Performance-Optimized Dielectric Elastomer Actuator System with Scalable Scissor Linkage Transmission

Abstract

Thanks to their outstanding properties, in the last few years Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) have increasingly attracted the interest of the scientific community and generated a surge in the effort devoted to their industrialization. Compared to conventional actuator systems, DEAs are based on inexpensive and widely available polymeric materials, which make them potentially attractive from a market perspective. However, DEA systems with a given layout and dimensions have a fixed force-stroke response that is only suitable for a specific load profile. This leads to a wide variety of designs combined with small production volumes and high costs, limiting the competitive advantage. This work addresses this issue by proposing a combination of DEA systems with compliant scissor linkage transmission mechanisms, which provide linear stroke and force scaling and simultaneously maintain performance optimization by leaving the convertible energy density of the DEA unaffected. For this purpose, three systems are designed, based on a same strip-shaped DEA combined with inclined buckled beam biasing mechanisms. Two of the systems are coupled with scissor linkages that offer transmission ratios of 3:1 and 1:3, respectively, to adapt the system to different load profiles. The system design is explained in detail, and the functional principle is validated through experiments.