Provided is a light activated rotor comprising typically a plurality of vanes affixed to a hub rotatable around the longitudinal axis of an axle. Each vane comprises a planar surface oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle with each vane separated into a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surface are adjacent and share a common boundary generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle. Additionally, the first and second surfaces have differing emissivities. When the light activated rotor is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a thermal creep force across the planar surface of the vane generates a revolution of the vane and the affixed hub around the longitudinal axis of the axle.

This invention describes a method for producing a novel, superior, highly electroactive material and highly electroactive actuator, which act as artificial muscle, tendon, fascia, perimysium, epimysium, and skin that wrinkles and with the preferred movement of contraction, comprising ion-containing, cross-linked electroactive material(s); solvent(s); electrode(s); attachments to levers or other objects; and coating(s). The composition and electrode configuration of the highly electroactive material of the highly electroactive actuator can be optimized so that contraction occurs when activated by electricity, and when allowed to relax back to its original conformation or when the polarity of the electrodes is reversed, expansion occurs, and a combination of these movements can be arranged, such as antagonistic pairs. The highly electroactive material itself or the highly electroactive actuator may be used individually or grouped to produce movement when activated by electricity. This invention can provide for human-like motion, durability, toughness, and strength.

Printed active origami combines printed electronics with nanomaterial coated polymer based actuators to create active printed structures. The fabrication processes include the step of applying carbon nanomaterial coatings to polymeric films. Products produced by the processes include actuating materials, such as solid state actuators that can be used as active element(s) in a printable active origami robot.

Techniques, devices and systems are disclosed for implementing acoustically triggered propulsion of nano- and micro-scale structures. In one aspect, an ultrasound responsive propulsion device includes a tube that includes one or more layers including an inner layer having an electrostatic surface, and an ultrasound-responsive substance coupled to the inner layer and configured to form gaseous bubbles in a fluid in response to an ultrasound pulse, in which the bubbles exit the tube to propel the tube to move in the fluid.

An actuator device (21) comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) and a driver (20) for generating a electrical drive signals which give opposite polarity voltages and thus electrical field within the electroactive polymer at different times. In this way, charge build-up can be reduced or avoided, while prolonged activation times are still possible. This improves the performance and/or lifetime of the device.

An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.

Provided is a display apparatus including an image forming device configured to form an image, an optical system configured to provide an output image by combining light containing an outside landscape with the image formed by the image forming device, and a driving device configured to adjust a distance between the image forming device and the optical system, wherein the driving device includes a fixed frame, a movable frame which faces the fixed frame and is movable, an actuator configured to change a distance between the fixed frame and the movable frame, and a fixing member configured to fix the distance between the fixed frame and the movable frame, wherein the image forming device is fixed to the movable frame.

An actuator device has an ionic electroactive material actuator unit includes a unitary membrane with first and second actuation electrodes on the unitary membrane. A DC drive signal is applied between the actuation electrodes to cause migration of charges from one part of the unitary membrane towards another part of the unitary membrane. In addition, a pair of closely spaced measurement electrodes is provided on the first surface of the unitary membrane. In particular, the measurement electrodes are spaced apart by a spacing which is less than ten times the thickness of the unitary membrane at a location between the measurement electrodes. A local surface-effect impedance change is used as the basis of a signal measurement, for providing feedback relating to the state of actuation of the device.

A gradient energy system includes a membrane module including a first section, a second section, and a membrane separating the first section and the second section. A first gas may be provided within the first section. A second gas may be provided within the second section. The membrane module may be configured such that a differential associated with the first gas and the second gas generates a fluid pressure force or an electrical current. A method of recovering energy from gradients of gas mixtures may include providing a first gas to a first section of a membrane module, providing a second gas to a second section of the membrane module, which may be separated from the first section by a membrane, and/or recovering energy generated via a differential between the first gas and the second gas.

A device comprises a plurality of electroactive material actuator units arranged as a linear set. Data for controlling the driving of the individual units is provided on a data line, and data line connections are made between each adjacent pair of electroactive material actuator units. The electroactive material actuator units are controlled in dependence on received data from the data line. This provides a reduced complexity of the wiring when multiple actuators need to be addressed and controlled in small application environments.