High Efficiency Actuation Conversion Mechanism for High-Output Bending Motion of a Soft Inflatable Microactuator

The actuation conversion efficiency of a pneumatic inflatable microactuator can be improved by 4.8 times that of conventional microactuators which generated a Newton-level high force generation via the same conversion mechanism. The inflatable force of the balloon was converted into a bending motion using a conversion film. An adaptive deformation film with force-receiving plates were designed as the conversion film, which yielded high performance. This novel device (16 mm x 40 mm x 1.3 mm) achieved an output of 2.4 N at an applied pressure of 80 kPa, which enables it to lift 240 g of tissues/organs during endoscopic medical operations. (c) 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.