11-09-2014, 02:09 PM
Biologically Inspired Intelligent Robots Using Artificial Muscles
[attachment=67831]
Abstract
Humans throughout history have always sought to mimic the appearance, mobility, functionality,
intelligent operation, and thinking process of biological creatures. The emergence of
biologically inspired technologies, i.e. biomimetics, has made it increasingly easier to develop
robots with such capabilities. Some of the technologies that have evolved include artificial
muscles, artificial intelligence, and artificial vision to which significant advancements in
materials science, mechanics, electronics, and computing science have contributed greatly. One
of the newest fields is the artificial muscles, which is the moniker for electroactive polymers
(EAP). To take advantage of these materials, efforts are made worldwide to establish a strong
infrastructure ranging from analytical modeling and comprehensive understanding of their
response mechanism to effective processing and characterization techniques. The field is still in
its emerging state and robust materials are still not readily available however in recent years
significant progress has been made and commercial products have already started to appear on
the market. This paper covers the current state-of-the-art and challenges to making artificial
muscles and their potential application to biomimetic robots
Introduction
In December 2002, the Japanese company called Eamex produced robot fish that swims in a
water tank without batteries or a motor (see Figure 1). For power these robots use an inductive
coil that is energized from the top and bottom of the fish tank. Making a floating robot fish may
not have been an exciting event, but this one is the first commercial product that uses
electroactive polymers (EAP) and this marks a major milestone. For their functional similarity
to natural muscles EAP materials have earned the name artificial muscles.
The field of robotics has evolved from automation satisfying the desire to emulate the biological
characteristics of manipulation and mobility. In recent years, significant advances have been
made in robotics, artificial intelligence and others fields allowing for making sophisticated
biologically inspired robots [Bar-Cohen and Breazeal, 2003]. Using these advances, scientists
and engineers are increasingly reverse engineering many animals' performance characteristics.
Biologically inspired robotics is a subset of the interdisciplinary field of biomimetics. 4
Technology progress resulted in machines that can recognize facial expressions, understand
speech, and perform mobility very similar to living creatures including walking, hopping, and
swimming. The emergence of EAP materials has opened a new range of possibilities taking
advantage of the remarkably functional characteristic similar to biological muscle
Concluding remarks
Technologies that allow developing biologically inspired system are increasingly emerging
allowing for the development of robots that can walk, hop, swim, dive, crawl, etc. Making
robots that are actuated by artificial muscles and controlled by artificial intelligence would
enable engineering reality that used to be considered science fiction. Using effective EAP
actuators to mimic nature would immensely expand the functionality of robots that are currently
available. Making such robots capable to understand and express voice and body language
would increase the probability of seeing them as social partner than a machine or tool. As the
technology advances are made, it is more realistic to expect that biomimetic robots will become
commonplace in our future environment. It will be increasingly difficult to distinguish them
from organic creatures, unless intentionally designed to be fanciful. As we are inspired by
biology to improve our lives we will increasingly be faced with challenges to such
implementations. A key to the development of such robots is the use of actuators that mimic
muscles, where electroactive polymers (EAP) have emerged with this potential. A series of new
[attachment=67831]
Abstract
Humans throughout history have always sought to mimic the appearance, mobility, functionality,
intelligent operation, and thinking process of biological creatures. The emergence of
biologically inspired technologies, i.e. biomimetics, has made it increasingly easier to develop
robots with such capabilities. Some of the technologies that have evolved include artificial
muscles, artificial intelligence, and artificial vision to which significant advancements in
materials science, mechanics, electronics, and computing science have contributed greatly. One
of the newest fields is the artificial muscles, which is the moniker for electroactive polymers
(EAP). To take advantage of these materials, efforts are made worldwide to establish a strong
infrastructure ranging from analytical modeling and comprehensive understanding of their
response mechanism to effective processing and characterization techniques. The field is still in
its emerging state and robust materials are still not readily available however in recent years
significant progress has been made and commercial products have already started to appear on
the market. This paper covers the current state-of-the-art and challenges to making artificial
muscles and their potential application to biomimetic robots
Introduction
In December 2002, the Japanese company called Eamex produced robot fish that swims in a
water tank without batteries or a motor (see Figure 1). For power these robots use an inductive
coil that is energized from the top and bottom of the fish tank. Making a floating robot fish may
not have been an exciting event, but this one is the first commercial product that uses
electroactive polymers (EAP) and this marks a major milestone. For their functional similarity
to natural muscles EAP materials have earned the name artificial muscles.
The field of robotics has evolved from automation satisfying the desire to emulate the biological
characteristics of manipulation and mobility. In recent years, significant advances have been
made in robotics, artificial intelligence and others fields allowing for making sophisticated
biologically inspired robots [Bar-Cohen and Breazeal, 2003]. Using these advances, scientists
and engineers are increasingly reverse engineering many animals' performance characteristics.
Biologically inspired robotics is a subset of the interdisciplinary field of biomimetics. 4
Technology progress resulted in machines that can recognize facial expressions, understand
speech, and perform mobility very similar to living creatures including walking, hopping, and
swimming. The emergence of EAP materials has opened a new range of possibilities taking
advantage of the remarkably functional characteristic similar to biological muscle
Concluding remarks
Technologies that allow developing biologically inspired system are increasingly emerging
allowing for the development of robots that can walk, hop, swim, dive, crawl, etc. Making
robots that are actuated by artificial muscles and controlled by artificial intelligence would
enable engineering reality that used to be considered science fiction. Using effective EAP
actuators to mimic nature would immensely expand the functionality of robots that are currently
available. Making such robots capable to understand and express voice and body language
would increase the probability of seeing them as social partner than a machine or tool. As the
technology advances are made, it is more realistic to expect that biomimetic robots will become
commonplace in our future environment. It will be increasingly difficult to distinguish them
from organic creatures, unless intentionally designed to be fanciful. As we are inspired by
biology to improve our lives we will increasingly be faced with challenges to such
implementations. A key to the development of such robots is the use of actuators that mimic
muscles, where electroactive polymers (EAP) have emerged with this potential. A series of new