Ultralight soft electrostatic actuators based on solid-liquid-gas architectures.

ABSTRACT: Soft actuators enable versatile and adaptable robots capable of operating in unstructured environments and close to humans. Soft electrostatic actuators utilizing electrohydraulic principles are particularly promising, combining all-around actuation performance with portable driving electronics. These electrohydraulic actuators harness liquid dielectrics enclosed in solid dielectric shells to sustain high electric fields; the liquid dielectric however constitutes most of the actuator mass, limiting power-to-weight ratio. Here, we present ultralight soft electrostatic actuators based on solid-liquid-gas architectures: the introduction of gaseous dielectrics as a third phase substantially improves power-to-weight ratio by reducing actuator mass and increasing actuation speed. Through theoret

SUBMITTER: Joo HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12923549 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature