The new material brings stronger and flexible artificial muscles, and it is expected to make the robot realize the natural movement.

Science and Technology Daily reporter Zhang Mengran Intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin

American scientists have developed a new material and technology to create a stronger and more flexible artificial muscle than biological muscles. The research results were published in the latest issue of Science.

A 4X5 -inch film formed by the 10 -layer processable high -performance dielectric elasticity (PHDE) and 20 force stacked. Image Laiyuan: UCLA Flexible Material Research Lab

Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Engineering School said that the creation of artificial muscles to complete work and detection and tactile sense has always been one of the huge challenges in the science and engineering community.

In terms of manufacturing artificial muscles, although many materials are very competitive, the highly elastic light mate elastic (DE) has attracted much attention for its excellent flexibility. Most DEs are made of acrylic or silicon resin, but these two materials have disadvantages. Traditional acrylic acid DE can achieve high -drive response, but it needs pre -stretching and lack of flexibility; organic silicon is easier to make, but they cannot withstand high stress.

The UCLA research team uses commercial chemicals and uses ultraviolet optical curing technology to create an improved acrylic base material. The material is more flexible, adjustable and easy to expand without losing its strength and durability. Acrylic acid can form more hydrogen bonds, making the material easier to deform, but researchers adjust the cross -linking between polymer chains, making the elastic body softer and more flexible. The obtained thin, processed high -performance dielectric elastic film (PHDE) is then trapped between the two electrodes to convert the power energy to the kinetic energy of the force.

Each PHDE film is as thin as a hair and about 35 microns thick. When multi -layer stacked together, they become a miniature motor, which can play a role like muscle tissue and produce enough energy to use enough energy for robots. Or the movement of the sensor provides motivation. Researchers have produced PHDE film stacks ranging from 4-50 layers.

Artificial muscles equipped with PHDE force can produce more power than biomass muscles, and the flexibility is 3-10 times higher than natural muscles.

UCLA's research uses the "dry method" process. This process is layered with a blade, and then solidified by ultraviolet rays to make each layer uniform. This increases the energy output of the force, allowing the device to support more complicated movements.

This simplified process, as well as the flexibility and durability of PHDE, allows the manufacture of new flexible actors, which can jump like spider legs, or wrap and rotate. The researchers also showed the ball that the PHDE force was 20 times the size of pea heavier than the film itself. When the voltage is opened and closed, the force can also expand and shrink like a diaphragm.

Circle of the editor -in -chief:

In the long run, many robots that appear in our lives may belong to the prototype or primary form of the robot. Although they can perform many instructions and operations, in many ways, they have a certain gap with real intelligence. The most basic point is that its appearance is more like a hard -stained machine, not a dexterous person. Imagine that if you are responsible for taking care of children or the elderly, if you can replace the steel and iron bones with soft skin and muscles, the actual experience may be greatly improved. The related R & D results of artificial skin and artificial muscles help to make robots more flexible and help them become more "realistic".

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