Journal article
Cephalopod‐Inspired Stretchable Self‐Morphing Skin Via Embedded Printing and Twisted Spiral Artificial Muscles
Advanced functional materials, Vol.31(46), 2105528
09/13/2021
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202105528
Abstract
utaneous muscles drive the texture-modulation behavior of cephalopods by protruding several millimeters out of the skin. Inspired by cephalopods, a self-morphing, stretchable smart skin containing embedded-printed electrodes and actuated by Twisted Spiral Artificial Muscles (TSAMs) is proposed. Electrothermally actuated TSAMs are manufactured from inexpensive polymer fibers to mimic the papillae muscles of cephalopods. These spirals can produce strains of nearly 2000% using a voltage of only 0.02 V mm−1. Stretchable and low-resistance liquid metal electrodes are embedded-printed inside the self-morphing skin to facilitate the electrothermal actuation of TSAMs. Theoretical and numerical models are proposed to describe the embedded printing of low-viscosity Newtonian liquid metals as conductive electrodes in a soft elastomeric substrate. Experimental mechanical tests are performed to demonstrate the robustness and electrical stability of the electrodes. Two smart skin prototypes are fabricated to highlight the capabilities of the proposed self-morphing system, including a texture-modulating wearable soft glove and a waterproof skin that emulates the texture-modulation behavior of octopi underwater. The proposed self-morphing stretchable smart skin can find use in a wide range of applications, such as refreshable Braille displays, haptic feedback devices, turbulence tripping, and antifouling devices for underwater vehicles.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Cephalopod‐Inspired Stretchable Self‐Morphing Skin Via Embedded Printing and Twisted Spiral Artificial Muscles
- Creators
- Fan Fei - University of IowaParth Kotak - University of IowaLi He - Guangdong University of TechnologyXiaofeng Li - Wuhan UniversityCyan Vanderhoef - University of IowaCaterina Lamuta - University of IowaXuan Song - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Advanced functional materials, Vol.31(46), 2105528
- DOI
- 10.1002/adfm.202105528
- ISSN
- 1616-301X
- eISSN
- 1616-3028
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000006, name: Office of Naval Research, award: N00014‐19‐1‐2136, N00014‐20‐1‐2224; DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: 1825962
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 09/13/2021
- Academic Unit
- Industrial and Systems Engineering; Injury Prevention Research Center; Mechanical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984187981502771
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