A control surface system for a body located in an air and/or space vehicle. The control surface system having at least one control surface which is located on the body and which, by moving relatively to the body, enables air flow to be controlled and the air vehicle to maneuver accordingly. The control surface system having at least one actuator which is made of an electroactive polymer material which is located on the body and which changes its form depending on electrical energy and based thereon, triggers the control surface.

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.

The present invention comprises: a rod used as a rod-shaped member; an electroconductive polymer actuator having an electroconductive polymer that expands and contracts in a prescribed direction due to electric current; and an electromagnetic actuator having a fixed magnetic pole part in which the magnetic pole arrangement is fixed, and a variable magnetic pole part in which the magnetic pole arrangement is changed by switching of electric current, the fixed magnetic pole part and the variable magnetic pole part moving relative to each other due to the magnetic pole arrangement of the variable magnetic pole part being changed. The fixed magnetic pole part or the variable magnetic pole part is connected to the electroconductive polymer so that the relative movement direction of the fixed magnetic pole part and the variable magnetic pole part matches the expansion-contraction direction of the electroconductive polymer, and the rod is connected to the electroconductive polymer.

The invention relates to a body (2), at least one actuator (3) produced from an electro-active polymer material that changes form due to electrical energy, thereby actuating the body (2), at least two strengtheners (4) allowing the actuator (3) to change its form, each holding the actuator (3) from a different side, and are positioned oppositely on the body (2), at least one retainer tip (5) holding the actuator (3) from at least one side thereof.

A nano manipulator comprises a base and a clamping structure. The clamping structure comprises two nanofiber actuators located on the base and spaced from each other. Each of the two nanofiber actuators comprises a composite structure and a vanadium dioxide layer. The composite structure comprises a carbon nanotube wire and an aluminum oxide layer. The aluminum oxide layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube wire, and the aluminum oxide layer and the carbon nanotube wire are located coaxially with each other. The vanadium dioxide layer is coated on a surface of the composite structure, and the vanadium dioxide layer and the composite structure are located non-coaxially with each other.

An artificial muscle actuator that includes a housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode each include a metal film. The first electrode includes an insulation bilayer disposed on the metal film of the first electrode in an orientation facing the second electrode. In addition, the insulation bilayer includes an acryl-based polymer layer disposed on the metal film and a biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) layer disposed on the acryl-based polymer layer.

The present invention comprises: a rod used as a rod-shaped member; an electroconductive polymer actuator having an electroconductive polymer that expands and contracts in a prescribed direction due to electric current; and an electromagnetic actuator having a fixed magnetic pole part in which the magnetic pole arrangement is fixed, and a variable magnetic pole part in which the magnetic pole arrangement is changed by switching of electric current, the fixed magnetic pole part and the variable magnetic pole part moving relative to each other due to the magnetic pole arrangement of the variable magnetic pole part being changed. The fixed magnetic pole part or the variable magnetic pole part is connected to the electroconductive polymer so that the relative movement direction of the fixed magnetic pole part and the variable magnetic pole part matches the expansion-contraction direction of the electroconductive polymer, and the rod is connected to the electroconductive polymer.

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.

In a soft actuator having a cooler, a wearable robot having the soft actuator, a massage device having the soft actuator, and a method for controlling the soft actuator, the soft actuator includes a heat reaction member, a cooling part and a controller. The heat reaction member is configured to be contracted or relaxed according to a temperature change. The cooling part includes a cooling surface disposed at the heat reaction member, and a heating surface disposed opposite to the cooling surface. The controller is configured to control a power supply part so that a power is blocked to be supplied to the heat reaction member and the power is supplied to the cooling part, when the heat reaction member is changed to be a relaxation state.

A battery pack charging system includes a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells; a charging device connected to both electrodes of the battery pack to supply a charging current to the battery pack; a switch connected between the battery pack and the charging device to allow or block a flow of the charging current; and a current blocking member mechanically connected to the switch and configured to turn off the switch by causing a bending deformation when a potential difference formed between both electrodes of the battery pack is equal to or greater than a reference value.