High-performance liquid metal electromagnetic actuator fabricated by femtosecond laser

Yiyu Chen; Hao Wu; Rui Li; Shaojun Jiang; Shuneng Zhou; Zehang Cui; Yuan Tao; Xinyuan Zheng; Qianqian Zhang; Jiawen Li; Guoqiang Li; Dong Wu; Jiaru Chu; Yanlei Hu

doi:10.1088/2631-7990/ad23ee

International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (Jan 2024)

High-performance liquid metal electromagnetic actuator fabricated by femtosecond laser

Yiyu Chen,
Hao Wu,
Rui Li,
Shaojun Jiang,
Shuneng Zhou,
Zehang Cui,
Yuan Tao,
Xinyuan Zheng,
Qianqian Zhang,
Jiawen Li,
Guoqiang Li,
Dong Wu,
Jiaru Chu,
Yanlei Hu

Affiliations

Yiyu Chen: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Testing Technology for Manufacturing Process of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology , Mianyang 621010, People’s Republic of China
Hao Wu: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Rui Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Shaojun Jiang: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, People’s Republic of China
Shuneng Zhou: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Zehang Cui: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Testing Technology for Manufacturing Process of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology , Mianyang 621010, People’s Republic of China
Yuan Tao: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Xinyuan Zheng: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Qianqian Zhang: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Jiawen Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Guoqiang Li: Key Laboratory of Testing Technology for Manufacturing Process of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology , Mianyang 621010, People’s Republic of China
Dong Wu: ORCiD; CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Jiaru Chu: CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China
Yanlei Hu: ORCiD; CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230027, People’s Republic of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/ad23ee
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6, no. 2
p. 025503

Abstract

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Small-scale electromagnetic soft actuators are characterized by a fast response and simple control, holding prospects in the field of soft and miniaturized robotics. The use of liquid metal (LM) to replace a rigid conductor inside soft actuators can reduce the rigidity and enhance the actuation performance and robustness. Despite research efforts, challenges persist in the flexible fabrication of LM soft actuators and in the improvement of actuation performance. To address these challenges, we developed a fast and robust electromagnetic soft microplate actuator based on a laser-induced selective adhesion transfer method. Equipped with unprecedentedly thin LM circuit and customized low Young’s modulus silicone rubber (1.03 kPa), our actuator exhibits an excellent deformation angle (265.25°) and actuation bending angular velocity (284.66 rad·s ^−1 ). Furthermore, multiple actuators have been combined to build an artificial gripper with a wide range of functionalities. Our actuator presents new possibilities for designing small-scale artificial machines and supports advancements in ultrafast soft and miniaturized robotics.

Published in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

ISSN: 2631-8644 (Print); 2631-7990 (Online)
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Technology: Technology (General): Industrial engineering. Management engineering; Science: Physics
Website: https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/2631-7990

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