Anyone Hear of EAP Sensors Yet?
I've been working with EAP technology (to some extent) for about a year and a half, and I was wondering just how many people in the engineering world are aware of this material. If you are, what's your general view on them? I can also explain (basically) what they are if anyone is curious.
I did a paper on dielectric elastomers in college, is this material similar?
DE is a type of EAP, or at least EAP can be a DE
Could you link website? And what are the general applications?
Link: http://promo.parker.com/promotionsite/eap/us/en/home Application: That one is complicated, for they are very new. Actually, developing a new application for them is what I'm working on. The applications I have heard of that are most memorable are; the strain sensors can be wrapped around pipes to take non-flow interrupting pressure readers, and the actuators can be used as artificial muscles in low energy/low force situations (I don't know anything specific, I've heard of a robot butterfly). They are also small, light, and easy to customize shape, so they are easier to design around than ordinary actuators and sensors.
So could be used in Defense apps, drones? robot bugs I know DOD is developing.
Why high voltage if they consume very little power and I'm sure NASA would be all over this
P = I * R² or P = V * R High voltage doesn't mean high power consumption. And it needs high voltage because that's just what they told me it needs. They usually have an adapter that converts the voltage for you. I've run 10 of them off of an Arduino 5V PIN.
What are they ?
So basically, EAP stands for Electroactive Polymer. They come in a few forms, but the overall concept is that they are capacitors made of two conductive sheets that are laminated together, separated by an insulator. They are extremely elastic, and deformation changes their conductance. They are used as 1) strain sensors, and 2) self sensing linear actuators (simulating muscular action). They also use very, very little electricity and are water safe.
If you want to take a look, Parker Hannafin sells them and has details about them on their website.