SPIE - Education Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices SC634

This course will provide an overview of the field of EAP covering the state of the art, challenges and potential. Three general classes of polymer materials are described, namely those that involve ionic mechanisms (Ionic EAP including gels), field activated materials (Electronic EAP) and torsional actuators (typically thermally or electrothermally driven). The basic mechanisms responsible for the active behavior of EAP materials will be covered and compared with natural muscles. Analytical models, fabrication processes and methods of characterizing these materials will be described. Moreover, the currently considered applications will be reviewed including actuators, robotics, animatronics, energy harvesting, medical, and biologically inspired mechanisms, so called biomimetics. The course begins with an overview of the field, current capabilities, potential and challenges. The course follows with a description of the currently available EAP materials and principles of operating them as actuators and artificial muscles. The course ends with a review of the future prospect of EAP as actuators and sensors in systems, mechanisms and smart structures for industrial and medical applications.