Application Cases

【Overview】
In this study, the Aigtek ATA-7050 high-voltage amplifier was used to build a performance testing system for dielectric elastomer actuators, providing data support and technical references for system optimization, practical application deployment, and control strategy adjustment.

Experiment Name: Performance Testing and Analysis of Biased Multilayer Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Research Direction: Biased Dielectric Elastomer Actuators, Static Performance, Dynamic Performance, Flexible Actuation, Transient Response

Experiment Objective:
A displacement drive test platform was built to evaluate the core performance of biased multilayer dielectric elastomer actuators using static and dynamic testing methods. This provides data support and technical references for system optimization, practical application deployment, and control strategy adjustment.

Testing Equipment:
Signal generator, ATA-7050 high-voltage amplifier, laser displacement sensor, NI data acquisition system, computer, biased multilayer dielectric elastomer actuator, etc.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of the Test Platform

Experimental Procedure:
A test platform was built, consisting of a signal generator, high-voltage amplifier, laser displacement sensor, and data acquisition system. The signal was amplified to drive the biased multilayer dielectric elastomer actuator, and displacement data were acquired and processed by the sensor.

• Static test: Under a 1 Hz drive signal, the voltage was increased from 1 kV to 1.5 kV (in steps of 0.1 kV), and the output displacement was recorded.

• Dynamic test: The actuator was excited with amplitude-modulated square wave signals (0–1.5 kV, period 8 s, duration 40 s) and sinusoidal frequency sweep signals (0–1 kV, 0–45 Hz, sweep rate 1 Hz/s), and the displacement response was recorded.

Experimental Results:

• Static test: The output displacement of the actuator increased significantly with higher driving voltage. This is because a higher voltage generates a stronger Maxwell stress, causing greater deformation of the dielectric elastomer material.

• Dynamic test: Under amplitude-modulated square wave excitation, the actuator exhibited relatively large vibration and overshoot, but the settling time was short, demonstrating fast response characteristics. In the sinusoidal frequency sweep test, the actuator showed clear fundamental frequency (first-order natural frequency of 16 Hz) and harmonic (second-order natural frequency of 32 Hz) responses.

Advantages of Aigtek Amplifiers in This Application:

1. 10 kVp-p ultra-high voltage output – Meets the requirements for static biasing and dynamic driving, achieving large deformation displacement.

2. DC–5 kHz wide bandwidth and high slew rate – Accurately reproduces frequency sweep and square wave transient responses.

3. Low distortion and high stability – Ensures driving accuracy for capacitive loads and repeatability under multiple test conditions.

Recommended Product: ATA-7050 High-Voltage Amplifier

Figure: ATA-7050 High-Voltage Amplifier Specifications and Parameters

*The experimental materials in this article are compiled and released by Xi'an Aigtek Electronics. Aigtek has become a large-scale instrument and equipment supplier with a wide range of products in the industry. Demo units are available for free trial. Xi'an Aigtek Electronics is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, development, production, and sales of electronic testing instruments such as power amplifiers, high-voltage amplifiers, power signal sources, preamplifiers for weak signals, high-precision voltage sources, and high-precision current sources. For more information about power amplifiers and other products, please visit the Aigtek official website at www.aigtek.cn or call 029-88865020.*