RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Soft electromagnetic actuators
JF Science Advances
JO Sci Adv
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP eabc0251
DO 10.1126/sciadv.abc0251
VO 6
IS 26
A1 Mao, Guoyong
A1 Drack, Michael
A1 Karami-Mosammam, Mahya
A1 Wirthl, Daniela
A1 Stockinger, Thomas
A1 Schwödiauer, Reinhard
A1 Kaltenbrunner, Martin
YR 2020
UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/26/eabc0251.abstract
AB Rigid electromagnetic actuators serve our society in a myriad of ways for more than 200 years. However, their bulky nature restricts close collaboration with humans. Here, we introduce soft electromagnetic actuators (SEMAs) by replacing solid metal coils with liquid-metal channels embedded in elastomeric shells. We demonstrate human-friendly, simple, stretchable, fast, durable, and programmable centimeter-scale SEMAs that drive a soft shark, interact with everyday objects, or rapidly mix a dye with water. A multicoil flower SEMA with individually controlled petals blooms or closes within tens of milliseconds, and a cubic SEMA performs programmed, arbitrary motion sequences. We develop a numerical model supporting design and opening potential routes toward miniaturization, reduction of power consumption, and increase in mechanical efficiency. SEMAs are electrically controlled shape-morphing systems that are potentially empowering future applications from soft grippers to minimally invasive medicine.