actuators – TechConnect Briefs

Rapid prototyping bacterial spore hygro-actuators for soft robotics and adaptive materials

Cavusoglu A.‐H., Chen X., Tatem K., Sahin O., Columbia University, US

Over the past decade, rapid prototyping has migrated from the research and industrial labs into the homes of consumers. However, these solid models are limited in demonstrating dynamic actuation. A large range of soft materials [...]

Novel interdigital actuators and sensors based on highly overlapped branched carbon nanotubes

Darbari S., Abdi Y., Ebrahimi A., Mohajerzadeh S., University of Tehran, IR

This work presents a novel interdigital structures of branched carbon nanotubes on silicon-based membranes where the heavy overlapping between neighboring lines leads to a high capacitance. The value of the capacitance is so high (of [...]

An Analytical Model for Multi-layer and Multi-electrode Piezoelectric Ceramic Actuators

Wang B-L., Mai Y-W., The University of Sydney, AU

The use of piezoelectric ceramics in multilayer actuator is increasing. This paper studies electroelastic field concentrations ahead of electrodes for multilayer piezoelectric actuators. The electrodes are vertical to and terminated near the edges of the [...]

Playing with actuators in microfluidic systems

Tabeling P., Barbier V., Goulpeau J., Lonetti B., Willaime H., ESPCI, FR

In the lab-on a chips of the future, flows will be handled at the microscale through mazes of microchannels. For such systems, it will be crucial to integrate a number of actuators on the chip [...]

Microsystem Modeling – from Macromodels to Microsystem Design

Husak M., University of Prague, CZ

The paper presents ideas about possible approaches to development of microsystem models. From the general point of view, microsystem (MST) is considered as a system dealing with non-electrical quantities from all energy domains of real [...]

Simulation Methodology for Dielectrophoresis in Microelectronic Lab-on-a-chip

Leonardi A., Medoro G., Manaresi N., Tartagni M., Guerrieri R., DEIS - University of Bologna, IT

Recent trends in lab-on-a-chip show a growing use of dielectrophoresis (DEP) to manipulate biological objects such as cells and organic molecules [1], [2], [3], [4]. Bringing the advances of microelectronic miniaturization into biological and clinical [...]

Concept of an Intelligent Microsystem Structure for Communication with Real Surrounding Space

Husak M., Jakovenko J., Czech Technical University, CZ

In the paper, concept of intelligent microsystem structure is presented. This concept is applicable in general surrounding environment. Concrete model of an intelligent temperature microsystem for control purposes is designed. Microsystem function has been verified [...]

Simulation Methodology for Dielectrophoresis in Microelectronic Lab-on-a-chip

Leonardi A., Medoro G., Manaresi N., Tartagni M., Guerrieri R., DEIS - University of Bologna, IT

Recent trends in lab-on-a-chip show a growing use of dielectrophoresis (DEP) to manipulate biological objects such as cells and organic molecules [1], [2], [3], [4]. Bringing the advances of microelectronic miniaturization into biological and clinical [...]

Systematic Design and Optimization of Multi-Material, Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Micro Actuators

Sigmund O., Technical University of Denmark, DK

The paper reports an automated method for the synthesis of multi-material, multi-degree-of-freedom micro actuators. The method is based on topology optimization, an iterative computational scheme consisting of alternating finite element analyses, sensitivity analyses and optimal [...]

Systematic Design of Electrothermomechanical Microactuators using Topology Optimization

Sigmund O., Technical University of Denmark, DK

Design methods for MicroElectroMechanical Svstems (MEMS) have, until now, typically been based on intuition, experience and triai and error approaches. A method which may be used to design mechanical and electromechanical coupling parts of MEMS [...]