Customizing a self-healing soft pump for robot

Wei Tang, Chao Zhang (), Yiding Zhong, Pingan Zhu, Yu Hu, Zhongdong Jiao, Xiaofeng Wei, Gang Lu, Jinrong Wang, Yuwen Liang, Yangqiao Lin, Wei Wang, Huayong Yang and Jun Zou ()
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Wei Tang: Zhejiang University
Chao Zhang: Zhejiang University
Yiding Zhong: Zhejiang University
Pingan Zhu: Zhejiang University
Yu Hu: Zhejiang University
Zhongdong Jiao: Zhejiang University
Xiaofeng Wei: Zhejiang University
Gang Lu: Zhejiang University
Jinrong Wang: Zhejiang University
Yuwen Liang: Zhejiang University
Yangqiao Lin: Zhejiang University
Wei Wang: Zhejiang University
Huayong Yang: Zhejiang University
Jun Zou: Zhejiang University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Recent advances in soft materials enable robots to possess safer human-machine interaction ways and adaptive motions, yet there remain substantial challenges to develop universal driving power sources that can achieve performance trade-offs between actuation, speed, portability, and reliability in untethered applications. Here, we introduce a class of fully soft electronic pumps that utilize electrical energy to pump liquid through electrons and ions migration mechanism. Soft pumps combine good portability with excellent actuation performances. We develop special functional liquids that merge unique properties of electrically actuation and self-healing function, providing a direction for self-healing fluid power systems. Appearances and pumpabilities of soft pumps could be customized to meet personalized needs of diverse robots. Combined with a homemade miniature high-voltage power converter, two different soft pumps are implanted into robotic fish and vehicle to achieve their untethered motions, illustrating broad potential of soft pumps as universal power sources in untethered soft robotics.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22391-x

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