Dielectric Elastomer Actuator (DEA)

An artificial muscle that squeezes and stretches a soft membrane using electrostatic force from a high voltage.

A dielectric elastomer actuator is a type of electrically driven artificial muscle: a soft insulating elastic membrane (such as silicone or acrylic) is coated on both sides with stretchable electrodes, and applying a voltage of several kilovolts makes the opposite charges on each side attract each other, squeezing the membrane thinner, which makes it expand in its plane; it springs back when the power is switched off. Its advantages are that it's light, fast, quiet, and has relatively high energy density, with the ability to produce large deformations, making it suitable for soft robots, miniature grippers, and robotic fish. Its downsides are the need for kilovolt-level high voltage, a tendency to break down electrically, and relatively low output force, so it currently remains mostly confined to labs and small devices. Like the HASEL electrohydraulic actuator and shape-memory alloys, it's usually grouped under “novel actuation.”

ExampleRolling a DEA membrane into a tube that extends when powered and contracts when the power is cut turns it into a controllable soft “muscle” that can drive a small gripper.

Also called

Dielectric Elastomer

Related

Artificial Muscle · Hydraulically Amplified Self-Healing Electrostatic Actuator (HASEL) · Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) · Soft Robot · Actuator · Soft Gripper

Sources

Dielectric elastomers - Wikipedia