Electrostatic linear actuator developed as a biomimicking skeletal muscle (slider made of conductive material)

• Published in: Nihon Kikai Gakkai ronbunshū. C Vol. 63; no. 606; pp. 451 - 456
• Main Authors: Kabei, Nobuyuki, Bando, Kouji, Ogata, Jirou, Tokoro, Tsuyosi, Murayama, Tomohiro, Saito, Shinichi, Tsuchiya, Kiichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.01.1997
• ISSN: 0387-5024

We developed an electrostatic linear actuator, which consists of parallel plate capacitors and a slider, for use as an artificial muscle. For ease of manufacturing of the small slider, we used conductive material instead of dielectric material used in previous experiments. Computer simulation was performed to determine the effect of the structure of a slider that consists of both conductive and insulating material. Based on the results of simulation, a metal slider was designed and manufactured. The output force of 8.3 mN was generated by the actuator under the driving voltage of 300 V, which was 30% larger than that generated by the actuator under the same voltage in the previous experiment, where the slider was made of dielectric material.