The Technology
Traditional stimuli-responsive actuators convert environmental cues (e.g., water uptake, heat, or electric fields) into motion, but they often require the entire structure to be stimulated and rely on external power or control systems, limiting autonomy and adaptability.
The proposed solution is a two-component autonomous actuator combining active and passive elements: The active components: superabsorbent polymer gel beads (e.g., polyacrylamide water beads) that swell >100× in volume upon water uptake. These are placed in 3D-printed cylindrical hinges. The passive components: 3D-printed elastic rods (e.g., Agilus or DM-70) serving as load-bearing elements.
When submerged, only the gel beads absorb water and expand, exerting force on the rods. Once the critical threshold is reached, the rods buckle (Euler buckling), generating vertical displacement and mechanical energy. This enables payload lifting, not just actuation. Load capacity scales with the number of rods and beads; for instance, an eight-rod system can lift ~40% of its own weight.
Advantages
- Autonomous: No external power or controls required.
- Targeted Activation: Only the active beads interact with water.
- High Load Capacity: Lifts payloads exceeding its own weight.
- Scalable: Performance increases with more rods/beads.
- Versatile: Enables autonomous, load-adaptive designs.
- Water-Compatible: Functions in partially aqueous environments.
- Cost-Effective: Easily fabricated via 3D printing.
- Programmable Delay: Slow swelling enables timed actuation.
Applications
- Soft robotics
- Underwater deployable structures
- Load-adaptive devices
- Lifting/manipulation in wet environments
- Irrigation
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