Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers

N. Torras; K. E. Zinoviev; C. J. Camargo; Eva M. Campo; H. Campanella; J. Esteve; J. E. Marshall; E. M. Terentjev; M. Omastová; I. Krupa; P. Teplický; B. Mamojka; P. Bruns; B. Roeder; M. Vallribera; R. Malet; S. Zuffanelli; V. Soler; J. Roig; N. Walker; D. Wenn; F. Vossen; F. M.H. Crompvoets

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers

N. Torras, K. E. Zinoviev, C. J. Camargo, Eva M. Campo, H. Campanella, J. Esteve, J. E. Marshall, E. M. Terentjev, M. Omastová, I. Krupa, P. Teplický, B. Mamojka, P. Bruns, B. Roeder, M. Vallribera, R. Malet, S. Zuffanelli, V. Soler, J. Roig, N. WalkerD. Wenn, F. Vossen, F. M.H. Crompvoets

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

76 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	104-112
Number of pages	9
Journal	Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical
Volume	208
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2014

Keywords

Liquid crystal elastomer
Opto-mechanical actuator
Tactile display
Visually impaired

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10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

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Torras, N., Zinoviev, K. E., Camargo, C. J., Campo, E. M., Campanella, H., Esteve, J., Marshall, J. E., Terentjev, E. M., Omastová, M., Krupa, I., Teplický, P., Mamojka, B., Bruns, P., Roeder, B., Vallribera, M., Malet, R., Zuffanelli, S., Soler, V., Roig, J., ... Crompvoets, F. M. H. (2014). Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical, 208, 104-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

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title = "Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers",

abstract = "Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.",

keywords = "Liquid crystal elastomer, Opto-mechanical actuator, Tactile display, Visually impaired",

author = "N. Torras and Zinoviev, {K. E.} and Camargo, {C. J.} and Campo, {Eva M.} and H. Campanella and J. Esteve and Marshall, {J. E.} and Terentjev, {E. M.} and M. Omastov{\'a} and I. Krupa and P. Teplick{\'y} and B. Mamojka and P. Bruns and B. Roeder and M. Vallribera and R. Malet and S. Zuffanelli and V. Soler and J. Roig and N. Walker and D. Wenn and F. Vossen and Crompvoets, {F. M.H.}",

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Torras, N, Zinoviev, KE, Camargo, CJ, Campo, EM, Campanella, H, Esteve, J, Marshall, JE, Terentjev, EM, Omastová, M, Krupa, I, Teplický, P, Mamojka, B, Bruns, P, Roeder, B, Vallribera, M , Malet, R, Zuffanelli, S, Soler, V, Roig, J, Walker, N, Wenn, D, Vossen, F & Crompvoets, FMH 2014, 'Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers', Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical, vol. 208, pp. 104-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

TY - JOUR

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AU - Torras, N.

AU - Zinoviev, K. E.

AU - Camargo, C. J.

AU - Campo, Eva M.

AU - Campanella, H.

AU - Esteve, J.

AU - Marshall, J. E.

AU - Terentjev, E. M.

AU - Omastová, M.

AU - Krupa, I.

AU - Teplický, P.

AU - Mamojka, B.

AU - Bruns, P.

AU - Roeder, B.

AU - Vallribera, M.

AU - Malet, R.

AU - Zuffanelli, S.

AU - Soler, V.

AU - Roig, J.

AU - Walker, N.

AU - Wenn, D.

AU - Vossen, F.

AU - Crompvoets, F. M.H.

PY - 2014/2/1

Y1 - 2014/2/1

N2 - Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.

AB - Nematic elastomers are promising materials for the fabrication of actuators due to their ability to reversibly contract and expand during phase transitions triggered by external stimuli. Thus, actuation can be produced on demand, forcing these phase changes. Here, we present a refreshable tactile device based on the opto-mechanical properties of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) with the capability to represent Braille characters and simplified graphical information. The actuators designed are based on the use of the stress gradient generated in the elastomer under illumination to exert a force on movable components. Additionally, hardware implementation and a communication software interface were developed to provide end users with a complete solution. Displacements of 0.8 mm with measured forces of up to 40 mN were reached without material degradation, proving not only the viability of the device but also the potential applications of this type of actuator.

KW - Liquid crystal elastomer

KW - Opto-mechanical actuator

KW - Tactile display

KW - Visually impaired

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U2 - 10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

DO - 10.1016/j.sna.2014.01.012

M3 - Article

SN - 0924-4247

VL - 208

SP - 104

EP - 112

JO - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical

JF - Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical

ER -

Tactile device based on opto-mechanical actuation of liquid crystal elastomers

Abstract

Keywords

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