A rotary joint for a flapping wing actuated by dielectric elastomers: design and experiment

Exhibiting high energy densities, light weight, and elegant form factor, dielectric elastomers are poised as a promising alternative to the driving of flying robots. A rotary joint for a flapping wing actuated by a dielectric elastomer minimum energy actuation mechanism is reported. The deformation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMeccanica (Milan) Vol. 50; no. 11; pp. 2815 - 2824
Main Authors Zhao, Jianwen, Niu, Junyang, McCoul, David, Leng, Jinsong, Pei, Qibing
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 17.07.2015
Subjects
Automotive Engineering
Civil Engineering
Classical Mechanics
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Soft Mechatronics
Artificial muscles
Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA)
Flapping wing
Dielectric elastomer minimum energy structures (DEMES)
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Summary:Exhibiting high energy densities, light weight, and elegant form factor, dielectric elastomers are poised as a promising alternative to the driving of flying robots. A rotary joint for a flapping wing actuated by a dielectric elastomer minimum energy actuation mechanism is reported. The deformation process and characteristics of the dielectric elastomer during joint rotation are analyzed, and the DE film will warp like saddle surface. The geometry parameter of the rotary joint will influence voltage-induced strain of DE film, and the natural frequency will restrict dynamics performance of the joint. Additionally, experimental results validate the characteristic of above saddle surface and the influence principle. A rotary joint and a flapping wing prototype were fabricated to validate design principles, demonstrating the design principles can be used to this kind of dielectric elastomer joint and flapping wing.
ISSN:0025-6455
1572-9648
DOI:10.1007/s11012-015-0241-x