Worldwide Electroactive Polymers

WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue)

WorldWide ElectroActive Polymers

EAP (Artificial Muscles) Newsletter

Vol. 16, No. 1 (31th issue) WW-EAP Newsletter June 2014 http://eap.jpl.nasa.gov

FROM THE EDITOR As in recent years, this Smart Structure Yoseph Bar-Cohen, [email protected] Symposium included also the conference about This issue reports the latest progress in the fields of Biomimetics and this year the San Diego Zoo Electroactive Polymers (EAP) and biomimetics. presented a Tamandua, which is an Anteater The recent years’ growth of the field of EAP has (Figure 1). been quite well reflected in the number of papers that were submitted for presentation at the 2014 LIST OF CONTENTS SPIE EAPAD Conference that was held on March FROM THE EDITOR ...... 1 10, 2014 in San Diego as part of the Smart GENERAL NEWS...... 2 Structures Symposium. It is pleasing to see that it Apple patent application - EAP actuator of iPhone camera 2 reached a record of 139 papers. Another significant Parker Acquired EAP IP and Licenses of AMI ...... 2 UPCOMING CONFERENCES ...... 2 accomplishment in the field of EAP is the 2015 SPIE EAPAD Conference ...... 2 University of Texas at Dallas’s developed Carbon- 15th International Symposium on Electrets (ISE15) ...... 2 Based Tensile and Torsional Artificial Muscles that RECENT CONFERENCES ...... 3 were presented and demonstrated at the SPIE 2014 SPIE EAPAD Conference ...... 3 EAPAD Conference. US-Japan Workshop ...... 10 EuroEAP 2014 conference ...... 11 ADVANCES IN EAP ...... 12 Aero. Eng.-Propul./MEMS - Independent Researcher ..... 12 Biomimetics Lab’s Submarine ...... 12 Leap Technology, Denmark ...... 13 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ...... 13 University of the West of England ...... 14 NEW BOOKS ...... 15 Ocean Innovation - Biomimetics beneath the waves ...... 15 FUTURE CONFERENCES ...... 16 EAP ARCHIVES ...... 16 Biomimetics books series ...... 16 Books about robotics ...... 17 Figure 1: The Tamandua (Lesser Anteater) that was shown at the Biomimetics Conf.

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GENERAL NEWS strengthen Parker’s smart material The WW-EAP Webhub http://eap.jpl.nasa.gov is development capabilities for use in a broad continually being updated with information range of applications including ultra-low regarding the EAP activity worldwide. This power, wired, wireless and disposable sensors Webhub is a link of the JPL’s NDEAA Webhub of and ultra-low power, quiet and lightweight the Advanced Technologies Group having the actuators, pumps and valves. address: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov Apple patent application - EAP actuator of iPhone camera UPCOMING CONFERENCES On June 19, 2014, the U.S. Patent and Trademark 2015 SPIE EAPAD Conference Office published a patent application that was filed The 17th SPIE’s EAPAD conference is going to be by Apple Corp. The patent covers a method of held March 9-12, 2015, in San Diego, California. making an actuator of an iPhone camera lens that This Conference is going to be chaired by Yoseph controls the focus and the aperture size using EAP Bar-Cohen, JPL, and Co-chaired by Gal deBotton, rather than conventional motors. The disclosed Ben-Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Israel. The invention involves the use of micro electro- Conference Program Committee consists of mechanical system (MEMS) design and an EAP representatives from 27 countries and they are make layer. Further information can be read at from most continents. http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/06/19/apple- The papers will focus on issues that help invents-iphone-camera-lens-actuator-made-of- transitioning EAP to practical use thru better artificial-muscle understanding of the principles responsible for the electro-mechanical behavior, analytical modeling, Parker Acquired EAP IP and Licenses of improved materials and their processing methods, AMI characterization of the properties and performance Andrew Cheng [email protected] as well as various applications. At the EAPAD 2015, the Keynote Speaker is In a press release that was issued on Monday, going to be Brett Kennedy, Group Supervisor, June 23, 2014, Parker Hannifin Corporation Robotic Vehicles & Manipulators, Jet Propulsion has announced that it purchased intellectual Lab (JPL), Pasadena, CA. Brett will review and property and licenses from Bayer cover the progress in robotics for planetary MaterialScience LLC and its Artificial Muscle applications. Incorporated (AMI) business unit. This As in past years, an EAPAD course will be given on Sunday, March 8, 2015, and the EAP-in- purchase will allow Parker to use EAP Action Session will be held on Monday, March 9, technology to expand its smart sensor and 2015. The call for papers is posted at: actuator products and services. Parker http://spie.org/x12233.xml Hannifin Corporation is traded on the NY Stock Exchange and it is a global leader in 15th International Symposium on motion and control technologies. Parker will Electrets (ISE15) be seeking to use AMI’s proprietary smart The 15th International Symposium on Electrets material technology to improve performance (ISE15) will be held at Johns Hopkins University, and efficiency of its new and existing Baltimore, USA, from Aug. 10 to 13, 2014. The products and services for use in medical General Chair is Qiming Zhang, Pennsylvania State University; and the General Vice Chair is Axel devices, remote monitoring and industrial Mellinger, Central Michigan University. systems. The use of EAP technology will

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The conference will cover a wide range of RECENT CONFERENCES topics related to electrets, including fundamental research and applications. It is a unique meeting 2014 SPIE EAPAD Conference th opportunity for scientists and engineers from all The 16 SPIE’s EAPAD conference was held over the world working in the field of electrical March 10-13, 2014, in San Diego, California. This engineering, materials science and engineering, Conference was chaired by Yoseph Bar-Cohen, condensed matter physics and chemistry, and a JPL, and Co-chaired by Barbar J. Akle, Lebanese chance for communicating about recent advances American University, Lebanon. The Conference and research and development efforts in these areas. included 138 oral and poster papers and this has It also provides a forum for in-depth discussions been the highest number of papers that has ever between the most experienced and established been presented at the SPIE’s EAPAD Conferene. scientists and engineers and young researchers. The The Conference Program Committee consisted of conference is sponsored by the IEEE Dielectrics representatives from 27 countries. and Electrical Insulation Society and is held every The papers were focused on issues that help three years in different locations around the world. transitioning EAP to practical use thru better The Conference Topics include understanding of the principles responsible for the • Charge (injection/formation, transport, trapping, electro-mechanical behavior, improved materials, measurement) related phenomena in analytical modeling, methods processing, • dielectrics characterization of the properties and performance • Dielectric and electronical responses of as well as various applications. dielectrics under high electric field At the EAPAD 2014, the Keynote Speaker has • Soft actuators & sensors been Robert F. Shepherd, Cornell Univ. (Figure 2), • Ferro-/piezo-electric phenomena in polymers and and he reviewed and covered the progress towards organics/biomaterials faster and higher torque actuators for soft robotics. • Applications of organic and polymer based ferro- Shepherd is an assistant professor at Cornell /piezo-electric materials University in the Department of Mechanical & • Energy storage in dielectrics and ionic materials Aerospace Engineering with a Field Appointment in • Electrocaloric and pyroelectric materials Material Science & Engineering. He received both • Electrets for energy harvesting: principle, design, his B.S. and Ph.D. in Material Science from The characterization, and applications University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where he • Electrets and functional polymers in organic developed polymeric and colloidal inks for 3D electronics printers, as well as microfluidic devices that • Non-linear electrical & optical effects, generate granular material via photolithography. photoelectrets Following his PhD, Shepherd was a Postdoctoral • Electrostatic and dielectric phenomena in life Fellow at the Department of Chemistry & Chemical science/bioelectrets Biology at Harvard University (studying under • Electro-electrets: dielectric-elastomer transducers George M. Whitesides) where he developed • Nanoscale characterization of electrostatic, pneumatically powered soft machines composed of dielectric and electret materials silicone elastomers. These machines took the form • Electret and dielectric phenomena in nanoscale of grippers that require no sensors, and mobile structures/configuration robots that can change their shape to navigate • Dielectric and space charge relaxation in underneath obstacle or jump over them. At Cornell, polymers and organics he is pursuing the 3D printing of soft actuators and • Thermally stimulated currents sensors, increasing the toughness of actuators, and • Other related topics using granular material as reconfigurable For details, visit www.ise15.org architecture.

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 Adrian Koh, National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore), Institute of High Performance Computing (Singapore), “Soft generators for sustainable motion-based energy harvesting”, Paper 9056-23.  Anne L. Skov, Liyun Yu, Sindhu Vudayagiri, Shamsul Zakaria, Technical Univ. of Denmark (Denmark); Mohamed Y. Benslimane, Danfoss PolyPower A/S (Denmark), “Filled liquid Figure 2: Robert F. Shepherd, Cornell University, silicone rubbers: possibilities and challenges”, the Keynote speaker at the 2014 EAPAD Conf. Paper 9056-27  Holger Böse, Fraunhofer-Institut für A Special Session was dedicated to the subject Silicatforschung (Germany), “Novel dielectric of “Electroding Materials and Systems”. The elastomer sensors for compression load Session was chaired by Qibing Pei, Univ. of detection”, Paper 9056-39 California, Los Angeles (United States) and Iain A.  Benjamin M. O'Brien, Todd A. Gisby, Anderson, The Univ. of Auckland (New Zealand). StretchSense (New Zealand), The Univ. of The invited papers in this Conference were: Auckland (New Zealand); Iain A. Anderson,  Thomas G. McKay, The Univ. of Auckland (New The Univ. of Auckland (New Zealand), Zealand); Todd A. Gisby, StretchSense (New “StretchSense (New Zealand) EAP sensors for Zealand); Iain A. Anderson, The Univ. of human body motion”, Paper 9056-44 Auckland (New Zealand), “Artificial muscles  Xuanhe Zhao, Duke Univ. (United States), harvesting sensational power Paper 9056-2 “Beyond artificial muscle: bio-inspired  Carter S. Haines, Márcio D. Lima, Na Li, The transformative skin and microlens based on Univ. of Texas at Dallas (United States); Geoffrey dielectric elastomers”, Paper 9056-54 M. Spinks, Javad Foroughi, Univ. of Wollongong  Christoph Keplinger, Harvard Univ. (United (Australia); John D. W. Madden, The Univ. of States), “Stretchable, transparent, ionic British Columbia (Canada); Shi-Hyeong Kim, conductors: sound from a transparent, soft Hanyang Univ. (Korea, Republic of); Shaoli Fang, membrane”, Paper 9056-72 Monica Jung de Andrade, The Univ. of Texas at  Frédéric Vidal, Cédric Plesse, Pierre-Henri Dallas (United States); Fatma Göktepe, Ozer Aubert, Univ. de Cergy-Pontoise (France); Eric Göktepe, Namik Kemal Univ. (Turkey); Seyed M. Cattan, Caroline Soyer, Univ. des Sciences et Mirvakili, The Univ. of British Columbia Technologies de Lille (France); Giao T.M. M. (Canada); Sina Naficy, Univ. of Wollongong Nguyen, Univ. de Cergy-Pontoise (France); (Australia); Xavier Lepró, Jiyoung Oh, Mikhail E. Jean-Paul Dudon, Thales Alenia Space (France); Kozlov, The Univ. of Texas at Dallas (United Dominique Teyssié, Claude Chevrot, Univ. de States); Seon-Jeong Kim, Hanyang Univ. (Korea, Cergy-Pontoise (France), “Electromechanical Republic of); Xiuru Xu, Benjamin J. Swedlove, and electro-optical properties of PEDOT based The Univ. of Texas at Dallas (United States); IPNs”, Paper 9056-83 Gordon G. Wallace, Univ. of Wollongong (Australia); Ray H. Baughman, The Univ. of  Ingrid M. Graz, Johannes Kepler Univ. Linz Texas at Dallas (United States), Carbon-based (Austria), “Approaches to soft electronic skin”, torsional and tensile artificial muscles driven by Paper 9056-87 thermal expansion”, Paper 9056-13 On Sunday, March 9, 2014, a half-day course  Ilkwon Oh, KAIST (Republic of Korea), has been given overviewing the field of EAP “Recent progress on graphene-based artificial covering the state of the art, challenges and muscles”, Paper 9056-14 potentials. The two groups of polymer materials

4 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue) were described, namely those that involve ionic actuators-of-choice. This Session offers a forum for mechanisms (Ionic EAP), and field activated interaction between developers and potential users materials (Electronic EAP). The lead instructor was as well as a "hands-on" experience with this Yoseph Bar-Cohen, JPL, and the topic of ionic EAP emerging technology. It was during this session was taught by Qibing Pei, professor of materials that he first Human/EAP-Robot Armwrestling science and engineering, University of California, Contest was held in 2005. Los Angeles (UCLA) and the topic of ionic EAP In this 2014 Session, there were 8 research and materials was covered by John D. W. Madden who industry presenters from 10 countries who is an Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer demonstrated their latest EAP actuators and Engineering at the University of British Columbia, devices. The demonstrations included the Vancouver, Canada (Figure 3). following:

Estonia Bio-inspired autonomous robot actuated by ionic EAPs - Indrek Must, Friedrich Kaasik, Inga Põldsalu, Lauri Mihkels, Urmas Johanson, Andres Punning, Alvo Aabloo; Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab (http://www.ims.ut.ee), University of

Figure 3: John Madden covering the topic of ionic Tartu, Estonia. EAP materials at the EAPAD course. An autonomous crawling microrobot (Figure 5) with locomotion inspired by an inchworm and propelled by ionic liquid-based bending EAPs was presented. This microprocessor-controlled robot was powered by an on-board lithium battery and operated in ambient air on a smooth surface. The construction took advantage of the properties of their soft EAP technology.

Figure 4: Participants of the EAP-in-Action Session.

The EAP-in-Action Session was held on Monday, March 10, 2014 (Figure 4). This Session provides a spotlight on EAP materials, their capability, and their potential for smart structures. New materials and applications are continuing to emerge and this is a great opportunity for the Figure 5: Bio-inspired autonomous robot (from left attendees to see state-of-the-art demonstrations of to right Friedrich Kaasik and Indrek Must are the unique capabilities of EAP as possible shown).

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Germany DEA enhanced PC-mouse for improving human Japan machine interaction. Smart Gel Robotics with Flexible & Transparent Henry Haus, Holger Mößinger, and Helmut F. Shape Memory Gel (FT-SMG) Schlaak, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Jin Gong, Hidemitsu Furukawa, Yamagata Institute of Electromechanical Design, Darmstadt, University (Japan) (Germany) A smart varifocal lens (Figure 8) was developed The flexibility of rubber-like dielectric elastomer that is designed with flexible & transparent shape actuators allows adjusting the shape of tactile memory gel (FT-SMG), which freely adjusts the interfaces to fit onto arbitrary surfaces. This focal length based on simple mechanism of flexibility offers the opportunity to provide tactile changing water pressure inside. Except for a soft stimulus not only the fingertips but also to other eye of a robot, the presenters also developed other parts of the human body, using greater parts of the FT-SMG gel for robots (Figure 9) including soft human skin to transmit information. A fully touch paper and soft skin finger. The presenters are functional PC-mouse (Figure 6), enhanced with shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11. DEA technology, providing tactile feedback into the palm of the users’ hand, was demonstrated (Figure 7). The audience was given an opportunity to try out their tactile feedback while interacting with specially designed demo software on a PC, giving the opportunity to experience the advantages of flexible DE-actuators for human machine interaction. Figure 8: A smart varifocal lens

Figure 6: The DEA enhanced PC-mouse Figure 9: Smart Gel Robotics

Figure 7: Helmut Shlaak presenting a DEA Figure 10: From Left to right - Jin Gong, Yosuke enhanced PC-mouse for improving human machine Watanabe, Takema Shibata and Hidemitsu interaction (From left to right: Helmut F. Schlaak, Furukawa, Yamagata University, Japan, are shown Henry Haus, and Holger Mößinger, Technische demonstrating their Smart Gel Robotics with Universität Darmstadt). Flexible & Transparent Shape Memory Gel.

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and a self-sensing dielectric elastomer generator (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Tom and Iain (Biomimetics Lab)

Figure 11: Jin Gong and Takema Shibata demonstrate a self-sensing EAP energy harvester demonstrating the stretching of their Flexible & built from dielectric elastomer material strapped to Transparent Shape Memory Gel (FT-SMG) a piece of borrowed motel furniture.

New Zealand 2) Soft sensor technologies including a low power Wearable and portable energy harvesters and stretch sensor and a wireless glove (Figure 14). soft sensor technologies - Iain Anderson1, 2, Thomas McKay1, Daniel Xu1, Andrew Lo1, Tony Tse1, Todd Gisby2 1 Biomimetics Laboratory and 2StretchSense Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand

The Biomimetics Lab and its new spinoff company, StretchSense Ltd., (Figure 12) demonstrated their development advances in the following topics.

Figure 14: Iain (CCO) and Todd (CTO) of Stretchsense Ltd. demonstrate a wireless EAP glove. Movement of the fingers is telemetered to the mobile phone on the left.

Switzerland High speed silicone DEAs S. Rosset, S. O. Araromi, A. Poulin, L. Maffli, J. Figure 12: The presenters from the Biomimetics Shintake, and H. Shea, EPFL, Switzerland Lab and StretchSense Ltd. (From left to right Thomas McKay, Daniel Chen, Daniel Xu, Iain µm- to cm-scale dielectric elastomer actuators were Anderson, and Todd Gisby. presented. Large area silicone membrane were casted and precise patterning of the electrodes were 1) Wearable and portable energy harvesting made to produce small-scale and robust DEAs with including a new electronics module that can supply a high yield. low voltage power for small devices (The AMP – Several devices were demonstrated by the EPFL see this in operation at www.tinyurl.com/bioamp ) team (Figure 15) including 4 finger multi-segment gripper that is shown in Figure 16 grabbing a

7 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue) mockup of EPFL’s SwissCube. This DEA-based for robotic application. It is relatively easy to gripper is a soft-actuator candidate to be mounted produce a 2 Degrees of Freedom mechanisms with on CleanSpace One, the EPFL’s next satellite actuator and sensor capabilities. A prototype was whose task is to demonstrate the possibility of demonstrated at the Session and a close-up is shown orbital debris removal by capturing and deorbiting in Figure 18. the now-decommissioned SwissCube.

Figure 17: Jonathan Rossiter, U. of Bristol. UK, is Figure 15: The presenters from EPFL (From Left to demonstrating a DEA-based whisker module. right S. Oluwaseum Araromi, Alexander Poulin, Samuel Rosset, and Herbert Shea).

Figure 18: DEA-Based Whisker for Robotics

USA University of Texas at Dallas Carbon-Based Tensile and Torsional Artificial Muscles, Carter S. Haines, Marcio D. Lima, Ray H. Figure 16: High speed silicone DEAs Baughman, and Alan G. MacDiarmid, NanoTech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas United Kingdom Carbon-based artificial muscles have been designed DEA-Based Whisker for Robotics - Tareq Assaf, to provide fast torsional and tensile actuation Jonathan Rossiter, Andrew Conn, Martin Pearson, (Figure 19). In tension, these muscles can provide Peter Walters Bristol Robotics Lab., United in excess of 20% stroke without hysteresis when Kingdom powered electrically or by using hot liquids such as

water. More than a million cycles of reversible DEA-based whisker module were presented tensile actuation have been performed without a showing (Figure 17) the results of the efforts to significant loss of performance. Torsional muscles scale and overcome critical issues for the that can move heavy loads and operate from exploitation of this artificial muscle technology in ambient temperature gradients have also been robotics, in particular as actuator to drive active shown. Such muscles can be woven into braids and tactile sensing. The modularity, dimensions, low fabrics to produce smart textiles and actuating weight and soft features make this technology ideal

8 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue) fabric. The demonstrations included the use of torsional and tensile muscles exhibiting large stroke and giant force performance (Figure 20, Figure 21, and Figure 22).

Figure 22: Marcio D. Lima is demonstrating lifting and lowering himself standing on a level arm.

Figure 19: Schematic of torsional and tensile ViviTouch muscles produced from carbon-based materials. ViviTouch® HD Feel enables advanced and multi-dimensional communication through touch - Art Muir and James Biggs, ViviTouch, A Bayer Brand

An EAP stacked actuator was demonstrated that is smaller than a thumb tack, which can be easily integrated as wearable devices and unique spaces. It can be used as a bracelet or line clothing, in trigger buttons or thumb sticks, in a game controller for direct contact with skin as well as individually controlled haptic feedback zones. The device Figure 20: Na Li, Marcio D. Lima, Carter S. provides high definition feel with a broad spectrum Haines, are demonstrating the torsional and tensile of haptic effects having silent operation and without muscles produced from carbon-based materials. any audible buzzer (Figure 23). The demonstrators from ViviTouch mechanisms are shown in Figure 24.

Figure 21: Marcio D. Lima is demonstrating lifting Figure 23: ViviTouch® HD Feel. and lowering a heavy weight.

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Figure 24: Art Muir and James Biggs. Figure 26: Lenore Rasmussen, Ras Labs, LLC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. Ras Labs Synthetic MuscleTM: EAP-based materials and US-Japan Workshop actuators - Lenore Rasmussen and Eric Sandberg, The US-Japan Workshop on “Soft Matters based Active Materials and Tactile Sensing and Their Integrated Systems” (Figure 27), was held in Maui, May 21-23, 2014.

Figure 27: Participants of the US-Japan Workshop that was held in Maui, May 21-23, 2014. Figure 25: Synthetic MuscleTM expanding and contracting. The co-organizers of the Workshop were Minoru Taya, University of Washington, Kenji Asaka, The most recently enhanced EAP material called AIST, and Makoto Saito, Nabtesco Corp. and it was Synthetic MuscleTM was demonstrated to contract sponsored by Nabtesco Corp. and University of and expand (Figure 25). The demonstrated material Washington. The workshop addressed the various can be activated in a controlled zone (the photos challenges and limitations of the EAP actuators and show expansion in the middle of the film) offering sensors. Also, it included discussions of new the potential of haptic interfacing with concepts of actuation and sensing systems as well as programmable control. The demo was made by integrated control systems. The goal of the Lenore Rasmussen, Ras Labs, LLC (Figure 26). workshop has been to recommend future directions and identify promising aspects of flexible robotic hand systems. Invited speakers from both US and

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Japan, who represent the main stream of the related from the conference can be seen at research, reviewed the state of the art and suggested www.euroeap.eu/conference. ideas for future directions of the various aspects of The EuroEAP 2015 will take place in Tallin, the field. Estonia, on 9-10 June 2015 and will be chaired by Alvo Aablo. Detailed information about this conference will be made available at EuroEAP 2014 conference www.euroeap.eu/conference. Federico Carpi, Queen Mary University of London, UK [email protected] ; and Edwin Jager, Linköping University, Sweden

EuroEAP 2014, the 4th International Conference on “Electromechanically Active Polymer (EAP) Transducers and Artificial Muscles” (www.euroeap.eu/conference) took place in Linköping, Sweden, on 10-11 June 2014. The conference was chaired by Edwin Jager, from

Linköping University, and was organized by the Figure 28: EuroEAP 2014 group ‘European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles - ESNAM’ (www.esnam.eu). The event was attended by about 120 delegates and Figure 28 shows the attendees. The technical program and conference proceedings are available at www.euroeap.eu/conference and the invited speakers were: Gursel Alici, University of Wollongong, Australia Qiming Zhang, Pennsylvania State University, USA Seon Jeong Kim, Hanyang University, Korea Cecilia Laschi, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy Figure 29: Olle Inganäs (Linköping University) Alexandre Khaldi, University of Cambridge, UK receiving the ESNAM network Award for his Benjamin O'Brien, StretchSense, New Zealand fundamental scientific contributions in the field of Samuel Rosset, EPFL, Switzerland Artificial Muscles based on Conjugated Polymers. Xuanhe Zhao, Duke University, USA.

During the Conference, Olle Inganäs (Linköping University) was awarded by the ESNAM network, in an informal ceremony, ‘for his fundamental scientific contributions in the field of Artificial Muscles based on Conjugated Polymers’ (Figure 29). Also, Benjamin O'Brien (StretchSense Ltd) received the EAPromising International Researcher & Entrepreneur Award for ‘evidences of a promising career in the EAP field of dielectric Figure 30: Benjamin O'Brien (StretchSense Ltd) elastomer transducers’ (Figure 30). Other photos receiving the EAPromising International Researcher & Entrepreneur Award

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ADVANCES IN EAP Aero. Eng.-Propul./MEMS - Independent Researcher

Using IEAP to Redesign Novel Compressor Babak Aryana [email protected] Figure 32: A not-to-scale schematic of a five layer ionic EAP bending actuator. Ionomeric membrane To improve the author’s novel design for at the center is coated with porous conductive compressors [Aryana, 2010], he is currently network composites (CNCs) and outer electrodes. assessing usage of different EAPs. His previous design has been based on Dielectric Elastomer Actuators. This type of EAPs has attractive properties to use in his design for compressors. However, it needs very strong electric field to activate, and accordingly its high voltage electric source can generate several difficulties for practical usage of the compressor. Among the different types of EAPs, ionic EAPs are structured with porous conductive network composites (CNCs) and ionic liquids can result in high strain and reasonably fast response times as well as being activated by voltage of about 5V Figure 31 and Figure 32. These properties offer potential applicability for use in the author’s Figure 33: DEA compressor schematically design for compressors (Figure 33). Using ionic indicated by two major parts [Aryana, 2010]. EAP, the author started evaluating a new design based on IEAPs with CNCs layers. With regard to this fact that, CNCs characteristic is very influential Biomimetics Lab’s Submarine on mechanical performance, configuring a proper Iain Anderson [email protected] material to shape the compressor components is a delicate task. On the other hand, concerning this The Biomimetics Lab will be racing New Zealand’s fact that IEAP generates bending in comparison (Perhaps the Southern Hemisphere’s too) first with length changing in DEA, the author found that human-powered submarine, the “Taniwha” he needed to redesign the compressor mechanism to (www.abi.auckland.ac.nz/taniwha) in the 2nd simulate gullet like motion in the cell tubes that are European International Submarine Races during shown in Figure 33. July (http://www.subrace.eu/). The Taniwha (Figure 34 and Figure 35) is a wet sub- the hull that is not pressurized and the pilot breathes using a scuba set. The pilot propels the sub by pedaling two sets of small fins (one located at top and one at bottom). The submarine will provide a platform for exploring finned propulsion! Unlike its namesake, the Biomimetics Lab Taniwha is not a terrifying supernatural creature and further information can be Figure 31: Accumulation of different size ions at oppositely-charged electrodes generates stress, found at: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/taniwha sufficient enough to mechanically bend the actuator.

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need for an EAP technology integrator has never been more sought after. On April 1st 2014, LEAP Technology was formed to fill the gap between EAP technology and its successful commercialization. The formed company consists of a team with total of over 25 years of academic and industrial EAP experience. This experience will be used to position the company as technology integrator operating either as consultant or as collaborator. This would mean carrying out tasks at all stages of the product development process. Figure 34: Some of the crew celebrating the The aim of LEAP Technology is to allow all completion of the Taniwha (L to R: Ryan Chao, companies who are interested in EAP to get access David Shin, Julia Koops, Anna-Lena Schell, to the technology in a form that they can use while Antony Harbuz (Back), Ben Pocock, Jungjoo Kim, at the same time knowing that the technology is Iain Anderson). entirely mass producible. It is hoped that this will reduce the time it takes to get superior EAP based products into the market. LEAP Technology is already collaborating on several feasibility projects related to developing real commercial products in the medical and industrial automation fields. The company is listed online at Facebook, Linkedin, and www.leaptechnology.com.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Harnessing Large Deformation and Instabilities of Soft Dielectrics Xuanhe Zhao [email protected]; and Qiming Wang Widely used as insulators, capacitors, and transducers in daily life, soft dielectrics based on polymers and polymeric gels play important roles in

Figure 35: The overall length of Taniwha was the modern electrified society. Owning to their largely fixed by the dimensions of the elevator! mechanical compliance, soft dielectrics subject to Here we see Taniwha, Tom McKay and Ben voltages frequently undergo large deformation and Pocock (actually his left hand) in the elevator. mechanical instabilities. The deformation and instabilities can lead to detrimental failures in some Leap Technology, Denmark applications of soft dielectrics such as polymer Latest EAP commercial endeavor capacitors and insulating gels, but can also be LEAP Technology offers EAP specific product rationally harnessed to enable novel functions such development services. as artificial muscle, dynamic surface patterning, and energy harvesting. With an ever increasing availability of commercial In a recent review, the authors classified the dielectric elastomer suppliers and the fast growing deformation and instabilities of soft dielectrics into interest from large brands and system suppliers, the three generic modes according to mechanical

13 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue) constraints on them: (i) thinning and pull-in, (ii) Ioannis Ieropoulos [email protected], electro-creasing to cratering, and (iii) electro- John Greenman, Jean-Michel Maheu, Xavier Alexis cavitation (Figure 36) [Zhao and Wang, 2014]. Walter, and Jonathan Winfield Then, they provided a systematic understanding of different modes of deformation and instabilities of How it works: The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a soft dielectrics by integrating state-of-the-art bio-electrochemical technology able to convert experimental methods and observations, theoretical organic waste directly into electricity by the models, and applications. Based on the catalytic reaction of microorganism (Figure 37). understanding, a systematic set of strategies to The bacteria oxidize organic matter and release prevent or harness the deformation and instabilities CO2, electrons (onto an anode) and cations (to a of soft dielectrics for diverse applications are proton exchange membrane). The electrons then discussed. The review is concluded with flow to the cathode where they combine with perspectives on future directions of research in this oxygen and the cations (e.g. protons) to form water, rapidly evolving field. whilst generating current.

Figure 36: Three types of mechanical constraints Figure 37: The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) on soft-dielectric films: (a) no mechanical constraint with compliant electrodes on both surfaces, (b) one- MFCs’ contribution to Bio Energy - Being able to side mechanical constraint with rigid electrode generate electricity from naturally occurring bonded on one surface and complaint electrode on biomass gives potential robots a new degree of the other, and (c) two-side mechanical constraint autonomy that allows their prolonged operation in with rigid electrodes bonded on both surfaces. environments that are inaccessible or even lethal to Based on the three types of mechanical constraints, human beings (Figure 38). Such applications in the deformation and instabilities of soft dielectrics robotics have been demonstrated with increasing can be classified into three generic modes. degrees of success with the EcoBot-I, -II, and -III series of experiments [Ieropoulos et al, 2014]. References Zhao X., Q. Wang, “Harnessing Large Deformation Results - Our team is continues to study the many and Instabilities of Soft Dielectrics: Theory, different parameters involved in MFC systems, but Experiment and Application”, Applied Physics at the same time actively pursues the technology’s Review, 1, 021304 (2014) development for larger scale operation. In terms of basic research, the team investigates novel materials University of the West of England for both anode and cathode electrodes, membranes Microbial Fuel Cells: Building blocks for bio- and various structural parts to improve the energy and self-sustainable systems efficiency and performance. In addition, continuous flow MFC systems capable of long-term use in a water-treatment plant are tested. As part of the

14 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue) technology development, the strategy employed has been the miniaturization of individual units and References stacking of multiple units to increase performance Ieropoulos, I., Greenman, J., Melhuish, C and levels. Different configurations/ stacks of MFCs Horsfield, I. (2010) "EcoBot-III: a robot with have been evaluated in many applications (e.g.: bio- guts", Proceedings of the Artificial Life XII, pp. degradable robot [Winfield et al., 2014]) 733-740. The team has recently demonstrated for the first Winfield, J., Chambers, L.D., Stinchcombe, A., time the charging of a commercially available Rossiter, J. and Ieropoulos, I. (2014) "The mobile phone, using MFCs fed with human urine power of glove: Soft microbial fuel cell for low- (Figure 39) [Ieropoulos et al, 2013]. The power electronics", Power Sources, 249, 327- membrane-less MFCs were made of ceramic 332. material and employed plain carbon based Ieropoulos, I., Ledezma, P., Stinchcombe, A., electrodes. The next steps in our work are to scale- Papaharalabos, G., Melhuish, C. and Greenman, up the technology to be functional at household J. (2013) "Waste to Real Energy: the first MFC level, with a vision of larger (community level) powered mobile phone", Phys Chem Chem application. Phys, 15, 15312-15316.

NEW BOOKS

Ocean Innovation - Biomimetics beneath the waves Iain A. Anderson, John Montgomery, and Julian Vincent (Expected to be published by CRC Press in Jan. 2015)

Ocean organisms employ engineering strategies which enable them to maintain life functions such as buoyancy and locomotion in a growing, self-repairing body. This book explores the possibilities of Figure 38: The MFCs’ contribution to Bio Energy. using these engineering feats in the human world. Each chapter presents a particular engineering problem and then looks to the organisms of the ocean for solutions. The book offers case studies that demonstrate how natural solutions can be applied to some specific engineering challenges, both terrestrial and oceanic. The text encourages engineers to explore new ideas, rather than mimic them. This book is part of the Biomimetics Book Series of CRC Press

Figure 39: The MFC charger http://www.crcpress.com/browse/series/crcbioser

15 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue)

FUTURE CONFERENCES temperature. Reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of the subject of high- Date Conference/Symposium temperature materials and Aug. 10 The 15th International Symposium on mechanisms, the chapters to 13, Electrets (ISE15) www.ise15.org will bring as broad a perspective 2014 be held at Johns Hopkins University, to the field as possible and Baltimore, USA. are authored by leading March 8 The 17th EAPAD Conf., SPIE’s Smart experts in the specific - 12, Structures & Materials and NDE 2015 Symposia, will be held in San Diego, subject. The book addresses CA., For information contact: Megan the various related science Artz [email protected], Website: and engineering disciplines, http://spie.org/x12233.xml including chemistry, material June 9- The EuroEAP 2015 will take place in science, electrical and mechanical engineering, 10, 2015 Tallin, Estonia. It will be chaired by metallurgy, and physics. Alvo Aablo. Detailed information will be made available at http://www.euroeap.eu/conference 2nd Edition of the book on EAP Y. Bar-Cohen (Editor) EAP ARCHIVES In March 2004, the 2nd Information archives and links to various websites edition of the “Electroactive worldwide are available on the following (the web Polymer (EAP) Actuators as addresses below need to be used with no blanks): Artificial Muscles - Reality, Webhub: http://eap.jpl.nasa.gov Potential and Challenges” was Newsletter: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa- published. This book includes nde/lommas/eap/WW-EAP-Newsletter.html description of the available Recipe: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa- materials, analytical models, nde/lommas/eap/EAP-recipe.htm processing techniques, and EAP Companies: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa- characterization methods. nde/lommas/eap/EAP-material-n-products.htm This book is intent to provide a reference about the Armwrestling Challenge: subject, tutorial resource, list the challenges and http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa- define a vision for the future direction of this field. nde/lommas/eap/EAP-armwrestling.htm Observing the progress that was reported in this Books and Proceedings: field is quite heartwarming, where major milestones http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/yosi/yosi- are continually being reported. books.htm Biomimetics books series High Temperature Materials and Biomimetics – Nature Inspired Innovation Mechanisms Yoseph Bar-Cohen (Editor) Yoseph Bar-Cohen (Editor) This book contains 20 chapters covering various http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466566453 aspects of the field of biomimetics including Nature This book is addressing the growing interest in as a source for inspiration of innovation; Artificial high-temperature technologies. This book covers Senses & Organs; Bio-mimicry at the Cell- technology related to energy, space, aerospace, Materials Interface; Multiscale modeling of plant electronics, metallurgy, and other areas. While cell wall architecture and tissue mechanics for some applications involve the use of materials at biomimetic applications; Biomimetic composites; high temperatures, others require materials EAP actuators as artificial muscles; Refreshable processed at high temperatures for use at room Braille Displays Actuated by EAP; Biological

16 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue)

Optics; Biomimicry of the Ultimate Optical Device: Biomimetics - Biologically Inspired Biologically Inspired Design: a tool for Technologies interdisciplinary education Enhancing Innovation Y. Bar-Cohen (Editor) Through Biologically-Inspired Design; Self- http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/yosi/yosi-books.htm reproducing machines and manufacturing processes; This book about Biomimetics Biomimetic products; Biomimetics for medical review technologies that were implants; Application of biomimetics in the design inspired by nature and outlook of medical devices; Affective for potential development in Robotics: Human Motion and biomimetics in the future. This Behavioral Inspiration for Safe book is intended as a reference Cooperation between Humans comprehensive document, and Humanoid Assistive tutorial resource, and set Robots; Humanlike robots - challenges and vision for the capabilities, potentials and future direction of this field. challenges; Biomimetic Leading experts (co)authored the 20 chapters of this swimmer inspired by the book and the outline can be seen on manta ray; Biomimetics and http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/ndeaa- flying technology; The pub/Biomimetics/Biologically-Inspired-Technology.pdf Biomimetic Process in Artistic Creation; and Biomimetics - Reality, Challenges, and Outlook. Further information is available at: Books about robotics http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439834763 The Coming Robot Revolution - Expectations and Fears about Emerging Intelligent, Architecture Follows Nature - Biomimetic Humanlike Machines Principles for Innovative Design Yoseph, Bar-Cohen and David Hanson (with Authored by Ilaria Mazzoleni www.imstudio.us futuristic illustrations by Adi Marom), Springer, [email protected] in collaboration with Shauna ISBN: 978-0-387-85348-2, (February 2009) Price http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466506077 This book covers the emerging humanlike robots. Generally, in the last few years, there have been enormous advances in robot technology to which EAP can help greatly in making operate more lifelike. Increasingly, humanlike robots are developed for a wide variety of applications. These “smart” lifelike robots are designed to help with household chores, as office workers, to perform The book entitled “Architecture Follows Nature - tasks in dangerous environments, and to assist in Biomimetic Principles for Innovative Design” has schools and hospitals. In other words, humanlike been published by CRC Press as part of the book robots are coming and they may fundamentally series on Biomimetics for which Y. Bar-Cohen is change the way we live, even the way we view the editor. The homepage of this book series is: ourselves. http://www.crcpress.com/browse/series/?series_id=2719

17 WW-EAP Newsletter, Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2014 (The 31th issue)

Biologically Inspired Intelligent Robots Y. Bar-Cohen and C. Breazeal (Editors) The book that is entitled “Biologically-Inspired Intelligent Robots,” covering the topic of biomimetic robots, was published by SPIE Press in May 2003. There is already extensive heritage of making robots and toys that look and operate similar to human, animals and insects. The emergence of artificial muscles is expected to make such a possibility a closer engineering reality. The topics that are involved with the development of such biomimetic robots are multidisciplinary and they are covered in this book. These topics include: materials, actuators, sensors, structures, control, functionality, intelligence and autonomy.

WorldWide Electroactive Polymers (EAP) Newsletter EDITOR: Yoseph Bar-Cohen, http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/yosi/yosi.htm

All communications should be addressed to: Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Ph.D., JPL, M.S. 67-119, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 Phone: (818)-354-2610 or E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov