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Elastomeric Origami: Programmable Paper-Elastomer Composites as Pneumatic Actuators

  1. Ramses V. Martinez1,
  2. Carina R. Fish1,
  3. Xin Chen1,
  4. George M. Whitesides1,2,*

Article first published online: 1 FEB 2012

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201102978

Issue

Advanced Functional Materials

Advanced Functional Materials

Volume 22, Issue 7, pages 1376–1384, April 10, 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martinez, R. V., Fish, C. R., Chen, X. and Whitesides, G. M. (2012), Elastomeric Origami: Programmable Paper-Elastomer Composites as Pneumatic Actuators. Adv. Funct. Mater., 22: 1376–1384. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201102978

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

  2. 2

    Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, 60 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

*Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 4 APR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 1 FEB 2012
  3. Manuscript Received: 9 DEC 2011

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Keywords:

  • soft robotics;
  • pneumatic actuators;
  • origami;
  • composite materials

Abstract

The development of soft pneumatic actuators based on composites consisting of elastomers with embedded sheet or fiber structures (e.g., paper or fabric) that are flexible but not extensible is described. On pneumatic inflation, these actuators move anisotropically, based on the motions accessible by their composite structures. They are inexpensive, simple to fabricate, light in weight, and easy to actuate. This class of structure is versatile: the same principles of design lead to actuators that respond to pressurization with a wide range of motions (bending, extension, contraction, twisting, and others). Paper, when used to introduce anisotropy into elastomers, can be readily folded into 3D structures following the principles of origami; these folded structures increase the stiffness and anisotropy of the elastomeric actuators, while being light in weight. These soft actuators can manipulate objects with moderate performance; for example, they can lift loads up to 120 times their weight. They can also be combined with other components, for example, electrical components, to increase their functionality.

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