impedance and dielectric spectra of PVC gels, as well as the developed asymmetric space charge at the anode, are discussed. The electric modulus and tan δ spectra are used for the fitting of Cole-Cole (CC) and Debye relaxation models for gels of varying plasticizer content. The electrostatic adhesive force for PVC gels of varying plasticizer is also measured, indicating large electrostatic adhesion (>2 N cm -2 ). A cyclic linear voltage sweep is used to clarify the dynamics of space charge within the gels. The peak current (associated with space charge development) is seen to be concurrent with the onset of mechanical deformation, showing the asymmetric charge as the origin of electromechanical transduction. Additionally, the maximum charge transferred (as measured by the integration of current over time) before space charge development is found to correlate with the electrostatic adhesive force measured for the gels, pointing to a new method of characterizing PVC gels for actuation.

Instruments & Instrumentation↗

DOE OSTI2020

High Dynamic Range AFM Cantilever With a Collocated Piezoelectric Actuator-Sensor Pair

We present a novel approach to fundamentally eliminate electrical feedthrough (cross-talk) signal in self-sensing piezoelectric microcantilevers, used in dynamic mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The probe is an Si microcantilever on which a two-layer piezoelectric stack transducer is microfabricated. The top transducer in the stack functions as an actuator, while the bottom transducer is used as a deflection sensor. This arrangement leads to a collocated actuator-sensor pair that co-exist on the same surface area. We report experimental results that establish the sensor's ability to capture the full dynamic range of the cantilever with minimal feedthrough from the actuator.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2022

Mitigation of Dielectric Heating of Piezoelectric Actuators at Cryogenic Temperatures

The new generation of low beam intensity superconducting linacs will require high accelerating gradients for new scientific discoveries. The high accelerating gradient cavities in pulsed SRF linacs will experience large (~1000’s of Hz) detuning caused by Lorentz force detuning (LFD). The piezo actuators that will be used to compensate large LFD must operate at a nominal voltage of 120V to 150V to deliver the required stroke to the cavity. In this high voltage range, the piezo is expected to warm up drastically due to its location in an insulating vacuum environment. Overheating of the piezo will significantly decrease the longevity of the actuator. A collaboration between FNAL and Physik Instrumente (PI) developed a novel piezo actuator design that mitigates piezo overheating. The design consists of using a metal foam in contact with the piezoelectric ceramic stack for heat removal. The second solution used lithium niobite as an alternative material. A comparison of the temperature stability will be presented and discussed. This study characterizes the dielectric properties for both materials. The results obtained are in the temperature range of 10 K to 300 K.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗