A method of performing wireless actuation by inductive heating of magnetic particles. The method provides a bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming an interior area, the bladder configured to expand or retract so as to change an area of the interior area, (ii) a plurality of magnetic particles suspended in a fluid medium and disposed within the interior area, and (iii) a sleeve disposed on the outer surface of the bladder. The method excites the plurality of magnetic particles by application of an alternating magnetic field to which the particles reaction. The method causes, by the excited magnetic particles, a phase transition to the fluid medium within the interior area which causes the bladder to expand, such that the sleeve confining the bladder generates actuation from the expansion or retraction of the bladder.

An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region, an expandable fluid region, a first film layer, and a second film layer. The first film layer and the second film layer each include an inner protective layer having a first elasticity, an outer protective layer having a second elasticity, and a reinforcing layer provided between the inner protective layer and the outer protective layer, the reinforcing layer having a third elasticity greater than the first elasticity of the inner protective layer and the second elasticity of the outer protective layer. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing and between the first film layer and the second film layer, and a dielectric fluid housed within the housing.

An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

A device that performs wireless actuation by inductive heating. The device includes a bladder configured to expand or retract, so as to change the bladder's interior area. The device also includes a container, fluidly coupled to the bladder via a connector, that houses a magnetic rod suspended in a fluid medium. The magnetic rod is configured to react to a magnetic field that produces a phase transition of the fluid medium, causing the fluid medium to be transferred to the bladder's interior area, via the connector, expanding the bladder. The device further includes an induction coil, disposed around the container, and the induction coil's first end is coupled to the container's interior. The device also includes an induction heater, coupled to the induction coil's second end, that powers the induction coil, such that the induction coil generates the magnetic field within the container.

The present disclosure describes new systems and methods for influencing the rotational speed of a roller or other conveying systems and for controlling the speed, orientation or position of objects on a conveyor through the use of hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators. HASEL actuators for such systems provide distinct benefits over traditional braking systems including: electrical control, eliminated need for an external source of pressurized air or fluid to allow use in certain environments, analog control of force or displacement in order to provide variable control of speed of objects on the conveyor system, and feedback to infer information about the state of the actuators as well as the state of objects being conveyed and/or state of the conveyor rollers.

An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.

An electro-hydraulic actuator includes a deformable shell defining an enclosed internal cavity and containing a liquid dielectric, first and second electrodes on first and second sides, respectively, of the enclosed internal cavity. An electrostatic force between the first and second electrodes upon application of a voltage to one of the electrodes draws the electrodes towards each other to displace the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity. The shell includes active and inactive areas such that the electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes displaces the liquid dielectric within the enclosed internal cavity from the active area of the shell to the inactive area of the shell. The first and second electrodes, the deformable shell, and the liquid dielectric cooperate to form a self-healing capacitor, and the liquid dielectric is configured for automatically filling breaches in the liquid dielectric resulting from dielectric breakdown.

An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region, the electrode pair having a first electrode fixed to a first surface of the housing and a second electrode fixed to a second surface of the housing. The first and second electrodes each have two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. Each of the two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions and at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a central opening positioned between the two or more tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. A dielectric fluid is housed within the housing and the electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated to actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

An artificial muscle device includes a plurality of intermuscular boards and a plurality of artificial muscles disposed between the intermuscular boards in an alternating pattern and communicatively coupled to a controller. Each of the one or more artificial muscles includes a housing comprising an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region, thereby applying pressure to the intermuscular boards.

An artificial muscle drive unit includes a base and an artificial muscle disposed on the base. The artificial muscle includes an expandable reservoir and a fluid. The fluid is movable within said expandable reservoir to switch the artificial muscle between a non-actuated state in which a dimension of the artificial muscle in a movement direction is a minimum value, and an actuated state, in which the dimension of the artificial muscle is a maximum value. The artificial muscle drive unit also includes a load-bearing support disposed on the base, the load-bearing support comprising a dimension in the movement direction that is greater than or equal to the minimum value.