Artificial Muscle Technology: Physical Principles and Naval Prospects

TLDR

The growing understanding of fish‑ and insect‑inspired locomotion has spurred demand for muscle‑like materials that mimic natural mechanisms, prompting exploration of actuator materials driven by voltage, field, light, or temperature changes. The paper presents fundamental properties of artificial muscle materials and examines potential undersea applications to aid device designers and researchers in assessing their current status and future potential. The authors review artificial muscle technologies built from dielectric elastomers, ferroelectric polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, shape memory alloys, ionic polymer/metal composites, conducting polymers, and carbon nanotubes, discussing their merits and challenges through two case studies and a summary table.

Abstract

The increasing understanding of the advantages offered by fish and insect-like locomotion is creating a demand for muscle-like materials capable of mimicking nature's mechanisms. Actuator materials that employ voltage, field, light, or temperature driven dimensional changes to produce forces and displacements are suggesting new approaches to propulsion and maneuverability. Fundamental properties of these new materials are presented, and examples of potential undersea applications are examined in order to assist those involved in device design and in actuator research to evaluate the current status and the developing potential of these artificial muscle technologies. Technologies described are based on newly explored materials developed over the past decade, and also on older materials whose properties are not widely known. The materials are dielectric elastomers, ferroelectric polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, thermal and ferroelectric shape memory alloys, ionic polymer/metal composites, conducting polymers, and carbon nanotubes. Relative merits and challenges associated with the artificial muscle technologies are elucidated in two case studies. A summary table provides a quick guide to all technologies that are discussed.