Application Cases

Dielectric Elastomer (DE) materials have garnered significant attention over the past two decades as a novel type of electroactive polymer composite. When driven by an electric field, these materials can deform in both the thickness and planar directions. Compared to other actuation materials, DEs offer the advantages of large deformation and fast response speed. Consequently, DEs are considered one of the most promising "artificial muscle" materials, with potential applications in soft robotics, smart prosthetics, tactile sensors, Braille displays, optical devices, aerospace, and energy harvesting.

ATA-7000 Series High-Voltage Amplifiers from Aigtek can provide a low-frequency, high-voltage environment suitable for testing DEs and are ideal for building test platforms. These amplifiers can output stable arbitrary waveforms, making them adaptable for a wide range of electroactive polymer field-driven experimental applications.

Experiment Name: Dielectric Elastomer Actuation Experiment

Experiment Principle: By applying a high voltage to the surface of an electroactive polymer (3M) material, opposite charges accumulate on the surface. The attractive force between these charges generates an electrostatic force that compresses the material in the Z-axis direction, causing deformation.

Testing Equipment: ATA-7030 high-voltage amplifier, signal generator, single-frequency laser interferometer, photodetector, Redpitaya signal processing board, oscilloscope, etc.

Figure: Block Diagram of the Experimental System

Experiment Process:

Figure: Photograph of the Experimental Setup

The signal source outputs a sine wave voltage signal with an amplitude of 0-3V and a frequency of 1-10Hz, which is fed into the power amplifier. The power amplifier amplifies the signal to a voltage of 0-1500V. This high voltage is applied to the conductive carbon paste on the positive and negative surfaces of the electroactive polymer. The conductive carbon paste accumulates opposite charges, generating an electrostatic force that compresses the electroactive polymer, causing deformation.

Experimental Results:

A sine wave signal with an amplitude of 0-1500V is output to the positive and negative electrodes of the prepared 3M material, causing the material to deform and contract according to the set frequency.

Role of the Power Amplifier: In this experiment, the power amplifier provides a pulse signal with an adjustable duty cycle of 0-1500V. This signal generates the electrostatic force that compresses the electroactive polymer, causing deformation.

High-Voltage Amplifier Recommendation: ATA-7000 Series

Figure: Specification Parameters of the ATA-7000 Series High-Voltage Amplifiers

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